Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers

December 24, 2001
In the follow-up to her popular Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Hogg offers communication techniques designed to ease parents and children through the trying moments of toddlerhood. To her trademark techniques of "T.L.C." (talk, listen, clarify) and "R&R" (routines and rituals), she adds "H.E.L.P." for raising toddlers: Hold yourself back; Encourage exploration; Limit their exposure to extremely frustrating or overstimulating situations; Praise. Using real-life examples, Hogg shows how parents, sometimes unwittingly, sabotage their own parenting through their anxious behavior. When a mother talks about how nothing seems to hold her son's attention, Hogg suggests she stop overscheduling and allow the little boy to do nothing—chances are the overstimulation is making his behavior worse. While the book's focus is on defusing difficult situations, Hogg offers basic advice on most aspects of childrearing, including toilet training, protecting newly ambulatory toddlers, sibling rivalry and tantrums. Her suggestions are occasionally humorous and always practical. On security blankets, she suggests, "Take it! If you're traveling make sure you take whatever item makes your child feel safe." Readers who are already familiar with
Baby Whisperer
will benefit most from this book, as there's not much of an introduction to Hogg's philosophy. Still, the title offers a fresh and useful perspective for parents. (Feb.)Forecast:A 15-city tour and extensive national promotion—along with the track record for the first book—should make this one a big seller.

February 1, 2002
Hogg, nicknamed "the baby whisperer" for her uncanny communication skills with babies, is a nanny and parent-trainer for the California wealthy. She and coauthor Blau mine the same vein of their earlier Secrets of the Baby Whisperer (LJ 1/01) but this time focus on the occasionally difficult, often wonderful, and always exhausting toddler years. Readers might not uncover any of the titular "secrets," but they will find commonsense advice on managing the behavior of toddlers. Hogg's gentle writing, which emphasizes respect for and being attuned to one's child, recalls that of William and Martha Sears's Attachment Parenting (Little, Brown, 2001). Hogg uses acronyms to encapsulate her advice, e.g., H.E.L.P. stands for Hold yourself back, Encourage exploration, Limit, and Praise a process that can "help create and nurture the parent/child bond, keep your toddler out of harm's way, and foster your little one's growth and independence." If her first book, referred to ad nauseam here, did well at your public library, or if your collection lacks coverage of toddlers, purchase. Otherwise, hold off. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/01.] Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2001
On the heels of her hugely successful first book, "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer "(2001), nurse and mother Hogg continues with a friendly manual for parents of toddlers. Where E.A.S.Y. was the mantra espoused in her first book, which was about infant care ("eat," "activity," "sleep," and "your time"), H.E.L.P. is the first of several mnemonic devices offered here for helping raise toddlers: "hold yourself back," "encourage exploration and experimentation," "limit," and "praise." But these cute shortcuts only outline the broader scope of Hogg's useful, caring program. She and her coauthor find a comfortable middle ground between short, bulleted lists of how-to's and essays on the philosophy of parenting, striking a balance that reflects both the sacred and profane aspects of child rearing. Peppered with real-life scenarios from parents across the U.S. (although British, Hogg made this country her own in 1995 after she founded Baby Technique, a Los Angeles-based parenting and lactation consulting company) and quizzes for judging the type of toddler yours might be, this book is a welcome addition to child-care guides, an area that is crowded but lacking in substance. Its focus on just those few years between infancy and preschool makes it a real treasure. Expect heavy demand as the new baby boom continues. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)