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Summary: Some good info - but other resources are better
Review: As a parent of two I am constantly searching for tidbits of info to help deal with sleeping, eating and other parenting issues. I am a firm believer in reading lots of books and listening to lots of advice and then picking and choosing what works for my kids. Having already read "Babywise" and Marc Weissbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," I couldn't find much new information in the Baby Whisperer. I do believe that if you haven't read those two books, the Baby Whisperer does have great info. She advocates the same thing that Babywise does, that the marriage is the most important element and that a baby ADDS to the family, the baby should not be the focus of the family. And although she had a better name for eattime, awaketime, sleeptime than Babywise -- E.A.S.Y -- it is essentially the same philosophy. She is a bit less restrictive on schedules than Babywise as well. Her suggestions on how to "read the baby" are somewhat the same as what "Healthy Baby" recommends. I think if you just had a baby or are getting ready to have a baby, than it is a good beginning. However, "Babywise" and "Healthy Baby" should also be added to your collection as they take her suggestions and back them up with research and doctor credentials.
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Summary: This book is a must-have for every parent of a newborn!
Review: I have read just about every book out there on the subject of babies...and this book is the best one yet. It offers very sensitive yet practical advice that is easy to follow, and also includes some great material that no other books seem to have: for example, there are charts to help you interpret baby's facial expressions, cries, etc. There is also an excellent chapter on feeding your baby, and the battle of formula versus breastfeeding. For any moms out there who are torn on this subject, this can help clear it up without guilt or unnecessary bias toward one method or the other. From now on, all my newly pregnant friends will no longer be getting the "What to Expect" books from me...they'll receive this one instead!!!
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Summary: This book is great
Review: It really helped me and my wife. Now both the wife and child are quiet... I can go back to reading .. Thank you :)
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Summary: I feel terrible
Review: My 3 month old baby is not sleeping well, and getting overstimulated easily and instead of getting support and help from this expert, I ended up feeling terribly guilty for not being able to read my baby correctly. Babywise is a much better book to read for assistance. This book made me feel so bad that I returned it.
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Summary: If only we'd read this book sooner . . .
Review: This book is great! It has helped us understand our baby's body language and cues much better than we did. At almost 11 months, our baby was not going to sleep on his own, nor could he sleep through the night. With Tracy Hogg's tips and techniques, we now have a baby who can fall asleep without nursing, rocking, patting, walking, etc. My husband read this book and now he understands that our baby does not need milk every time he cries.There is a very helpful table that shows what different cries and movements indicate. For example, a baby that arches his back and pulls away from the person who is holding him or her is a very tired baby. There is also a chapter for those parents (like us) who were doing all of the wrong things at bedtime and how to correct mistakes. There were a couple of points on which I disagreed with the author, including her views on when babies should start eating solids and/or be weaned. But, overall, I found this book enlightening and a huge help.
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Summary: Thank you Tracy!
Review: A wonderful and informative book by an author who truly seems to understand babys. After reading her book, we feel we have a better understanding of how to "listen" and respond to our 2 month old's needs. Tracy's routines and techniques were easy to follow and implement. Prior to reading Tracy's book, we were struggling with our child's sleep deprivation and unwillingness to sleep in her crib. After following Tracy's E.A.S.Y. routine and applying a few of her calming techniques, our daughter has developed much better sleep habits and is sleeping in her crib after only a few days. Our sanity has been restored. This book is highly recommended by this reader!!!
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Summary: Very overrated when you learn about Tracy
Review: I have read this book front to back, has anyone seen articles in the British Press? Think people should look at them! Apparently. she left her two little girls in the UK to persue her career in the States and has never brought them up herself! I fail to see how she can advise on childcare if she didnt look after her own daughters. She certainly doesnt sound like an "expert" to me! Her breastfeeding advice certainly doesnt seem accurate to me, i would very much like to know where her qualifications came from, as she worked as a mental nurse in the UK, and NOT a midwife etc..... I seriously think that the world of Hollywood could well believe the hype, but really, the people that know her in the UK have something very different to say. A concerned mother of 2.
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Summary: My baby puked on this book!
Review: The author went "Hogg" wild with the lies printed in this book. I tried all the techniques described in the book and I even rented the movie, too, and NONE of them were successful in breaking my baby to the saddle. Buyer beware!
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Summary: Changed our lives
Review: I am a first time mother of an 8 week old son that we were never able to get to sleep at night time, unless we rocked, patted or bounced him for a minimal three hours. Needless to say bedtime was a nightmare for us. After reading the chapter on sleep I realized that we missed his early sleep cues and then proceeded to overstimulate him with all the movement. The night after reading that chapter, we saw the first cues, and immediately laid him down to sleep and just as she described, he fell asleep and has been doing so now for over a week. I have to admit at first I became a bit defensive when I started reading this book, which I now attribute to the fact that I had to admit someone else out there knows more than me about babies. Once I was able to let go of the defensiveness I really started to get what Tracy was saying and was able to apply it to my son, who I would have catagorized as a "spirted" baby but now realize he's much closer to an "angel". My husband and I are extremely grateful that Tracy spent the time to share her knowledge.
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Summary: THE NEW PARENT BIBLE!
Review: Wow -it is so fantastic to finally have a simple, relevant and "easy" book to read, focusing on the issues all parents (new or not so new) spend many sleepless hours thinking about (eating, sleeping, feeding, how to prepare for your new baby etc....). When I first became pregnant, I bought many "parenting" and "baby" books, some were good, others not so good. The problem was I found I needed "many" books. Every time I had a question, I would look through this huge stack of books next to my bed trying to find a comprehensive answer! One night after finally getting my baby to sleep at 1:00 a.m., I found myself wide awake, unable to fall asleep. So I picked up "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" and couldn't put it down. I stayed up till 3:30 that morning reading the entire book. This book offers such non judgemental, practical information, covering so many relevant topics. The author's sweet and loving manner comes through in her writing, and makes you feel that she is talking to only you. I strongly encourage all parents to get "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer." This is a must read!
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