lauren loo
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Saved my life. I learned this in pregnancy class and they work. So if you have a printer print them out and save them for when your little one comes
The 5 S's
No wonder babies do best when held, rocked, and shushed 12 hours a day. Does that sound like a lot? Actually, even 16 hours a day is a 40% cut back from the 24/7 embrace babies enjoy the months before birth. Smart parents around the world have invented many ways to calm babies, and most are variations of 5 simple womb-like sensations I call the 5 S's: Swaddle, Side-Stomach Position, Shush, Swing and Suck.
Swaddle: Swaddling imitates the snug packaging inside the womb and is the cornerstone of calming - it decreases startling and increases sleep. Plus, wrapped babies respond faster to the other 4 S's, and stay soothed longer because their arms can't flail wildly.
Babies shouldn't be swaddled all day, just during fussing and sleep. To swaddle correctly, wrap arms snug - straight at the side - but let the hips be loose and flexed. Use a large square blanket, but don't cover your baby's head or allow loose blankets, as this could cause overheating or suffocation.
If your baby struggles against the swaddle, just add the other S's and within minutes she'll be calm and she'll sleep better, too!
Side or Stomach Position: The back is the only safe position for sleeping but it's the worst position for calming fussiness. This "S" can be activated by putting a baby on her side, on her stomach, or over your shoulder.
Shush: Contrary to myth, babies don't need total silence. That's why they're so good at sleeping at noisy parties and basketball games! In the womb, the sound of the blood flow is a shush louder than a vacuum cleaner.
But not all white noise is created equal. Hissy fans and ocean sounds often fail because they lack the womb's rumbly quality. The best way to imitate these magic sounds is with a white noise CD. CDs are better than sound machines because they're so easy to use in the car or when traveling. And, my "Super-Soothing" Sleep Sounds CD has 6 unique, specially engineered sounds to quickly calm crying and boost sleep. (To calm crying - play it as loud as your baby; to promote sleep - play it as loud as a shower.)
Swing: Womb life is jiggly (imagine your baby jiggling inside you when you walk down the stairs!). Slow rocking is fine for keeping babies calm, but to soothe crying mid-squawk, the motion needs to be fast and tiny. (My patients call this the "Jell-o head" jiggle.)
Always support the head/neck; keep your motions small (no more than 1-inch back and forth); and never, never, never shake your baby in anger or frustration.
Suck: Sucking is the icing on the cake of calming. Many fussy babies relax into a deep tranquility when they suck.
Other great calming techniques that imitate the womb include delicious skin-to-skin contact, wearing your baby in a sling, warm baths and gentle massage.
The 5 S's only work when they're done exactly right. The calming reflex is just like the knee reflex that only works when you hit the knee exactly right (hit 1-inch too high or low and you'll get no response).
All babies do better with swaddling and white noise, but try adding on the other S's, too, to see what your baby prefers. If she doesn't calm with the S's, ask your doctor to make sure she isn't ill. If there is no illness, she'll likely calm after you review The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD to make sure you are doing the 5 S's right.
The Best "S" of All - Sleep!
The keys to good sleep are swaddling and the womb sound CD. Sound is like a comforting teddy bear - play it for all naps/nights for at least the first year.
Sound helps good sleepers sleep even better. It also works to keep babies sleeping as they are weaned from swaddling at 4-5 months. And, it prevents sleep disturbances from mild hunger, outside noises, and teething pain.
After 4 months, the 5 S's may still work (even adults fall asleep rocking in a hammock and to the sound of rain), but the magic is no longer irresistible (shushing an irate 8-month-old might make her even madder!).
The 5 S's
No wonder babies do best when held, rocked, and shushed 12 hours a day. Does that sound like a lot? Actually, even 16 hours a day is a 40% cut back from the 24/7 embrace babies enjoy the months before birth. Smart parents around the world have invented many ways to calm babies, and most are variations of 5 simple womb-like sensations I call the 5 S's: Swaddle, Side-Stomach Position, Shush, Swing and Suck.
Swaddle: Swaddling imitates the snug packaging inside the womb and is the cornerstone of calming - it decreases startling and increases sleep. Plus, wrapped babies respond faster to the other 4 S's, and stay soothed longer because their arms can't flail wildly.
Babies shouldn't be swaddled all day, just during fussing and sleep. To swaddle correctly, wrap arms snug - straight at the side - but let the hips be loose and flexed. Use a large square blanket, but don't cover your baby's head or allow loose blankets, as this could cause overheating or suffocation.
If your baby struggles against the swaddle, just add the other S's and within minutes she'll be calm and she'll sleep better, too!
Side or Stomach Position: The back is the only safe position for sleeping but it's the worst position for calming fussiness. This "S" can be activated by putting a baby on her side, on her stomach, or over your shoulder.
Shush: Contrary to myth, babies don't need total silence. That's why they're so good at sleeping at noisy parties and basketball games! In the womb, the sound of the blood flow is a shush louder than a vacuum cleaner.
But not all white noise is created equal. Hissy fans and ocean sounds often fail because they lack the womb's rumbly quality. The best way to imitate these magic sounds is with a white noise CD. CDs are better than sound machines because they're so easy to use in the car or when traveling. And, my "Super-Soothing" Sleep Sounds CD has 6 unique, specially engineered sounds to quickly calm crying and boost sleep. (To calm crying - play it as loud as your baby; to promote sleep - play it as loud as a shower.)
Swing: Womb life is jiggly (imagine your baby jiggling inside you when you walk down the stairs!). Slow rocking is fine for keeping babies calm, but to soothe crying mid-squawk, the motion needs to be fast and tiny. (My patients call this the "Jell-o head" jiggle.)
Always support the head/neck; keep your motions small (no more than 1-inch back and forth); and never, never, never shake your baby in anger or frustration.
Suck: Sucking is the icing on the cake of calming. Many fussy babies relax into a deep tranquility when they suck.
Other great calming techniques that imitate the womb include delicious skin-to-skin contact, wearing your baby in a sling, warm baths and gentle massage.
The 5 S's only work when they're done exactly right. The calming reflex is just like the knee reflex that only works when you hit the knee exactly right (hit 1-inch too high or low and you'll get no response).
All babies do better with swaddling and white noise, but try adding on the other S's, too, to see what your baby prefers. If she doesn't calm with the S's, ask your doctor to make sure she isn't ill. If there is no illness, she'll likely calm after you review The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD to make sure you are doing the 5 S's right.
The Best "S" of All - Sleep!
The keys to good sleep are swaddling and the womb sound CD. Sound is like a comforting teddy bear - play it for all naps/nights for at least the first year.
Sound helps good sleepers sleep even better. It also works to keep babies sleeping as they are weaned from swaddling at 4-5 months. And, it prevents sleep disturbances from mild hunger, outside noises, and teething pain.
After 4 months, the 5 S's may still work (even adults fall asleep rocking in a hammock and to the sound of rain), but the magic is no longer irresistible (shushing an irate 8-month-old might make her even madder!).
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