Rating: 
Summary: Shame On the "Baby Whisperer"
Review: This book is a total sham! I tried the techniques for getting my baby to sleep through the night, and they do not work. (And my baby is in the Angel category!) This book exploits a new mother's desperation to get some rest to create sales. I am returning this book, it's not worth the paper it was written on. I would have given the book negative stars, but was not able to.
Rating: 
Summary: Like a Gun, Dangerous in the Wrong Hands
Review: First, let me explain that I thought the idea behind this book was excellent - attempting to help parents relate to their newborns, helping them to cope with the staggering change introduced into their lives, and finally, helping baby adapt to OUR lifestyle, and not so much the other way around.The problems arise when I came to realize that Ms Hogg's writing style can easily lead one to believe that each baby can be categorized neatly and cleanly into one of four types; the round-peg-round-hole syndrome is the first step, in every other book I've read, to parental frustration and can lead to a dangerous situation if the parent becomes despondent or depressed with the situation. One parent who read the book told me, "I felt as though I had been dealt a hand of blank cards, and all the other parents were playing with a proper deck." I hope the readers of this review understand where this is going. The idea that parents of colicky babies can also benefit substantially from this book is also, in my estimation, misleading. Yes, the regimen that is given us CAN work for the baby with colic, but the price paid for traveling that particular line may be too dear - very few saints, much less parents, have the patience and inner solitude required to soothe all players in the house during a particularly bad period of colic. Let's not forget - it's not just Baby and Me - I have a spouse, I have other children to think of too. Don't get me wrong - the book is full of insight, and Ms Hogg is, by all appearances, a very wise and well-read woman. But at times, while reading this, I was under the impression (perhaps mis-led), that the baby is looked at as a machine or a toy to be maintained. I found myself catering to this pitch as well. Far too often, we all look at children as things, vice people. Read the book from cover to cover before attempting to take the program up; if it sounds like it would work for you, then press ahead with it. If not, then abandon the book. Books can be replaced; our children cannot.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I'd hoped for
Review: My first impression of this book was that it was like welcoming a sweet English Aunt into your home for a chat about babycare. Her ideas sounded gentle, yet common sense at first. I do agree with her flexible routine (EASY). I've used this with my daughter who is now 18 months, and my son who is 2 months, though I got it from a different source. Both are great sleepers, so I agree that the daytime routine can affect the nighttime sleep. :) Beyond that - I found very little of the information in this book to be helpful. Her categories for classifying babies was oversimplified. I don't agree with her opinions of baby bouncers or swings (she's against them completely). And worst of all is her opinions on breastfeeding! Her advice is inaccurate. She tells mothers to supplement with formula before their milk comes in if the baby is less than 6 lbs at birth! She says nipple confusion is a myth. She says that droopy breasts are a result of breastfeeding, though other sources say it's the pregnancy that causes any breast changes - not the breastfeeding. You get the distinct impression that she is very anti-breastfeeding the more you read. As a breastfeeding mother, I was offended by her lack of knowledge of the subject and suprised that she is a lactation consultant (it doesnt show). Overall, there are some good ideas here if you haven't gotten them from other sources already, but I would really caution a new Mom from taking much of this book too seriously - especially the feeding chapter.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the hype
Review: I too got suckered in by the Dateline piece and bought this book. I am still breastfeeding my 10 month old and was shocked at some of the poor advice given. Demand feeding is not "bad" and is in fact necessary for your body to produce adequate amounts of milk. I do agree with her advice on finding a mentor and allowing others to help with a bottle when you are at your wits end. As for the 3 day miracle--even in her book she says that won't work for the older baby. Although her pitch while running the talk show circuit has been she can "cure" any baby in just 3 days. There is some solid advice in there but the book is geared toward expectant parents. It tells you how to parent from the beginning. If you pick up this book even one day after the babe is born you have already instilled "bad" habits. Take the advice with a grain of salt and like all those baby books out there glean what is meaningful for you and your family out of each one.....there is no magical equation or answer...only you know what that is not Tracy Hogg.
Rating: 
Summary: Gotta Get this Book!
