Happiest Baby on the Block

By the way Peanut now has a name, but not sure of the spelling and we're arguing over the pronunciation...so for today's blog she will remain Peanut.

Yesterday, Jack and I visited the kids in the hospital. Here they are watching "The Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD which was one of the 2 videos they had to watch before they could leave the hospital. We watched with them and I sure wish I had been able to watch it 32 years ago before giving birth to my sons. Dr. Harvey Karp, MD came up with the 5S's. He believes the first 3 months after birth should be called the 4th trimester and should continue the same atmosphere as possible to keep the baby calm.
First S is to swaddle the baby. Wrapping her up in a receiving blanket with her arms down by her side so she feels the security of having that tight feeling. When babies are left free (like mine were) their flinging their arms and legs will startle and frighten them and make them fussy. They had little room for movement inside the tummy and they need to be given this freedom slowly. When you first start the wrap they might cry, but by the time you finish they are calm and happy. (I did it with Peanut and it worked!)
Second S is Side or Stomach position is more pleasing to them for calming them down. They should sleep on their backs but be held like a reverse nursing position. Or like catching a football with face out.
Third S is Shushing, or making noise! We were always told to be quiet the baby is sleeping. However the baby had 9 months of noise in the tummy. They had a mic put up into the tummy and found the sound inside is similar to a vacuum cleaner or a hair dryer. Often just shushing loudly near the baby will make it stop crying. Of course loud shrieks or sudden noises are upsetting but calm shushing or just turning on the vacuum is music for the infant!
Fourth S is swinging. Babies inside the tummy are not kept still. When the mother was walking steps or moving around the baby was being swung and enjoyed that movement. So why do you think the rocking chair was invented? Or the backpacks for the Indian and Japanese babies--not just so the mother could work, but the baby is much happier being moved around. Today they have wonderful swings for infants and some babies actually sleep better if the swing is set on the fast motion.

Fifth and last was if all the above fail to calm a baby, let it SUCK. Nursing babies are usually so happy. That was the only one of the 5 S's that I did with my two boys. But if I had known the other 4 they might have slept longer than 15 to 20 minutes! My boys never slept all night until after 2 years old and no longer nursing! Peanut slept for 3 hours straight when we first got there. She was swaddled, held or rocked on her side and we were talking, laughing and watching the video and nothing seemed to disturb her....finally Andy changed her and she cried as he had to wipe of a lot of black poopie.