[.ca] Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and ... (ISBN 0345440757)

From Amazon.com:
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

Worked for us:
Sorry to all of the people with negative opinions, but this book really helped me. As a first-time mother I was completely lost and Tracy gave me a map. Maybe it doesn't work for all babies, but it's worth a shot. Mine really took to the EASY schedule and has slept through the night since she was 7 weeks old (5 months now). Tracy has taught me to *listen* to the baby and not just shove the boob in her mouth every time she cries. I did find her tone a bit condescending at times, but I can't argue with the advice.

Why don't you come over here and say that, "luv"?:
This book had me in tears and feelng like a terrible mom. I'd seriously like this woman to come over here and try to put MY baby on her supposedly "EASY" program. Maybe it works for those babies she describes as "Angel" and "Textbook" babies, but it sure didn't work for my "Spirited" baby (by the way, if you don't like labels or generalizations, stay away from this book). The chapter on sleep would be ridiculous if it weren't so frustrating, as with the chapter on how one can (supposedly) change any bad habits in three days. In her own description of solving one family's sleep problems, she boasts of how she picked the child up and put him back down again in his crib FORTY-THREE TIMES. Oh sure, that worked great. The next night they only did it twenty times! By the way, she--the baby nurse--was doing this while the parents were getting their full night's sleep. Unfortunately, I don't have $200.00+/day to spend on a baby nurse. I would have to go without sleep that first night, almost no sleep that second night, and by the third night I'd be declared legally insane (that is, of course, provided I didn't hang myself from the rafters by the 38th repetition). This book would get no stars if it weren't for the moderately helpful charts to help identify your baby's cries. Verdict? Great if you're looking for a book to help you choose a baby nurse, or if your baby is a Textbook child....completely impractical iif you're like the rest of us.

Why don't you come over here and say that, "luv"?:
This book had me in tears and feelng like a terrible mom. I'd seriously like this woman to come over here and try to put MY baby on her supposedly "EASY" program. Maybe it works for those babies she describes as "Angel" and "Textbook" babies, but it sure didn't work for my "Spirited" baby (by the way, if you don't like labels or generalizations, stay away from this book). The chapter on sleep would be ridiculous if it weren't so frustrating, as with the chapter on how one can (supposedly) change any bad habits in three days. In her own description of solving one family's sleep problems, she boasts of how she picked the child up and put him back down again in his crib FORTY-THREE TIMES. Oh sure, that worked great. The next night they only did it twenty times! By the way, she--the baby nurse--was doing this while the parents wer...getting their full night's sleep? Unfortunately, I don't have $200.00+/day to spend on a baby nurse (though I doubt I would anyway...). I would have to go without sleep that first night, almost no sleep that second night, and by the third night I'd be declared legally insane (that is, of course, provided I didn't hang myself from the rafters by the 38th repetition). This book would get no stars if it weren't for the moderately helpful charts to help identify your baby's cries. Verdict? Great if you're looking for a book to help you choose a baby nurse, or if your baby is a Textbook child....completely impractical iif you're like the rest of us.

It's just okay..:
First I must say I am glad this book was given to me as a gift rather than spending my own money on it. Hogg makes you feel that if you haven't done it her way then your baby is screwed up for life which makes the mother feel terrible. Unfortunately I find that although she lists everything you should do to calm and soothe your baby, she doesn't exactly list how to do it. I am most frustrated with the chapter dedicated to sleep. She keeps saying her method helps babies to sleep but doesn't really clarify what her method is. She is terrible at explaining things. The only page I find useful is the one to help identify baby's cries. Other than that I think that she is a little to quick to judge and a little too over the top for me. PS i didnt want to give this book four stars. I accidentally hit it and now it won't let me change it. I give this book a 2

It gives a parent some much needed direction:
I am also very shocked by the number of people that gave negative reviews of this book. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars because there are a few parts of the book that I don't necessarily agree with. However, if you pick and choose what you agree with, she gives you very helpful advice. There are thousands of people that have a baby and have no clue how to take care of them. They think about buying all the stuff they need and forget about what happens when you actually have to help this baby sleep, eat etc... So many habits are formed very early on which cause parents to become so overwhelmingly frustrated. I have several friends who have tried the attachment theory of parenting who go crazy when they can't get away from their children because they don't sleep at normal times and are still being fed many times during the night past 6 months. These parents are so tired and this affects the amount of enjoyment that they are experiencing with their child. From my many experiences babysitting and watching families parent their newborns, I was watching what works and doesn't work. Sometimes parents create extra stress on themselves, when really it isn't necessary. If you follow a lot of Tracy's ideas, it will really help you to meet your child's needs and you will feel rested and happy and able to really enjoy them. They have worked wonderfully for me! My friend called me for help because her 6 month has over taken her life and she just couldn't handle it anymore. I have helped her to get her child on a routine (Eat, then play, then sleep, then your own time). She couldn't believe that in just a few days, her child changed in an amazing way. She actually started telling people I was a 'miracle worker', yet I only just followed many of Tracy's ideas. When people say 'feed on demand', many mom's think this means 'feed them any time they cry'. This book just really teaches moms about a baby's needs.