Review: Being this is our 2nd child, I have read everything out there from the Sears to Ferber to La Leche League publications. Your's is the ONLY method I feel completely comfortable with. It makes so much sense...the whole family approach. My 5 week old was already getting used to breast feeding to go to sleep. And, she has been vomiting and spitting up constantly with a lot of gas, too. This past week I thought, "Uh oh...another colicky baby" since she was crying so much and we couldn't get her to stop. This book made me realize that she probably isn't colicky at all, that I'm probably feeding her too much too often, and missing her cues. Sure enough, she's now eating about every 3 hours during the day, has a good 5 hour stretch at night, and she's HAPPIER, and NOT throwing up so much. Even her gas has been better. Probably the greatest gift Tracy Hogg has given us is the ability to understand our baby, and therefore establish a closer, less stressful relationship with her during this fragile and exhausting time. And, this book has helped me to become a more confident mommy and person.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book - I wish it was written 8 years ago
Review: What a great book. It makes so much common sense out of a situation where it becomes very stressful to say the least. As the father of a child who was up during the night more than he was asleep I honestly say this book is a prayer being answered. I just shared this with a family memeber who has a 4 month old son who was also let's just say a little restless at night time, well this book has already helped by a 100%. Great Book! How about another book for toddlers, now there is a whole different set of problems!
Rating:
Summary: don't get sucked in by this authoritarian book
Review: yuck. I'm glad I didn't pick up this book when I was a younger, more gullible parent, or I might have really done harm to my relationship with my child. I'm frankly alarmed at many of her suggestions about schedules and breastfeeding. I've been raising a very bright, secure and happy child by following my own instincts, by listening to his needs, and by reading other, better parenting books. One that I really like that hasn't been mentioned here yet is Deborah Jackson's "Three in a Bed".
Rating:
Summary: everything makes sense
Review: I read this book cover to cover in one afternoon. it has changed my way of interacting with my baby where i now feel i have a great understanding of what my babies needs are and i am able to meet and exceed them. i really got the part of "drawing" a circle of respect around my baby and talking and interacting with her like the true individual she is. using the E.A.S.Y. plan has made both of our days much more enjoyable and predictable which certainly makes for a more harmonius and peaceful way. i would reccomend this book to any new parent, and i want my mother to read it too! this is by far the best baby book i have read to date and i keep it close by to refer to the many tips that i use daily. rachel tarr brooklyn ny
Rating:
Summary: lack of good feeding information
Review: At first I thought I would love this book. Someone who talked about respecting our precious babies! Tracy does have good ideas and some good theories. However I was disappointed in the lack of good feeding information. I have read just about everything on breastfeeding and have begun to see some trends in factual information, unfortunately this book does not have that kind of information. An example of outdated breastfeeding information: ((Page 105) First day [breastfed] whenever baby wants 5 minutes on each side Second day every 2 hours 10 minutes on each side Third day every 2 hours 15 minutes on each side Fourth day every 2 to 3 hours - 40 minutes maximum) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a statement on breastfeeding that states just the opposite. Saying that newborn infants should breastfeed unrestricted and on-request during the first days of life (not an exact quote). I also spoke to an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant(IBCLC) about this structured feeding technique. She said that not only is it unnecessary but it also teaches mom to read the clock not the baby. Also it can interfere with the initiation of the mothers milk supply to restrict early feedings. I am just wondering how Ms. Hogg can know more than the 34,000 Pediatrician of the AAP or the members of the IBCLC? Please read this book with a grain of salt!
Rating:
Summary: Return to the dark ages of baby care
Review: This book is an updated rehash of pre-Spock baby care manuals. The information on breastfeeding is simply and totally medically inaccurate and Ms. Hogg's insistence that infants under one year need to be trained out of their bad habits is most disturbing. The author believes that all baby parenting fits in cute acronyms (E.A.S.Y. and S.L.O.W.) and formulae. This is going to cause a lot of new parents guilt and grief. My suspicion is that someone cooked up this extremely clever title (playing on the hot "Horse Whisperer" book, movie, and concept) and then built a book around it. Great title. Terrible book. Remember, PARENTS are their babies' "whisperers." They know their babies best. Katie Allison Granju Author, "Attachment Parenting:Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child" and mother of three young children
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