In this book Tracy Hogg has given terrible parenting advice to new mothers. I cannot begin to explain how the advice in this book ruined my early weeks with my newborn child. Tracy Hogg treats children like they're machines even so far as to say you can categorize their cries - all seasoned parents will know what a ridiculous assumption this is. Over structured routines, her methods are full of contradictions, her 'pick-up put down' just confuses and upsets you and baby - and believe me I did it "correctly." Don't let your baby sleep in the car or stroller, don't take baby on errands? What kind of person says these things? Is that real life? Maybe for a celebrity mother - so basically you don't bond with your baby, dont see the world with baby, you're obsessed with baby getting to nap and sleep.

Horrible breastfeeding advice. She even goes as far as to suggest you need to clean your breasts after each feed - what a terrible thing to think, the thought had never crossed mind. She gives this breast feeding advice based on no research, knowledge or education like all of Tracy Hogg's advice. --just to clear-up breast milk naturally contains anti bacterial agents and never in the history of the world have mothers had to disinfect their nipples before and after breast feeding.

This book is harmful for new parents and their babies. Please go with the other one star reviews. I don't think any book in the history of Amazon has ever had this many one star reviews and having experienced it myself I now know why. We should have destroyed this book weeks before we did. Tracy Hogg has no qualifications and only 1980's babysitting experience with bottle feeding celebrity mothers - which just goes to show that ANYONE can write and publish a parenting book. Awful advice.

This book, title and all, is aimed at apprehensive new parents who think maybe there is a "secret" that they don't know - there isn't! Good advice will tell you your baby is yours and you WILL know what is best trust your own judgment and your family will be happy - advice as strong as Hogg's is only bad.

Unfortunately Tracy Hogg is no longer with us so she cannot answer for this book and to all the parents that have been so affected by her terrible words. I cannot wait to see this book removed from the shelves.
DO NOT BUY.

This book is great. My husband loves it! Its factual and open. It gets birth partners (more specifically fathers!) involved in the pregnancy and birthing process. Instead of assuming the father will feel as certain way, it asks the reader questions that enable reflection on whats going on for them, and their role in the process. It makes the partner feel connected, involved and knowledgeable. It gives factual advice on labour and delivery as well as exercises the partner can do with the mother. It's a must have for both father and mother-to-be!

If youre looking for an arabic or otherwise unique name DON'T bother buying this book!

Firstly the pronunciation of the names is not shown, secondly the meanings for many are not accurate, thirdly the book is laid out as a list - which I thought would be good however with all these names I'd rather have a more organised way of sorting through them other than alphbetically.

Finally there are plenty of baby names it calls "names" which are simply words translated. For example one name, arabic "Kilab" meaning DOG. Who in there right mind would call there kid dog?! I'm only surprised it doesnt say english name "Dog" translation 'dog', what a great name?! There are also other languages in which the word dog and other ridiculous words are being called a 'baby names'.

Also the word Kafir (arabic) is there and is being called a name, in the arabic tradition (and I suspect in all religious traditions) no one would ever call their child by this name as it means "unbeliever" ie someone who does not believe in God - and it is not a name, nor has it ever in the history of the arabic language been used as a name.

I would also like to add the book often repeats names as new but they are simply spelt dyfffarantlly or have strange pronunciations. I feel bad for those people who take this books word for meaning and prounciation for any other traditions except maybe english! Those looking for a unique name treat this book with extreme caution!

I bought this book for my husband, thinking 'aww' a book especially for him. My husband hated it. And on reading so did I. The author obviously has a very usual relationship with his wife as he often talks about feelings of jealously between them. Its very unusual. For example "when you feel the baby kicks your wife might feel jealous as so far its been her private pregnancy"! How ridiculous how would jealousy ever come into it! The book assumes all men are concerned about is finances - it has pages and pages on money, insurance etc. there is nothing much about the joys you feel as a father. If your husband is kind hearted, honest and is truly looking forward to pregnancy and the birth of his child I would advise not to buy this book. The tone is very negative and some of the statements and assumptions about what "men" and "women", are very generalised bordering on ridiculous ie "your partner might be worried that you're going to leave her" what the heck?. It seems very personally related to the authors experience, and is simply selling because it is one of the only books packaged to be directly aimed at men. I would suggest the book "the birth partner" it is for men/the partner and is written in a matter of fact and open way (the author is not overly emotionally involved) - getting you to ask questions about how you would feel about certain situations rather than dictating how you do feel. READ THE OTHER 1 STAR REVIEWS FOR THIS BOOK AND YOU'LL SEE EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

Following the nutritional advice fairly precisely from this book lead me to gain an unusual amount of weight in my first trimester. I started thinking this is definitely not right, and my doctor was also concerned. When I told the doctor what I was eating she was surprised and told me to cut back on many things (all of which were "healthy" I may add). All the calories counting prescribed by Leslie Beck is far to generalised - it is a very personal thing how your individual body works and processes calories, fat etc - (I am quite small, and the healthy weight for my size and have never eaten a lot, this book suggested a "normal" pregnant woman would eat twice what I eat in a day!). The best advice especially in the first trimester when the baby requires NO extra calories is just to plain eat healthy - and second trimester add a 300 cal snack + milk.. most importantly talk to your OWN doctor do not follow a generic book!