Rating: 
Summary: Mom knows best
Review: This isn't a great book. Perhaps some of the techniques will help a few mothers whose children are receptive to them but they didn't work at our house. This was the first and last childcare book I've purchased. I did learn something important by reading it: I know what's best for my baby and I don't need books and overrated authors telling me otherwise. My son is now 16-months old and I think we've done well without the help of child "experts." My mom, the pediatrician and my instincts are the best resources I have and the only ones I need.
Rating: 
Summary: Some Useful Bits....But Too Much Condescension, Luv
Review: The EASY plan has actually worked quite well for my 10 week old son, so far. I think, perhaps, this is because he tends to get hungry every three hours, so the routine fits in with what he would normally do anyway.What I really could not bear is Hogg's tone. She uses some of the most patronizing language I've read in any parenting book (i.e. "that dreadful swing"). Her anecdotes seemed contrived, if not completely fictional. They're more self-congratulatory than anything else, allowing her to demonstrate time and again that these poor lost parents would simply continue down the road to domestic failure if she hadn't appeared. A friend had recommended "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp and I found this truly essential in calming the baby during his first weeks. To his her own, I guess...but I can't recommend Hogg...too much ego.
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Summary: I found this book extremely helpful!
Review: I'm really surprised by the negative reviews of this book! I had read several other books and didn't get the help I needed. Tracy's book helped me with a difficult infant. He nursed every two hours around the clock for the first three months ... and experienced moms know that means you have about an hour's break in between to sleep, go to the bathroom, eat a meal, take a shower, write thank you notes, visit with family and friends, throw in a load of laundry, etc. I was barely functioning as a human being. Getting the nursing started was extremely difficult and for some reason, the lactation consultants I talked to weren't able to help me, the baby cried a lot (everyone called it colic), he wouldn't sleep well, etc. When I read Tracy's book and worked my baby onto the E.A.S.Y. schedule, he was so much happier. He needed the predictability of knowing what was coming next in this new unknown world. Plus, Tracy helped me learn to interpret his different cries (hungry, tired, tummyache, etc.) and be more aware of his cues. She also loosely categorizes babies into personality types and gives ideas for how to deal with different babies' needs. This helped me recognize that my baby was very sensitive and was easily overstimulated by noise and toys and visitors and I could adjust accordingly. As far as the comments about Tracy being negative about breastfeeding, I read the book and breastfed and don't remember being offended by anything she said, although I had decided before reading the book that breastfeeding was the best choice for me. She was very honest that breastfeeding is much harder than most first-time moms expect. I was glad to have some validation that it is really tough to train yourself and the baby. I wish I had known that ahead of time so I wouldn't have been so discouraged. I'm wondering if the people who posted negative reviews had relatively easy babies or maybe were more experienced moms who didn't need some help getting started. At any rate, I found the book to be a life-saver for my sanity, and my baby was much happier after I practiced some of Tracy's tips.
Rating:
Summary: I did not like this book
Review: Parenting is such a personal thing and everyone has their own style. For me, honestly, I feel this book lays a poor foundation between the parent and the child. Sure she has some ways of getting your child to behave the way you want them to; but that was exactly my problem with the book. I was uncomfortable with many of the tenents espoused here. Of course there was a lot of sound advice, but overall the main principles of this guide conflict with what I see as positive, thoughtful, child oriented parenting. My criteria for anything I read: I ask myself if I was the child would I want my parents reading this book. My answer on this one is a NO.
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Summary: Skip this one.....
Review: I bought this book before I had my baby and had absolutely no clue about parenting and how I was going to raise my baby. The only thing I knew was that I was going to breastfeed, and reading Hogg's statements about breastfeeding made me sick. The good thing about her feeding part is that she does make formula feeding Moms NOT feel guilty about their choice, which is a great thing. I was able to breastfeed with no problems, and can only imagine how hard it must be to those Moms who couldn't, for whatever reasons. The bad thing is that if you are not quite sure if you will breastfeed or not, and take this book as an advice, chances are you will be heading to the store to stock up on formula. She understate the benefits of breastmilk and reminds those worried about body image that breastfeeding might leave you "flat as a pancakes". I am sorry, but if you were concearned about body image, pregnancy itself probably took care of that!!! I kept reading and the worse was about to come: "As this book is being written, scientists are experimenting with the notion of genetically altering cows to produce human breast milk. If that happens, perhaps in the future everyone will tout cow's milk." That was the most bizzare thing I've read in a while, not to mention ridiculous!
Okay, but the main subject of this book is her baby training parenting system called E.A.S.Y. It basically consists of E(eating), A(activity), S(sleep) and Y(you). I believe this parenting style might work for some parents who plan on training the baby to fit in their lives, so Mom and baby knows what comes next. She states that feeding on demand makes babies demanding, and that you should not rock your baby to sleep. I ended up breastfeeding our baby on demand, co-sleeping, and cuddling and holding him as much as I could(both big No-Nos according to Hogg). So, finally, this book did not do it for me. I don't believe you have to give up your life in order to raise a child and be miserable because of it. But you don't have to put your child on her E.A.S.Y schedule either. Just follow your heart, enjoy raising your baby and PLEASE read other parenting book out there, like Dr. Sears' ones or "The Happiest Baby on The Block" by Harvey Karp. Parenting is a very personal and important issue, and you can never have to much information and knowledge about it.
