Life
We all have our own ways of providing comfort for ourselves. A steamy cup of tea, a fuzzy blanket, or a sweet lavender candle are go-to relaxation inducers that help you to exhale after a long day. And even though they're small, babies seek out the same time of feelings when the going gets tough. The catch is, little ones need your help to reach their moment of zen since they can't warm up the tea kettle quite yet. There may be a method for you to help baby settle faster, like Harvey Karp's famous Five S's of sleep.But what are Harvey Karp's five S's and are they going to change your life? (Or at least stop some of your baby's crying?)
It took pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp years of helping parents soothe little ones until the lightbulb finally lit. Which is to say, after counseling c number of parents of babies who wouldn't stop crying, Karp finally realized, "you're doing it wrong." As explained on his website Happiest Baby, Karp developed five ways to recreate the familiar comfort of the womb in an attempt to help better calm babies. Called the "5 S's," each of these steps aim to remind the baby they are safe, cared for, and relaxed.
1
Swaddle
After being in that warm and cozy womb for so long, the big bright world can be a bit much sometimes. Which is why Karp recommends swaddling your baby in a thin blanket to provide comfort and security, as Baby Center explained.
2
Side or Stomach Position
It's important to note that this is not a sleep position, but a way to help alleviate gas and discomfort in the baby's abdomen. You can hold your baby on her left side or support her on her stomach to help with digestion, as the website for Baby Sleep Whisperer explained.
3
Shush
If you've ever witnessed the magic of a vacuum cleaner lulling a baby to dreamland, then you understand why shushing is a valuable calming tool for parents. Just by keeping a "shhhhh" sound going, you can help your baby relax. According to the website for The Today Show, making the shushing noise while comforting your baby needs to be pretty loud and constant to get the job done.
4
Swing
As Karp explained on his website, the is a correct way to swing your baby to comfort. You have to support the head and neck, keep your motions small, and move no more than 1 inch back and forth to create a gentle swinging motion to soothe your little one.
5
Suck
Pass the pacifier. Although it's not soothing to all babies, both my boys would calm down within moments of taking a pacifier. As Baby Center pointed out, the sucking motion can bring comfort to babies, whether it's their thumb or a pacifier.
