How to Calm Your Baby in 5 Easy Steps

Recently, I had the chance to read an amazing book called Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr Karp. In this book, the author mentions the 5 S's system to calm your baby. Lo and behold-it works!  My son would get upset and when diaper changes or feedings didn't solve the issue, one or more of the S's would!

Here's how to calm your baby in 5 easy steps and why each step works:

• Swaddling: Tight swaddling provides the continuous touching and support your baby is used to experiencing within the womb.
• Side/stomach position: The infant is placed on their left side to assist in digestion, or on their stomach to provide reassuring support. “But never use the stomach position for putting your baby to sleep,” cautions Karp. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is linked to stomach-down sleep positions. When a baby is in a stomach down position do not leave them even for a moment.
• Shushing sounds: These imitate the continual whooshing sound made by the blood flowing through arteries near the womb.
• Swinging: Newborns are used to the swinging motions within their mother’s womb, so entering the gravity driven world of the outside is like a sailor adapting to land after nine months at sea. “It’s disorienting and unnatural,” says Karp. Rocking, car rides, and other swinging movements all can help.
• Sucking: “Sucking has its effects deep within the nervous system,” notes Karp, “and triggers the calming reflex and releases natural chemicals within the brain.”

If you have reached your wits end and nothing works, try giving each of these a try!

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