Most Popular Books by Melinda Blau

When Tracy Hoggs Secrets of the Baby Whisperer was first published, it soared onto bestseller lists across the country.

“A mind-expanding and heart-opening book” (Daniel Goleman, author of Social Intelligence) that reveals the value of everyday interactions with people in our communities – and what we lose without them. Our barista, our mechanic, our coworker—they populate our days, but we often take them for granted. Yet these are the people who bring novelty and information into our lives, allow us to exercise different parts of ourselves, and open us up to new opportunities. In their unprecedented examination of people on the periphery, psychologist Karen Fingerman, who coined the term “consequential strangers,” collaborates with journalist Melinda Blau to expand on and make her own groundbreaking research come alive. Drawing as well from Blau’s more than two hundred interviews with specialists in psychology, sociology, marketing, and communication, the book presents compelling stories of individuals and institutions, past and present. A rich portrait of our social landscape—on and off the Internet—it presents the science of casual connection and chronicles the surprising impact that consequential strangers have on business, creativity, the work environment, our physical and mental health, and the strength of our communities.

Unnerved by the ceaseless demands of your toddler? Concerned that your two-year-old isn’t developing on schedule? You clearly need to spend some time with Tracy Hogg. Nicknamed the “baby whisperer” by grateful parents because of her extraordinary gift for understanding and connecting with children, Tracy became internationally famous after the smashing success of her New York Times bestseller Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Now Tracy is back with the same winning blend of common sense and uncanny intuition. Starting with the simple but essential premise that there is no such thing as a “typical” child, Tracy guides you through her unique programs, including • H.E.L.P. (Hold back, Explain, Limit, Praise): the mantra that will remind you of the four elements that are critical to fostering your child’s growth and independence, while at the same time keeping him safe. • Using T.L.C. (Talk, Listen, Clarify) to communicate with your toddler, to figure out what she is really thinking, and to best help her express herself. • R&R: Routines and Rituals that give structure and predictability to daily life and a sense of continuity to holidays and special occasions. • Rehearsals for Change: ways of preparing your toddler for new experiences by encouraging her to practice her skills in the safe, controlled setting of your family. • Conscious Discipline: a way of teaching your toddler how to behave and manage his emotions, while being mindful of the lessons you teach with your own behavior. Practical, reassuring, and written with wit and energy and boundless enthusiasm for real children and their everyday behavior, this book will be your constant companion during the magical, challenging toddler years.

Self-Help.

The Baby Whisperer gives new parents everything they need to tackle the challenges of sleep, eating habits, tantrums, growth issues, and more! The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems is an in-depth look at the most challenging issues faced by parents of babies and young children today. The book goes beyond the basics introduced in her first two books, becoming a compendium of specific and targeted parenting strategies. Each chapter tackles a different topic, from teaching babies to sleep, feeding techniques, potty training, and much more. Hogg will also discuss her two new Baby Whispering concepts, which are being patient and conscious and learning to detect “prime times”—windows of opportunity for sleep training, introducing bottles (in breast-fed babies), sippy cups, toilet training, and much more. Once you learn how to translate banguage, the “baby-language” your infant uses to communicate needs, feelings, and opinions, you can see your child for who he or she really is—an understanding that will serve you well as your child blossoms into the toddler years. By helping you establish a daily routine and tailor your parenting strategies according to your child’s unique personality and stage of development, Tracy will teach you how to: • Employ the Twelve Principles of Problem Solving—simple troubleshooting techniques for everyday situations • Avoid, or remedy, accidental parenting—inadvertent adult behavior that often leads to such common parenting challenges as sleep problems, poor eating habits, separation anxiety, and tantrums • Identify windows of opportunity for teaching babies how to get to sleep on their own, introducing bottles to breast-fed babies, toilet training, and other growth issues For Tracy’s fans, this book will be a welcome addition to the Hogg library; for readers unfamiliar with her philosophy of care, it will open a new world of understanding and insight.

Describes the power peer groups and pop culture have over teens and explains how this power has affected the classic family dynamic and changed the traditional American family.

