Beverly McCorriston finds two books to go by
There seems no end to the 'expert' advice being published about babies or childcare. Is it just a series of changing fads, or common sense? We decided to put them to the test by our own experts on the job.
Since finishing her training at Norland nursery nursing college in 1985, Beverly McCorriston has worked as a maternity nurse, nanny, school matron and nursery teacher. She now lives in Cambridgeshire and here gives her opinion after reading two new books on babycare.
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, by Tracy Hogg (Ebury Press, 9.99) Unfortunately this book has been the subject of much media attention recently. I say unfortunately, because the media has focused almost entirely on the author Tracy Hogg's high-profile Hollywood clients and their ability (or lack of it!) to raise children. It's doubtful whether any of the people writing about Tracy have so much as glanced at her book, let alone tried to understand her philosophy of 'baby whispering'.
The hype for the book is based on Tracy's 'magical' ability as a 'baby whisperer' (named after Nicholas Evans' bestseller Secrets of the Horse Whisperer - not that anyone is suggesting babies are like horses, thankfully!). That, and its layout and language, betray the fact that its co-author and its target audience are American. Even the 'English banter' seems to be put in to satisfy an audience whom Tracy freely admits see her as a cross between Mary Poppins and Daphne from the sitcom 'Frasier'. But do not let any of this put you off, as everything in this book stems from Tracy's long practical experience in childcare, both in the UK and the US.
Tracy was born and raised in Yorkshire. The book says she qualified as a nurse in Doncaster and specialised in working with children with severe mental and physical difficulties, and she has worked at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, at St Catherine's Hospital for the Mentally Handicapped, and for the World Health Organisation in India. She moved to California eight years ago and runs a consultancy in babycare in Los Angeles.
I agree with the foreword to this book, that I, too, face the question asked by prospective parents: 'What books do you recommend we obtain for guidance?' There are a lot of books on the market that cover all aspects of childcare. But this is the first I have read that has gone into so much detail about early infant behaviour and development. Any parent, grandparent or carer could use this book to help interpret what a baby is 'saying' and give them what they need.
Like all good advice on childcare, the book starts before the baby makes his first appearance in the house. Often when being interviewed for a maternity nurse position I have given advice to the parents-to-be on being prepared for delivery, from setting up the nursery to stocking the freezer. All of this and more is covered in Tracy's 'Homecoming Checklist'. She even offers useful tips on introducing babies to the family pets.
The overriding theme of Tracy's book is that to fully understand a baby and be able to interpret his language, you have to treat him as an individual and show him respect as such. She stresses to mothers that their first job is to understand the baby they have, not the one they have dreamed about during the past nine months. Her first chapter contains a 'Know Your Baby Quiz', which helps parents to gauge which of five broad temperamental types - Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited or Grumpy - their baby falls into, and how best to cater to the needs of each type.
According to Tracy, the key to satisfying any baby's needs is a structured routine established right from the beginning. This, she suggests, is easier to do if the parents know a little about their own character and whether they have a 'wing it' or 'plan it' personality. Another of Tracy's quizzes helps parents identify their Wing It/Plan It Quotient and offers advice to help them adapt to a routine that will be suitable for the baby.
Tracy uses the acronym E.A.S.Y. to describe a routine of Eating, Activity, Sleep and last, but definitely not least, You, for your time. Separate chapters cover each stage of the routine in great detail, dealing with such arguments as breast v bottle, cloth v disposables and other fashion-prone issues with a common-sense, practical approach. Another basic principle of Tracy's is the need to 'S.L.O.W. down and listen to your baby's language' - you can use the acronym to remember not to react instantly to a baby's cry, but Stop and remember that crying is the baby's language; Listen to what the baby is saying; Observe what the baby is doing; and decide What's up, based on your observations. Only then should you react. Although stressing again that you have to learn that particular baby's language, Tracy provides guides that will help you interpret the cries and body movements.
The book also deals with the problems of 'non-standard' pregnancies. Tracy looks at the special needs of premature babies and multiple births and addresses the physical and mental problems that the mother may experience. Additionally, she offers advice on how best to prepare for the arrival of a baby from a surrogate pregnancy or adoption.
Finally, what if you bought this book too late in your experience with a baby and it's already gone horribly wrong? Never fear - the last chapter, called 'The ABC Cure For Accidental Parenting', provides a recovery plan to enable parents (and by extension, carers) to identify what they are doing wrong and a troubleshooting guide to help them correct it.
So at last, I've found a book that is on the same wavelength as me! This book was a pleasure to review. I can thoroughly recommend it, not just to expectant mothers but to their friends and family and anyone in the childcare profession. Much of it may appear common sense, but there is something here for everyone to learn.
What to Expect When You're Breastfeeding, by Clare Byam-Cook (Vermilion, Pounds 7.99) The author of this book is a trained nurse and midwife who lives in London and who has worked as a breastfeeding counsellor in an ante-natal practice for the past ten years.
Fortunately, part of my own training was three months spent at a hospital working in the maternity ward, Special Care Baby Unit and Paediatrics. At college we had to rely on our course textbooks to enlighten us about breastfeeding, and so I found the work in the hospital a valuable practical experience. This book would have been very useful to both myself and the new mothers I met on the ward who were experiencing problems with or anxieties about breastfeeding.
Clare has written a precise guide which covers preparing for breastfeeding, what to expect in the early stages and how to overcome common problems, with practical and valuable advice. At last, here is an in-depth guide which concentrates on the anxiety that often goes with breastfeeding, while still including advice on bottle-feeding as an alternative.
This is a book I would recommend to new mothers and to any childcarers involved with young babies. Personally I will use it to aid me with my maternity placements, not having experienced breastfeeding myself as yet!
