By Rachel Hoeing
I was asked the other day by one of my pregnant friends, “If you could use only one baby book to get advice, what would it be?” Hands down, my answer was Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Whether you are a first time mom or about to give birth to your fifth child, you must, must, must, read this book if you haven’t already!
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer is by Tracy Hogg and has been around since 2001. I read it while I was pregnant with my first child in 2003, and read it again when I gave birth to my second child in 2005. The reason this is my choice for best baby book is because it makes so much sense!! This book is filled with simple, sensible solutions to everyday problems that we will all face with our babies. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what a baby needs, and Tracy Hogg reassures her readers of that all the way through this book.
The author also explains that every child is different. You can raise them the exact same way, but every child is unique and different personalities mean different reactions. Tracy explains that you must first figure out your baby’s personality before you can try to get a handle on what they may need or want at any given time. She even gives names to these personalities and helps you find the one that best describes your child.
I know that over the past ten years, parenting has changed quite a bit and moms are often classified as “helicopter,” “attachment parent,” “free range parent,” and others. I think that no matter what your parenting style, Tracy is able to offer tips that will help you.
Most moms learn that a routine is great, but there is no need to be a drill sergeant in your home. Tracy gives great tips on how to create a routine for good sleep habits without stressing out everyone, including your baby! Thanks to this book, both of my children have been excellent sleepers most of their lives. They never had trouble being put in the cribs while they were awake. They never had to have “only mom” put them to bed. Even now, the results of this book are evident when my children have sleepovers or baby-sitters. They are usually agreeable, and love to sleep as much as I do!
If you have read this book, I would love to hear your favorite things about it, and if not, be sure to check it out! There is also a book titled, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers, which I also recommend!
