The Baby Whisperer: Essentials of the Sleep Method by Tracy Hogg (2024)

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

The Baby Whisperer: Essentials of the Sleep Method by Tracy Hogg (1)

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.

The Baby Whisperer: Essentials of the Sleep Method by Tracy Hogg (2)

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

The Baby Whisperer: Essentials of the Sleep Method by Tracy Hogg (2024)

FAQs

Does the baby whisperer work? ›

Mums say: 'I read Secrets of the Baby Whisperer and did find the EASY routine made sense and seemed to fit with my baby's natural rhythms. I liked the way the approach aims for a middle ground: babies need you to connect with them and listen to them, but they also need the security of a routine.

What is the baby whisperer method of sleep training? ›

The idea, which comes from Tracy Hogg's book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, involves putting your baby in her crib and if she fusses, going to her room to hold her for a bit, then putting her back in the crib when she's calm. These steps are repeated again, and as needed, until your baby is settled and asleep.

What are the 4 S's for babies? ›

It just so happens that there is one bundle of tricks known as the “5 S's.” Pediatrician Harvey Karp pioneered this method when he brought together five techniques that mothers have often used and organized them into this easy mnemonic: swaddle, side-stomach position, shush, swing, and suck.

What is the baby whisperer routine for 3 months? ›

At 3 months, a baby will need 5 hours of sleep during the day and 10 hours at night. Lay the baby down to sleep in her crib when she shows signs of tiredness. Follow a bedtime routine regardless of the time of day by keeping activity to a minimum and by providing peaceful surroundings.

Which sleep training method is best? ›

The fading sleep training method is one of the best sleep training methods for some. To use this method, you take what techniques you normally use to get your baby to fall asleep – rocking, soothing, singing, babywearing, etc. — and you start to lessen the time you spend doing them to “fade” them out.

What is the 15 minute rule for sleep training babies? ›

STEP 1: Instead of entering the nursery, look at your clock and/or start a timer (mentally or actually set one) for 15 minutes. STEP 2: If your baby is still really crying after the 15-minute mark, go into the nursery, turn on the light, pick him up, change his diaper, and re-swaddle him.

Why is sleep training controversial? ›

Why is Sleep Training so Controversial? There is so much information and advice on Instagram, Tiktok and Google that is completely unregulated regarding baby sleep. Even pediatricians get little to no formal training in infant sleep (or lactation) and give outdated advice to parents about sleep training.

What is the 3 minute sleep method for babies? ›

How does the Ferber method work?
  1. Parents put their child to bed and then stay away for 3 minutes.
  2. After a brief check (during which the parents refrain from picking up or holding the child) the parents leave again—this time for 5 minutes.

Is it too late to sleep train at 9 months? ›

Yes, it's totally possible to sleep train a 9-month-old! But go into it with realistic expectations for your little one and yourself! Your bub's capacity to “sleep through the night” may be a little different than what you're anticipating.

What is the 3 C's baby? ›

Here are some signs that your baby might be in a leap: Increase in the 'three C's': crying, clinginess and crankiness. Change in sleeping patterns. Their mood is more unpredictable.

What is the happiest baby method? ›

The five S's are swaddling, side or stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking. These five things can help re-create the environment of the womb, which can be comforting for your baby.

What are the 5 S's to calm a baby? ›

Here's what each of the 5 S's are, what they do, and how to use them to calm and comfort your little one.
  • The First of the 5 S's: Swaddle.
  • The Second of the 5 S's: Side or Stomach Position.
  • The Third of the 5 S's: Shush.
  • The Fourth of the 5 S's: Swing.
  • The Fifth of the 5 S's: Suck.

What is the secret of the baby whisperer method? ›

The main concept promoted by the author is to build a flexible routine for babies, from a very early age, of eating, followed by activity, followed by sleep. The routine is based on the baby's needs and is not a schedule dictated by the parent.

What is the baby whisperer sleep regression? ›

This four month progressive milestone, which many people refer to as a 'regression', marks the stage where your baby's brain becomes more active and their sleep habits progress beyond those of a newborn. They are changing to a more adult-like sleep pattern and, just like adults do, they wake during the night.

What does a baby whisperer do? ›

Tracy Hogg has been dubbed the 'Baby Whisperer' because of her claims to be able to understand the language of babies and so calm even the most distressed or difficult infant. Tracy teaches parents how to work out what kind of baby they have and which parenting plan will work best for them.

Do programs like Baby Einstein actually work? ›

At least two studies published since 2007 have concluded that Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby DVDs provide no benefit to children, and, according to one of the studies, might actually slow down language development in infants between eight to 16 months of age.

Does the pick up put down method work? ›

You might want to consider the Pick Up Put Down Method. This method has proven to be beneficial for both babies and parents, promoting a healthy sleep routine and improved self-soothing skills.

Is self-soothing real for babies? ›

During the first months of life, infants most often fall asleep during or immediately after a feeding both at the beginning and during the middle of the night; self-soothing is observed only occasionally.

What happened to the baby whisperer? ›

Tracy Hogg, 44, a British-born nurse and best-selling author who was dubbed the "baby whisperer" for her ability to sooth prickly newborns and their anxious parents, died of melanoma Nov. 25 at a hospice in Doncaster, England. Ms.

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