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Summary: Both good and bad...
Review: I both loved and hated elements of this book. I liked that the author encouraged parents to become more in tune with their baby, learning their cues and signals. I also liked that she defined different baby "personalities" and what tendencies each one exhibited. (My son fell into the "textbook baby" category.) But what I was open to at first, and then grew to hate, was her insistence on putting your baby on a schedule. A rather rigid one. And that babies should sleep in their own bed, in their own room, and never with their parents. That seemed fine to me at first, when I was still pregnant. But then I actually had my baby, and tried these methods. Frankly, I was miserable. I became more and more frustrated and confused, not to mention exhausted. Finally, after two months of trying "the baby whisperer way" I ditched the book, and decided to follow what my intutition told me. My son slept in our bedroom with us for a while, and we let him find his own schedule instead of trying to invent one for him. We've been a wonderfully happy (and RESTED) family ever since.This book has it merits, don't get me wrong. As a first time mom, I guess I assumed all the answers would be found in ONE book. But what I've learned is that with this, as with all parenting books, you have to pick and choose what works for you and your baby. Attachment parenting was what we needed in our household. But if you dislike that philosophy, or if it hasn't worked for you, then I think this book is worth a try.
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Summary: I know I am a better Mom having read this book!
Review: I love this book and still refer to it weekly now that my son is fifteen weeks old. This book was given to my husband and me, as a gift when I was six months pregnant. Out of all the gifts we received this was the most valuable item of them all. I have since purchased it for other expecting Mothers and hope they find it as useful as we have. This book is easy reading and Tracy has a 'cracking' sense of humor, which helps when you're expecting. I found the concepts on feeding and sleeping to be parallel with Gary Ezzo's book, On Becoming Babywise, which I happened to follow and have a baby that slept through the night (eight hours) at eight weeks. I found chapter One, Loving the Baby You Gave Birth To, and chapter Three, S.L.O.W. Down (and Appreciate Your Baby's Language) the most helpful. Thankfully I have what she dubs the 'Textbook Baby', but I am a vibrant and vocal person - chapter One helped me understand I needed to connect with my baby on his language not mine. Chapter Three made it easier for me to recognize what he was trying to communicate to me so I could respond appropriately. Chapter Seven, The Y ' It's Your Turn, was also beneficial as I needed to hear about the importance of rejuvenating myself. As a self-employed individual, I was used to doing it all, but now that I am a stay-at-home Mom I expect to do it all. I am a better Mom and much happier when I take time off and let my husband take over for a few hours. Thank you Tracy for your wisdom and special advice, I know I am a better Mom having read this book!
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Summary: Great practical advice
Review: I wish I had read this book before I gave birth. I think if I did, I would have understood what my baby was trying to tell me those first few weeks. I highly recommend this book to any new parent as another great perspective in communicating with your child. I found reading this book along with books written by Pediatricians and Child Psychologists have provided me with great information so I can make a more informed decision of what I would like to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Reassuring
Review: While there is no perfect book on parenting out there, I really believe that this one has been the most helpful of all I have read. to start, there is no sense of guilt or feeling that you are damaging your child if the method doesn't work for you. Tracy mentions in several different places that, especially in regards to sleep, many paretns come to her after trying the other two popular methods and THEY HAVEN'T WORKED. Babies are individuals and "attachment parenting" and "Ferberizing" don't work for everyone. This book offers a nice middle of the road approach. In regards to those who feel that this book is for folks who really don't have time or desire to parent, I say not true. The book offers the best method I've read so far to care for both your child and yourself. You don't have to suffer to be a good parent. You don't have to neglect your needs to meet the needs of your baby. As far as her breast feeding information goes, you should always check with your pediatrician for acurate information that applies to you and your child. No author knows your specific needs and tossing this book aside because you feel her information on breastfeeding is inaccurate or "dangerous" is silly at best. I read Dr. sears "Breastfeeding Book" after meeting with 3 lactation consutants, several nurses and my doctor. My son was fussy and unhappy. Dr. Sears book gave the message that if you fail at breastfeeding, it's because you didn't believe you could do it or were sabatoged by the meddling no good niks who push formula or pacifiers in your face. No, I failed at breastfeeding because my milk never came in, inspite of every intervention we tried. Had I listend to the book and not my perdiatrician, my son would have starved. I closed Dr. Sears book feeling depressed and like I was failing my son. I closed Tracys book feeling like I had made the best choice for my sons well being. He is thriving now, sleeps almost through the night and is a calm, happy infant. Nothing is perfect, but "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" is one of the better books I've read. I suspect my son would agree!
