Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Disclaimer: the goal of this page is to offer general information on alternative approaches. Heidi's approach differs from this one, and she doesnotendorse nor encourage all aspects of the Baby whisperer method.
Tracy Hogg, often dubbedTheBaby Whisperer,developed anoften effective philosophy and sleep method to helpbaby sleep well. A strictE.A.S.Y.routine and the pick-up put downpu/pdmethod are twoof the tools to teach a baby good sleeping skills - see below.
Tracy Hogg, who sadly died in 2004, was anEnglish registerednurse with a wonderful talent tounderstandand tune in to babies and children.
She discovered thistalent when working with mentally disabled children: body language andother non-verbal cues helped her connect with the children.
Her first book explainsthebasicsof her philosophy, aboutunderstanding and tuning in to babies and the methods parents can useto help their baby sleep:Secretsof the Baby Whisperer: How To Calm, Connect, and Communicate With YourBaby.
The book has been quite successful and was followed up bySecrets of the Baby Whispererfor ToddlersandTheBaby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems.
The Baby Whisperer Basics
Tracy Hogg's method is often listed as an alternative inbetweencrying it outmethods (like theFerbermethod) and no tears methods (like theNoCry Sleep Solution). And it is.
Tracy does not have babies cry it out. It is important for a baby tofeel safe and secure, and to know that her parents are always there forher.
But she also does not support what she callsaccidentalparentinglike nursing, bottle feeding, walking or rockingbaby to sleep. These make a child dependent on apropfor sleepwhereas it is crucial for a baby to learn to sleep without one.
Severaltoolsare explained in the book to help parents teach their baby these allimportant sleep basics: among themastrictly structured routine(E.A.S.Y.) and thepick up put down(pu/pd) method for putting baby to bed.
Each tool comes with clear,age-specificinstructions to be followed. Next to the instructions, a large part isalso aboutgetting afeelingfor doing things as needed foryourbaby. Tracy helps you learn that too.
TheE.A.S.Y. routineis about reading and understanding your baby's cues and giving her theregularity to fit that into a predictable daily pattern.
Every day will be structured with a pattern of "E" Eating, "A" Activity and then"S" sleepwhich leaves time to yourself for "Y"You.
Tracy was very clear onthedifference between a routine and a schedule. A schedulewould involve fixed times and that is not what it is about:you can't fita baby into a clock. Rather, the E.A.S.Y. routine focuseson the regularity and the correct order to do things in.
Thepick-up put down(pu/pd) methodishow you put baby to sleep in her crib and teach her how to sleep alone.You do the putting down and picking up as often as need to get baby tosleep.
You may do that with a"FourS" wind down ritualof setting the stage,swaddling possibly,sitting quietly and ashush-pat(pattingbaby's back and making shush-sounds) to help baby quiet down.
Tracy Hogg's Baby Whisper sleep method, and the whole philosophy behindit, is well rounded and based on valuable ideas.
What I personally like as well is that Tracy did not claim that hermethod had to be applied rigidly to every baby in every situation. Hermain aim is toteachparents to learn about their own childand toadjust to her individual needs.
Each of Tracy's books givesinterestinginsights and help understand babies and their sleep, evenif you do not want to follow all the instructions.
Article Author: Heidi Holvoet, PhD - Founder, senior sleep consultant
Heidi Holvoet, PhD, is the founder of the Baby Sleep Advice website and movement, an award-winning author, baby & toddler sleep consultant with 15+ years experience as well as a certified lactation counselor.
Over the years, Heidi has received several awards inluding a Mom's Choice Award (MCA) and National Parenting Awards (NAPPA) for her Baby Sleep Advice website, programs and books. Also, Baby Sleep Advice was awarded "Most Trusted Infant's Sleep Solutions Company 2023" in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2023.
Heidi continually conducts personal research and participates in continued education and in that way stays up to date with current scientific and pyschosocial infant care.
She is also a member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants of which she was one of the earliest contributors. She obtained her PhD degree in physics at the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Heidi is passionate about helping babies and their parents sleep more and better, with her trademark approach that has been proven and praised time and again by parents worldwide to be effective and truly no-tears. Respect for you as a parent and your baby, is at the heart of Heidi's warm and kind support. Her approach always keeps in mind a baby's needs and abilities at any given age, is based on pediatric science and the most up to date knowledge in infant care and sleep science.
As well as the award-winning baby sleep programs, Heidi offers popular 1:1 consults and easy-access 30-minute SOS Sleep sessions.
No-Tears Self Soothing