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Summary: Confidence Builder
Review: I love and recommend this book. Its lessons are valuable--look at this child as a person, respect individuality, learn to balance real life with your baby's needs. Much of what she says is common sense and for that reason a real confidence builder for the new mom. Read this book as a guide, not a manual and enjoy being a new mom!
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful Book for those without a clue
Review: This is a very helpful book for someone who has never been around babies and doesn't have a clue. It certainly helped my family and our colicky baby. I wonder if some of the people reviewing this book have actually read it? She is not pro-formula, but encourages women to make the best choice for their family (and encourages women to try not to feel guilty about their choice--I am very pro-breastfeeding, but women do deserve a choice and shouldn't be made to feel guilty about it!) and I like the fact that she introduces the concept that you can do both, something you don't hear anywhere else. A good book is still a book, a guide, to help you make decisions about caring for your child. If something in it isn't working for you and your child, then you have to keep doing research, keep consulting your pediatrician, keep at it until you find what works. If your child is failing to thrive, then good grief, feed it more often. You can't blame that on this author. Her technique of feeding on one breast at a feeding is sound advice because the child gets more hindmilk that way, any lactation nurse who knows her stuff will tell you that. But if your child is still hungry or isn't gaining weight, then, you know you will have to feed her more! This is the only book I read that actually helps you figure out through body language (an infant's only language) what your baby needs. Before I read this book I had no idea when my baby was hungry or tired or overtired. I couldn't get him to sleep. All I saw was a fussy, crying baby. Once I knew what to look for it all seemed so clear! It helped me give my son what he needed and made him happier within days. Was life idyllic and perfect, no, I am still learning and reading and trying to be a better mom every day! My only complaint about this book was that it wasn't longer and that there wasn't more detail about how to modify the techniques as your child grows. It is more of a rescue book, to help people who are clueless, like I was, figure out what their baby needs and help the WHOLE FAMILY get more rest and sleep. Something you really need to be able to be the best mommy possible. I wouldn't call this a baby trainer. She is a child advocate not someone who tells you to let a baby cry it out--just the opposite! It helped us, anyway!
Rating:
Summary: Just Awful
Review: I have read the book and the more I learn about breastfeeding and infant sleep and development,the more obnoxious that book appears. I am not opposed to routine, I just believe that babies develop their own. I do not like her anti bf attitude,she even goes so far to suggest that someday we will have genetically engineered cows to produce human milk that we can bottle feed to our babies. As if that would be a good thing. That just makes me sick. I also find it completely astounding how she suggests babies don't feel emotions like sadness or loneliness and that parents should look at the baby like they would a puppy or a kitten, when they are vocalizing they are not expressing an emotion, they are only capable of expressing a bodily need like 'I'm hungry, cold or uncomfortable.' My husband read that and said to me, "It sounds like she really hates babies". Many moms nurse or rock their babies to sleep for naps and bedtime and are glad to have such a reliable tool for getting them to sleep so easily. There is no need to put a baby through the sleep training when you already have a peaceful, appropriate way to get a baby to sleep - nursing or holding.
As for trying to stop the baby from night waking, it is not nutritionally appropriate for young infants to attempt to eliminate any night waking during which the baby usually takes a full feed. Parents can tell when baby isn't really hungry since they will only nurse a few minutes and go back to sleep. However if they stay awake actively nursing one must assume baby is hungry and needs that feeding for the nutrition. I like The No Cry Sleep Solution, it has lots of info about infant sleep that the 'baby trainers' like Hogg don't seem to know. Plus it is respectful to the needs of both parents and baby, unlike the 'Whisperer' which seems to me to try to make a baby more convenient for the parents. Yuck. You don't invite a child, a new person, into your life so you can try to make it fit in as if nothing has changed. You welcome them and embrace the changes and new experiences they bring.
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful - Especially for first time mom
Review: I thought this book was wonderful! She gives practical solutions to begin helping your baby eat and sleep with some consistency. She is very pro breast and bottle feeding, but more importantly, she believes that right decision is whatever is best for the mother and child. She discusses the two schools of thought on feeding and eating - one being those that believe that you feed the baby whenever he/she is hungry and let them sleep when and where they are most comfortable (ie - your arms, the rocking chair, the swing, car seat, etc)...the second being those parents that are guided only by the clock and by their schedule. The author does not subscribe to either of these schools, rather she believes in a schedule driven method in order to help regulate the sleep/eat cycles of the baby, yet stresses the importance of the parent being flexible in order to accomodate the baby's needs. I have incorporated most of her recommendations, and my baby is well-adjusted, happy, and sleeping through the night at 2 months! The most important distinction she makes is that she does not believe that every baby is the same, and that all technigues work on all babies. In fact, she gives 5 general descriptions of babies and provides guidance on how to deal with the personality of YOUR baby. I have read many books, including "Babywise," "What to Expect in the First Year," and "The Happiest Baby on the Block," and by far I found this one had the most helpful information and practical solutions.
Rating:
Summary: excellent reminder babies are people, treat them that way
Review: Love the fact that this book helps parents who don't know to treat their babies as people to do so for their own sanity and their baby's well being...more parents need to be reminded of this and this book gives you practical tips and examples of how baby questions have been resolved in other households.
It reminds you to love your baby with attention, talking and awareness of their surroudings...love it.
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