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Summary: This book changed our lives!!
Review: I know it may sound silly to say a book changed our lives, but it DID. At 16 months, our daughter had NEVER slept longer than a 4 1/2 hour stretch and was mostly in our bed. After my sister recommended this book, I read it apprehensively because I had practiced attachment parenting and it wasn't working for our daughter or us. She was still waking every 2 1/2 hours to breast feed to sleep; therefore, she would NOT eat during the day. She had NEVER fallen asleep on her own and didn't know how. Needless to say, I was EXHAUSTED!!!! After reading this book, I understood that we were perpetuating a lot of our problems. We actually consulted with Tracy through her firm, Baby Techniques, and she was so compassionate and understanding. She provided us with a gradual ( I stress gradual) plan/routine to teach our daughter to be comfortable in her room and fall asleep on her own. With Tracy's guidence, we never let her 'cry it out' and now our daughter loves her crib and falls asleep happily on her own. She doesn't wake up until 5 or 6 a.m. at which time I breast feed and she falls asleep until 7. And she is eating well to boot. I would recommend reading this book BEFORE your child gets to 16 months. It is mostly geared towards starting in the first 3 months; although it says a lot for her technique if it also works past one year. Tracy has a book for toddlers coming out sometime and I can't wait!!!
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Summary: Wish I had this before my first son was born!!
Review: I bought this book 2 months after my second son was born. I do not even look at the other books I bought while suffering from severe sleep deprivation with my first son! Had I followed her guidelines with my first child I am certain life would have been easier. None of the other methods we tried worked. A great middle of the road approach. I hear she is writing another book on toddlers...I hope it is out soon!
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Summary: Grandma of triplets...
Review: Would highly recommend this book. Our daughter and son-in-law read the book when their triplets were about three months old. It was incredible, after about 3+ days we all noticed a positive, pretty dramatic change in all three of the babies as we used the various approaches recommended by Tracy Hogg. Each one of the babies has a different temperament and needs. After reading this book, mom and dad and all 'helpers' were much more effective in meeting the triplets round-the-clock individual needs and 'reading' their unique personalities -- as a result the babies are calm, cry rarely, experience no colic, rarely do they have a "fussy time", are alert, smiling/sociable, and they are able to self-comfort and put themselves to sleep. By the way, all three babies sleep through the night from about 10:30 PM (a dream feed) until about 5:30 to 6 AM. The babies were born 6 weeks early and now at almost five months weigh in at 19(boy), 17(girl), and 15(girl) pounds respectively. Starting at about 5 days old all babies were given a pacifier and rotated from breast to bottle. (One baby was able to nurse right after birth.) At each feeding our daughter breast feeds two of the babies and one baby is bottled. All babies rotate from breast to bottle throughout the 24-hour day --- so each baby nurses two out of three feedings. Each baby has absolutely no problems shifting from breast to bottle. So much for the dreaded "nipple confusion" concept. Each baby only nurses on one breast as recommended by the author. No problem producing milk --- when our daughter pumps she produces about 8-10 ounces per breast. From now on my favorite baby shower gift will be Secrets of the Baby Whisperer! I thank God for Tracy Hogg and her gentle, common sense, and respectful approach to babies. I would love to meet her. From a happy, calm grandma (ex-Registered Nurse) in Nebraska.
Rating:
Summary: Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
Review: I thought the book was wonderful and informative. The author teaches the reader some basic facts about infants that can be quite helpful for new parents. While every suggestion may not be suitable for every reader, I feel that you can get a lot out of the book.
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Summary: Goodbye sleepless nights!
Review: My daughter had her first baby girl in May. I purchased this book for her and she said it is wonderful. The baby is sleeping 6-8 hours per night. While awake, she is attentive and content, and takes her naps and feedings very regularly. The author writes using her English accent and with a good sense of humor, which can help a new mother with the baby blues. If you are having your first child, I stongly recommend this book.
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Summary: Good advice, but only if you start from day 1
Review: Purchased this book to try to get my non-sleeping, no schedule 6 month old to sleep and get on track. Basically this book tells you how to do this from the day you come home from the hospital and falls short on advice for people who were a little late to realize they were screwing it up. Anyway, at 14 months my son still is not on a schedule, but we are getting better everyday on our own without a book. I recommend this book for the new mom, and she should read it BEFORE the birth. Other than that it's handy for some quick reference.
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