Does your baby cry all day and night? How do you soothe a colic baby?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In The Happiest Baby on the Block<\/em>, Harvey Karp offers a soothing technique that simulates the comfort sensory “middle ground” babies experience in the womb. This technique (consisting of five methods) helps colic babies who are too stimulated or not getting enough stimulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading to learn how to soothe a colic baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Karp argues that all babies have an instinctive \u201ccalming response\u201d when they\u2019re exposed to these sensations. This reflex evolved because while in the womb, a calmer fetus moves less and is, therefore, less likely to get into the transverse or breech positions (shifting onto their side or feet-down), which can cause dangerous complications during childbirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp strongly recommends that you always<\/em> soothe your crying baby<\/a>. His technique to help you learn how to soothe a crying baby consists of five different methods (what he calls the Five Ss), each of which simulates a different part of being in the womb to activate the calming response. These techniques can and should be mixed, matched, and used simultaneously\u2014every baby will respond to them differently, so you\u2019ll have to learn which combination works best for your baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Some researchers have hypothesized that elements of the calming response evolved to keep babies safe outside<\/em> of the womb as well. One study on the calming effect of maternal carrying suggested that babies become relaxed when held by their mothers because this makes them easier to pick up, hold, and manage<\/a>\u2014which could make all the difference in a dangerous situation where a mother has to flee with her baby.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp explains that swaddling, or wrapping a blanket around your baby, simulates the constriction of the womb<\/strong>. In addition to soothing your baby, swaddling helps manage their movements and reactions so it\u2019s easier to use the other parts of Karp\u2019s technique. Karp says you should only swaddle your baby when they\u2019re crying or sleeping\u2014the rest of the time, they should be unwrapped and free to explore the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: In addition to reducing a baby\u2019s response to sensory information<\/a>, pediatric research suggests swaddling can also help soothe physical pain and discomfort<\/a>. This means swaddling may prove effective for managing colic caused by physical symptoms (which we discuss in Part 2) as well.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp calls this method of swaddling the Down-Up-Down-Up (DUDU) wrap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: It may be helpful to watch a video of someone performing the DUDU wrap<\/a> if you\u2019re having difficulty visualizing the process.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the swaddling process, make sure you keep your baby\u2019s legs loose enough to bend\u2014this will prevent any hip problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: If your baby doesn\u2019t seem to like being swaddled, there are some changes you can make to your technique that might help.<\/a> If your baby doesn\u2019t like having their arms restrained, you can leave the arms out of the swaddle. Alternatively, if your baby tends to kick or squirm their way out of a swaddle, you can also try a velcro or zip-up swaddle or a sleeping sack instead of a blanket.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second method Karp describes is holding your baby so that they\u2019re on their side or stomach\u2014this is the same position babies are in while inside the womb.<\/strong> Note that your baby should not sleep<\/em> on their side or stomach, as this increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Karp explains baby carriers and slings can keep your baby in this position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Karp argues that baby slings and carriers are safe so long as you ensure your baby\u2019s head and neck are supported and their mouth and nose are unobstructed. However, the International Hip Dysplasia Institute recommends avoiding prolonged use of these products for babies under six months of age<\/a>\u2014especially if they keep the baby\u2019s legs extended straight out and close together, as this increases the risk of hip dysplasia.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp also describes three techniques you can use to hold your baby on their side or stomach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: In addition to the dos<\/em> of holding your baby Karp provides, there are two major don’ts<\/em> experts suggest you keep in mind. First, don\u2019t leave their head and neck unsupported<\/a>\u2014babies don\u2019t develop the ability to hold their heads up on their own until around four months of age. Therefore, supporting the head and neck yourself is important so they don\u2019t flop over suddenly and hurt your baby. Second, don\u2019t pick your baby up by the armpits<\/a>, as this can cause arm or shoulder injuries.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third method Karp discusses is shushing, or providing some kind of white noise or ambient sound. This noise, he explains, helps simulate the relatively loud environment of the womb<\/strong>\u2014namely the sound of blood rushing through arteries. (Shortform note: While in the womb, a fetus hears more than just the internal sounds of blood pumping and digestion\u2014they also learn to recognize the voices of their parents by the third trimester<\/a>. This is potentially why the sound of your speaking voice can soothe them as well.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp recommends using some form of white noise for all sleeping and crying periods. These noises should be moderately loud<\/strong>\u2014your baby needs to be able to hear the shushing over their own crying, though you can reduce the volume when they start to relax. White noise also doesn\u2019t help babies sleep until a volume of about 60 decibels, the equivalent of a shower or dishwasher running. As long as you keep the noise around this level, it won\u2019t hurt your baby\u2019s hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the moment, you can shush your baby by making a \u201cshh\u201d sound a few inches from their ear. For more extended periods, Karp recommends using continuous sounds (rather than something irregular or sporadic like ocean waves). He suggests using higher-pitched white noise to soothe crying and lower-pitched white noise to facilitate sleeping. You can keep using white noise throughout the first year<\/strong>, as your baby will likely continue to struggle with sleep as their calming response fades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: In addition to using white noise, you can also help keep the noise in your baby\u2019s room consistent through soundproofing<\/a>\u2014especially if you live in a high-traffic area, or somewhere else with lots of loud, sudden outside noise. You can soundproof your baby\u2019s room with heavy blackout curtains, by closing doors and windows tightly, or even with soundproofing fabric or foam for walls and ceilings.