The Baby Whisperer

[Nadene]

I have seen her on the Discovery Channel but know she is no longer with us. Does anyone know if she has someone that has taken over from her? I need help with my 6 week old with the pick up put down method that Tracey uses and the E.A.S.Y routine that she implements. Has anyone done this before and has any advice or know of anyone that can help me do this?

[Yanka]

Nadene,

We have followed Tracy's EASY routine with our DD (she is now 13 weeks).

Your lo is too young at 6 weeks for pick up put down - Tracy recommends to do 'shush-pat' for under 4 months olds. We did that exactly as she describes in her book and it worked wonders! Our DD was exteremely difficult before we started on EASY (mainly due to colic). She is now sleeping through most nights (unless she has a bad day - e.g. jabs, bad mood, etc.)

Best of luck - hope it works for you too!

[anchovies]

Have you got the books? Also have you looked at the website that tipex mentioned, its very useful www.babywhiperer.com

[Nadene]

What is the shh-pat method that Tracey uses for under 4 months? Does this involve pick up put down or just leaving them to lie in the cot?

[Yanka]

Aparently under 3 or 4 months, pick-up put-down is too stimulating, so Tracy patts the baby's back and makes 'shhhh' sound until the baby is asleep, starting by holding the baby for about 5 mins and once calm (but awake) putting her/him to bed. Only picking up again if the baby can't settle like that.

There are a few pages on this method in her book (baby whisperer solves all your problems) or on the website.

[jenk1]

Nadene what do u mean she is no longer with us?, has anything happened to her?

[tiredemma]

she died of cancer earlier this year

[Nadene]

Does anyone know of a Baby Whisperer in London who can provide one-to-one help?

[cookiem]

My ds was a nightmare for the 1st 8 weeks of his life, he cried non stop and everyone called it collic! after nearly having a nervous breakdown (not really!) i decided to try a few things.

One thing i tried and did work was trying to put him to sleep in different positions (i know the midwife tells you feet to foot etc) but i was desperate. Eventually i lay him on his stomach on a small (warm) hot water bottle (not boiling like we do) and he slept for 3 hours!! what a breakthrough!! I watched him like a hawk the whole time!

Although this might not work for you or you don't like putting the baby to sleep on his front i am just letting you know what worked for me. Ds has slept on his belly since 8 weeks old and still does (he's 2.5 now) and sleeps right through the night - 12 hour shift.

I do agree with Yanka that 6week old babies are too young for the leave to cry mehod, good luck, hope you find a solution. I had to put my ds down in his cot a few times in a different room and burry my head in a pillow for 10mins so he didn't drive me nuts - make sure you have someone to give you a break if he's crying constantly, it's get you down!

[MMG]

I think someone else is replacing the baby whisper, its a shame as she was so gifted.

My little boy suffered from colic, couldnt get him to sleep from day one apart from on his front, i was so scared i watched him every second. <br /> Now he is 15 months he sleeps how he wants but he slept on his front for a long time even though everyone said dont. Also if you eleavate them rather than lying flat does help too.

[Eaney]

My DP was up last night for one and a half hours doing the PU/PD method. Hope its better tonight. DD is 6mths old. DP is very tired!!!!

[beansprout]

Sshh-pat is based on the idea that young babies cannot deal with three things at once, so if you are sshing and patting, their brains can't sustain crying for long!

The books and web site are very thorough, but TH was also very clear - these methods are effective, but they also involve hard work. Anyone you hire won't give you any different information. I would suggest you have a good read of the books and take it from there? Good luck.

[chicca]

I tried it (the PU/PD) the other day. The case study in the book said that it took about 31 attempts to get "Spencer" down using this method.

I gave up at 185.

DS just saw it as a battle and wasn't prepared to give in.

I'm sure it works for some, but not stubborn little boys perhaps!

[Yanka]

Yeah, it seems that for some babies it is actually kinder to let them 'cry it out' for a while - DD at 3 months was also getting way to excited by PU/PD. Eventually (after about 50-60 PDs) she was absoultely hysterical whether she was in bed or held by me, so I had to leave the room (for both of our sakes). Surprisingly, she calmed herself down and fell asleep in 5 minutes (obviously from exhaustion).

From then on we did a combination of shh-pat and leaving her to settle on her own. Importantly, we always include winding-down period of about 20-30 mins which involves her sitting in her vibrating bouncy chair in her darkened room with us slightly rocking her. We don't let her fall asleep there but it surely relaxes her enough to be put in her cot with minimal stress.

Works most of the time, although we still have tough times with settling her every now and then like this weekend - she is a tough little cookie...).

She sleeps through the night though and even her morning and afternoon naps tend to last about 2 hours each.