From The New York Times bestselling co-author of Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, comes this poignant, hilarious, and deeply insightful exploration of how to make the most of life’s possibilities—at any age. In this deeply personal and heartwarming book, acclaimed journalist Melinda Blau confronts the stereotypes surrounding life''s later chapters, drawing from unexpected friendships with the remarkable women she affectionately dubs "my old ladies." Through intimate storytelling and candid reflections, Blau peels back layers of societal judgment to uncover the hard-earned wisdom and resilience that come with the unfolding of years. From her relationship with Henrietta, a vibrant nonagenarian, Blau discovers that age is less a number and more the unexpected twists and turns of a life fully lived. Zelda, ever the free spirit, shows that the sparkle of youthful passion can persist well into later years—she''s nailing tennis serves even in her 90s. And then there''s Anne, a Holocaust survivor who proves that at 98, it''s still not too late to pen your life story. Yet, Blau''s book isn''t simply a compilation of friendship tales. It''s a wake-up call that encourages us to build meaningful connections across different phases of life. These bonds are mutually enriching, offering us valuable insights and a depth of understanding that is impossible to obtain from our contemporaries. At its heart, Wisdom Whisperers is about the boundless opportunities that unfold when we dare to look beyond age as a limiting factor.

Tracy Hogg''s incredible sensitivity and ability to read infants'' cries, coos and assorted baby noises quickly earned her the admiration and gratitude of high-profile couples, including a host of celebrities. In her bestselling book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Tracy demystified the magic she performed with some 5,000 babies. This handbag-sized, easy-to-use edition distils her wisdom enabling parents to work out what kind of baby they have, what kind of mother and father they are and what kind of parenting plan will work best for them. Tracy''s practical programme works with infants as young as a day old and is a lifesaver for any new parent.

Intrigue readers with the puzzles no one has solved!

How do you help your child open up to you? With so little time in a busy day, how can a parent find that elusive "quality" time? What discipline techniques work for young children, and why?An empowering book that emphasizes real-life parenting situations and practical, compassionate solutions, Parenting by Heart is filled with specific advice tried by thousands of families. Showing what actually works rather than what theoretically "should" work, here are hundreds of step-by-step, tested solutions that will help make parents feel more confident about how to instill values, be in charge, and stay connected with today''s kids in these modern and often difficult times.

From the bestselling Baby Whisperer franchise, a concise, detailed, and reassuring guide to feeding your newborn—available exclusively as an ebook. "How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?" "How often do I feed her?" "How can I tell if he''s hungry?" Feeding your newborn is one of the most emotional and challenging topics facing new parents. With her practical, easy-to-follow program, Tracy Hogg will help you overcome your baby''s feeding issues and contains essential information, like: - How to ensure your baby is latched on correctly - What to do if you have a low milk supply - Moving successfully from breast to bottle - When to start solids Filled with direct, reassuring advice, this handy eBook is an essential tool for new parents everywhere.

From the bestselling Baby Whisperer franchise, a concise and comprehensive guide to getting your baby to sleep through the night—available exclusively as an ebook. "I can''t get my five-week-old to sleep in her crib" "My six-week-old resists his naps" "My baby is three months old and is still waking up throughout the night" Sleep is the number one issue that plagues parents from the moment they bring their baby home from the hospital. Even the lucky ones, whose babies are naturally good sleepers, wonder when their baby will finally sleep through the night. With reassuring, down-to-earth advice, Tracy Hogg''s practical sleep program will help you overcome your baby''s sleep problems and works with infants from as young as one day old.

Taffel, a family therapist and author of "Parenting by Heart", and Blau, the author of "Families Apart", identify ten "core builders"--including mood mastery, respect, expressiveness, passion, peer smarts, focus, body comfort, caution, team intelligence, and gratitude--that will reinforce a child''s inner self.

Based on interviews with divorced parents, children, family therapists, and psychologists, this book by award-winning journalist Melinda Blau offers ten solid principles designed to enable parents and children to function as a family even though they no longer live together.

Based on the landmark national Divorce after 40 study--how divorce can be a catalyst for self-discovery, change, and growth. This collection of stories of courage and rebirth--of women taking control of their own lives--is sure to affect every woman who reads it.

The former chairwoman of the NAACP and widow of assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers draws from her own extraordinary life to share inspiration and advice on everything from triumphing over adversity to achieving selfhood.

Having successfully helped parents to calm and connect with their baby in Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Tracy Hogg now provides practical advice and handy tips for parents who''ve made it through the first year with baby and are now faced with a delightful, yet demanding toddler. In Top Tips from the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers Tracy''s unique advice has been distilled into a handbag-sized, easy-to-use guide that reveals how to ''handle'' your toddler, foster his growth and independence, and guide him towards important milestones. With essential advice on discipline, socialising and potty training, this book is a must for all parents of toddlers.

Although parents are most worried about sleep issues, their anxiety seems to reach new heights when they even think about potty training. When do we do it?'' ''How do we do it?'' ''What if we start too early?'' ''What if we start too late?'' The question