The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems

British-born Hogg (Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers) earned her nickname for her ability to quickly discern the needs of babies; this book presents confident answers to the questions most frequently asked of her. While not a complete retread, the book recycles much of the commonsense advice for which Hogg is known. Respect for and being attuned to one's child is critical in learning how to parent; acronyms aplenty encapsulate advice (e.g., H.E.L.P. stands for Hold yourself back, Encourage exploration, Limit, and Praise). Real-life scenes demonstrate how structured schedules foster predictability and avoid the usual crankiness surrounding "the big three" mom-and-infant issues: sleep, eating, and behavior. Some readers may like the bulleted how-to lists that punctuate Hogg's conversational narrative, but pinpointing issues is still difficult without an index. If your medium- or large-sized library doesn't have Hogg's first two titles, this is a solid purchase; otherwise-and for smaller libraries-order on demand and rely on the post-birth "What To Expect" titles. Hogg's recent death may bring extra sensitivity to demand.
Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.