Books
SECRETS OF THE BABY WHISPERER: HOW TO CALM, CONNECT, AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR BABY
Reviewed by: Maureen Connolly
Author: Tracy Hogg with Melinda Blau
Publisher/Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
Getting in sync with your baby doesn't always come naturally, as many moms and dads learn during the first few weeks home with their newborn. Author Tracy Hogg, a neonatal nurse, mother of two, and the founder of Baby Technique, a newborn and lactation consulting firm based in Los Angeles, says that one of the keys to a happy baby is to first figure out what type of temperament he has. Once you know what kind of personality you're dealing, with you can better meet his needs.
Hogg devotes a good portion of her book to the above, which falls under her EASY plan for creating structure and routine (something she says infants crave). Her EASY (eat, activity, sleep, your time) plan also offers advice on how come up with a schedule that suits your personality while meeting your baby's needs, and gives guidelines on how to get started off on the right foot (including letting the infant sleep in his own crib from the first day home to being careful not to overstimulate your infant).
Many of Hogg's theories are based on her own experiences, yet she does have some research to back up her claims. So while this may not be the only book you'd want to rely on for guidance about your newborn, her middle-of-the-road approach to parenting seems safe and sensible.
