Most Helpful Customer Reviews
78 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It worked for me..., September 20, 2007
GENERAL COMMENT: Like every baby book I read, I try to keep an open mind. You will NOT find a book that will work for ALL babies but this book worked for mine, who I think is a text book baby.
SITUATION: I was going back to work and my baby was super needy at 6 weeks-- wanted to be helded all the time. He won't nap if I wasn't holding him. And at night, I would rock him to sleep and put him into his crib very very gently when he has fallen into DEEP sleep. Otherwise, he would CRY. But that was my fault because I HELD him alot. This would be fine if I was a stay at home mom...but if even I was, I think it would have taken it's toll on me at some point.
LIKE: I like this book because it helped with getting my baby on a good routine, nap longer, sleep on his own, and sleep longer through the night. I made my own version of the EASY plan, customize it to my baby and what worked for me...this book afterall is not the BIBLE.
RESULTS: By about 8-10 weeks, he was sleeping from 7:30-8 pm to about 4:30 am (with 1 dream feed). Now at 5 months, he sleeps from 8pm to about 7am (with 1 dream feed). He use to nap about 30 minutes at a time. After the plan, he started napping for 2 hours (slightly shorter now since he is older). He LIKES his crib and falls to sleep in about 20-30 minutes of laying down...without ANY fuss. And he is a happy healthy little boy who is 50% for weight and 80% for height.
TRANSITION PERIOD: This didn't happen overnight. I would try for a week or two and revisit the book about a thousand time to make sure I wasn't doing it wrong. He would progess and go back to his old self and progress some more. After about 2 weeks, I customize the plan. You WILL be glad to get some time for yourself and hubby when the baby goes down to sleep in the evening instead of at night. He sleeping pattern gradually falls into place. I don't believe in cry it out so the SHH/PAT worked for me. It was hard and I gave up several times. But it worked before you know it. Just give it your best try and be PATIENT AND CONSISTENT. Even now when he takes a little longer to get to sleep, I still PAT/SHH and he is out.
DON'T LIKE: The tone of the author can be a bit annoying (KNOW IT ALL) but after all, she is a super nanny and have worked with THOUSANDS of babies. This book made me PARANOID as a parent--thinking that I would just ruin my child if I made any wrong moves. But we all turned out okay and our parents didn't have this book.
CONCLUSION: Your instinct as a mom is truly the best guide but sometimes, it does get you into situations that are difficult to overcome. This book helped me better manage my baby's sleep/eating which are the biggest parts of his life. Life is so much less HECTIC for MOM, BABY and DAD.
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54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, depending on your parenting philosophy, September 30, 2006
This review is from: The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior--Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood (Paperback)
Most baby parenting books fall into one of two categories: the old-school, "get the baby on a schedule" philosophy or the pro-co-sleeping, child-led "attachment parenting" philosophy.
This book is clearly in the former category, and I think it's the best of its kind. Tracy Hogg is a big believer in getting your baby on a schedule as soon as possible, but she clearly loves babies and advocates for doing so gently, paying attention to your baby's needs and cues.
Her tone can be bit unforgiving (e.g. you kind of feel like a failure if you don't have your five-month-old in a consistent routine) and I disagree with some of her suggestions (e.g. her "Pick Up/Put Down" soothing method just upset my baby further) but, overall, I found the book to be full of helpful suggestions and information.
In particular, the detailed charts of what quantity and types of foods babies should eat at various stages and sample routines and schedules were invaluable. (A few women I know bought the book just to have those charts!) Even though I didn't follow them exactly, it helped to have detailed, specific examples rather than the vague suggestions that most baby books offer.
Bottom line: if you are opposed to the idea of getting your baby on a schedule and directing her routine (as many of the people who gave it a low rating seem to be), you will not enjoy this book. If, however, you're open to that philosophy, this book is a must-have.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! The One & Only Book I Needed, January 9, 2007
I purchased this book before my baby was born (based on reviews I'd read on this site). So only fair I post my own review for everyone else.
I found this book really really helpful. My daughter is nearly 11 months and I'm still reading sections on eating etc.
There is a brilliant page entitled 'an average day for a 4 week old baby'. I copied this page and put it on my fridge! If you're a first time mum (or dad) and want some no nonsense advice then get this book.
I also found her Eat-Activity-Sleep-Time for You (EASY) routine good.
I found the advice on sleeping really good. My baby was sleeping through the night by about 3 months.
I did her recommended 'dream feed' (the last feed at between 10-11pm) until around 6 or 7 months old.
She talks about different personality types and I think I have an 'angel' baby ... but I have to take some credit and certainly thank this book for giving me the confidence to relax and be a great mum.
Just one word of warning ... if you're the sort of person that likes the idea of co-sleeping, demand feeding, cuddling your baby off to sleep etc then don't buy this book.
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