<\/a> However, Karp emphasizes that a too-quiet room can also contribute to colic, which suggests that you should pair soundproofing with white noise.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp\u2019s fourth method is swinging, or rhythmically moving your baby. <\/strong>While inside the womb, fetuses are jiggled, bumped, and rocked nearly constantly whenever their mothers move. Swinging helps simulate this motion to trigger a calming response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: After the book\u2019s publication, Karp designed and promoted a robotic bassinet<\/a> that automatically swings your baby. He suggests it\u2019s a natural extension of his other techniques, allowing caregivers to rest while their baby is still soothed. Some pediatricians believe more research needs to be done to understand the effectiveness of mechanical versus caregiver swinging<\/a>, though.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp recommends soothing your baby through small, fast movements focused on the head rather than large swings of their entire body\u2014moving only a few inches side to side two to three times per second. Increase the amount of motion if your baby is fussy, and decrease it once they start to calm down. As you swing your baby, support their head and neck and keep them in line with their body to prevent injury and discomfort. In addition to cradling and moving your baby around, you can also generate the same kind of jiggling motion through rhythmic patting, car rides, or walks in a stroller or baby carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp asserts that gentle swinging and jiggling won\u2019t hurt your baby or make them nauseous\u2014the motions necessary for shaken baby syndrome or intense dizziness are much larger and more forceful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: You might feel worried that swaying your baby too quickly or jiggling motions will injure them. The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome elaborates on the difference between the type of movement Karp suggests and more violent shaking that can cause a baby harm<\/a>. They explain that swaying or more vigorous motion like taking your baby on a jog, bike ride, or car trip won\u2019t be enough to cause shaken baby syndrome, or SBS\u2014even a sudden car stop or fall off of furniture isn\u2019t forceful enough. SBS, they explain, requires several seconds of violent motion or impacts to the head and neck.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, the fifth method Karp recommends is sucking\u2014providing your baby with a pacifier to suck on. Babies tend to suck their own fingers frequently while in the womb, and so sucking activates the calming response. It\u2019s also pleasant because your baby associates sucking with sating their hunger. Karp explains a pacifier is preferable to finger sucking, though, because it requires less coordination and is easier to wean your baby off of (since you can easily take it away).<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: If your baby is in the habit of sucking on their thumb or fingers, don\u2019t worry\u2014most grow out of it by six months or two to four years of age<\/a>. Pediatricians suggest that so long as they don\u2019t continue<\/em> sucking their fingers beyond the age of four, it\u2019s not an issue and won\u2019t impact your baby\u2019s oral development<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karp recommends using a silicone pacifier because silicone is sturdier than rubber. He explains that babies tend to have favorite shapes for pacifiers, so you\u2019ll have to experiment to find their favorite. Pacifiers are best used after<\/em> the other techniques to keep your baby calm, since it can be hard to get your baby to suck while upset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Other parenting experts agree with Karp that pacifiers are usually best used once your baby is already starting to calm down. They explain that a calm baby is more open to new things, while an upset baby is more likely to be annoyed by having an unfamiliar object put in their mouth.<\/a> Your baby will also likely be more receptive to a pacifier after a feeding; if they\u2019re hungry, they might be frustrated by sucking on a pacifier and not getting food.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n To teach your baby to keep the pacifier in their mouth, periodically pull it away. Your baby will respond by sucking harder to get it back and through this process learns how to keep it in their mouth. Karp recommends using a pacifier until your baby is around five to six months old, then weaning them off of it. This prevents them from forming an emotional attachment to the pacifier, which makes it harder to wean. (Shortform note: Don\u2019t worry\u2014pulling a pacifier away slightly doesn\u2019t make your baby suck harder out of frustration<\/em>. Instead, it triggers their automatic reflex to maintain their suck<\/a>, keeping their pacifier in. This reflex naturally wears off at four to six months of age<\/a>, so weaning after this point will be a process of managing your baby\u2019s habits and emotional states rather than fighting against their natural reflexes.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Does your baby cry all day and night? How do you soothe a colic baby? In The Happiest Baby on the Block, Harvey Karp offers a soothing technique that simulates the comfort sensory “middle ground” babies experience in the womb. This technique (consisting of five methods) helps colic babies who are too stimulated or not getting enough stimulation. Continue reading to learn how to soothe a colic baby.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[1265],"class_list":["post-113213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parenting","tag-the-happiest-baby-on-the-block","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Activate the Calming Response<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Swaddling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Swaddle Your Baby<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2) Side\/Stomach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Hold Your Baby<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3) Shushing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Shush Your Baby<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4) Swinging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Swing Your Baby<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5) Sucking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Use a Pacifier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n