"TRACY HOGG HAS GIVEN PARENTS A GREAT GIFT-the ability to develop early insight into their child's temperament." -Los Angeles Family
When Tracy Hogg's Secrets of the Baby Whisperer was first published, it soared onto bestseller lists across the country. Parents everywhere became "whisperers" to their newborns, amazed that they could actually communicate with their baby within weeks of their child's birth. Tracy gave parents what for some amounted to a miracle: the ability to understand their baby's every coo and cry so that they could tell immediately if the baby was hungry, tired, in real distress, or just in need of a little TLC. Tracy also dispelled the insidious myth that parents must go sleepless for the first year of a baby's life-because a happy baby sleeps through the night. Now you too can benefit from Tracy's more than twenty years' experience. In this groundbreaking book, she shares simple, accessible programs in which you will learn: · E.A.S.Y.-how to get baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make every member of the household's life easier and happier. · S.L.O.W.-how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don't try to feed him when he really wants a nap). · How to identify which type of baby yours is-Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy-and then learn the best way to interact with that type. · Tracy's Three Day Magic-how to change any and all bad habits (yours and the baby's) in just three days. At the heart of Tracy's simple but profound message: treat the baby as you would like to be treated yourself. Reassuring, down-to-earth, and often flying in the face of conventional wisdom, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer promises parents not only a healthier, happier baby but a more relaxed and happy household as well. From the Trade Paperback edition.
The last thing new parents can find time for is quiet reading, so many helpful books on infant care rely on bullet points and a "let's get to the point" writing style. Tracy Hogg, a neonatal nurse, teacher, and mother of two, uses these techniques to good effect in Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Focusing on newborns and their parents, her simple programs are a blend of intelligent intuition and methods based on years of experience. The first half of the book is devoted to E.A.S.Y--her name for creating a structured daily routine for you and your baby that makes the most of your baby's awake times and also leaves time just for you. These concepts aren't designed to force your bundle of joy into not following her body's needs, but rather to create a feasible middle ground between total rigidity and on-demand food and sleep (and no time for mom to shower). If it still strikes you as too regimented, keep reading. The author makes room for differences in personal style and includes short quizzes to determine whether you're a "planner" or a "winger", and what level of daily structure you are likely to find helpful. In the same chapter, she identifies five general temperaments of infants, how to get an accurate feel for yours, and what methods of care are likely to be the most effective for his temperament. Her statement that babies prefer routine is backed up by research from the University of Denver. While most of the book relies on anecdotes to get the points across, Hogg does find room to back up some of her statements with quotes from various researchers and institutions. Included at the end of the book are assurances that E.A.S.Y. can be followed even with a colicky baby or one who's been ruling the roost for the first few months. Frustrated parents might like to read the last page first: "all the baby-whispering advice in the world is useless unless you're having a good time being a parent" is an excellent reminder to enjoy this time with all of its ups and downs. --Jill Lightner
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Helpful:
I feel the main focus of this cd is newborn babies. I think those who would benefit most would be those who listen to it before the new baby arrives home.
ron_ron_dh:
I found this book to have a great deal of helpful information. It did give us a better understanding of infant sleeping habits and personalities.
Great resource for new parents:
We purchased this book when our twin daughters were 5 weeks old. My husband read the book cover to cover, while I focused on the portions dealing with sleeping through the night. It was the most I could due in my semi-comatose sleep deprived state. I found the book useful in providing comfort for my anxiousness while giving us great tools to consider implementing in the care of our twins. I don't believe any book is the end-all-be-all so I reviewed the suggestions and tried them and stuck with what worked.... more info
Serenity Now!:
I bought this book on the suggestion of a friend. I had read one of the books by Dr. Sears, (which had brought me to tears.) I liked this book much better. Tracy advocates that happy parents make better parents. I could not agree more. I know that attachment parenting works for some, but not for me. I will agree with some of the other posters that, her British-isms get a little old after a few chapters. And I also think she was a bit harsh on those parents who said her techniques didn't work for... more info
