After hours of trying to soothe your fussy baby, you’re probably wondering if there are any magic tricks out there that you don’t know about.
It just so happens that there is one bundle of tricks known as the “5 S’s.” Pediatrician Harvey Karp pioneered this method when he brought together five techniques that mothers have often used and organized them into this easy mnemonic: swaddle, side-stomach position, shush, swing, and suck.
What are the 5 S’s for?
Swaddling, a cornerstone of calming, recreates the gentle hug and security of the womb, which increases sleep. It also decreases the startle reflex, where babies’ flailing arms can bonk them in the face and wake them up. Plus, wrapped babies can respond faster to the other 4 S’s and stay soothed longer because their arms can’t wriggle around. To swaddle correctly, wrap your baby like a mini burrito with their arms snug and straight at their sides. But let Baby’s hips be loose and flexed. You can use a large square lightweight blanket or my sleep swaddle which takes all the guesswork out of swaddling. Babies should only be swaddled during fussing and sleep and swaddling needs to stop once your baby can roll over.
Despite your exhaustion and frustration, you know that your baby is crying because it’s the only way they have to tell you that they need something.
But you’ve played with your baby, fed them, burped them, checked their diaper, and ensured they aren’t in pain — so why are they still fussing? Don’t despair. It doesn’t have to be like this. Using the 5 S’s can make it easy to soothe your baby.
If your baby is crying for 3 or more hours a day, 3 or more days a week, during the first 3 months of life, count yourself among this unlucky group. Colic usually starts at around 6 weeks and often fades by month 3 or 4, but it’s rough-going on both baby and you.
Falling asleep isn’t always easy for babies, and this is particularly so if your baby is overtired. By replicating the sensations experienced in the womb, parents can lull their babies into a long, restful sleep.
Step 1: Swaddle
Swaddling means wrapping up your baby to make them snug as a bug. Anecdotal reports and some dated research shows that swaddled babies sleep longer and better than un-swaddled babies. Why so? Most likely, when your baby’s snug and warm, they’re dreaming of the good old days in your womb.
In addition, swaddling reduces the likelihood of babies waking themselves up with their Moro Reflex— startling at sudden sounds or movement and flailing their little arms.
Take a look at this video to see how swaddling is easy peasy. Here’s the trick summarized:
Tips for the perfect swaddle:
Step 2: Side-stomach position
Research trusted sources show that babies who sleep on their tummies sleep longer and don’t react as quickly to noise. One big problem, though: Putting a baby to sleep on their stomach or side is dangerous, as it increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
According to Karp, holding babies in a supine position activates a calming mechanism that soothes their rattled system (and yours).
So go ahead — hold your baby on their tummy or side; lay them over your shoulder; or lay them across your forearm with your hand supporting their head.
But remember: When your baby has calmed down, place them on their back for sleep time.
Tips for the perfect side-stomach position:
Step 3: Shush
You know what shush means, but does your baby? You bet! Contrary to what you might think, your baby heard plenty of muffled sounds while in your womb including:
When you make a loud shhh sound, you get pretty close to the blended sounds that your baby is used to. But there’s more to it.
Research shows that controlled in-and-out breath sounds can alter a baby’s heartbeat and improve their sleep patterns. That’s because we’re programmed to fall in sync with an external rhythm. Science calls this “entrainment.” Moms call it a miracle that saves their sanity.
Tips for the perfect shushing technique:
Step 4: Swing
Who hasn’t pushed a fussy infant’s carriage back and forth a million times harboring the hope that they’ll fall asleep?
You’re right — movement is a great way to calm a fussy baby. 2014 research on both animals and humans showed that crying babies who are carried around by their moms immediately stop all voluntary movements and crying. In addition, their heart rate decreased. Add in some choreographed swinging and you have one happy baby.
How to swing:
By keeping your baby facing you and smiling, you can turn these moments into a bonding experience as well as teach your baby how to focus and how to communicate.
Tips for the perfect swing:
Step 5: Suck
Sucking is one of the primitive reflexes that your baby has. Having started practicing in your womb as a 14-week-old embryo, your baby is already a pro at sucking. (Plenty of babies have been caught in the act by ultrasound imaging.)
While sucking for calming may be a no-brainer, researchers in 2020 Study set out to prove it.
When you encourage your baby to suck for comfort, know that you’re backed by hard facts: Babies enjoy sucking and are calmed by sucking even without feeding. It’s called non-nutritive sucking.
While you could let your baby suckle at your breast, for a little more freedom, you may want to use a pacifier. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) generally recommends holding back a pacifier until you and your baby have a nice breastfeeding routine — at around 3 or 4 weeks of age. And if you’re searching for the right pace, we’ve got you covered with this list of 15 best pacifiers.
Tips to give your baby the perfect suck:
A crying baby is no fun. If you’re concerned that your baby’s crying can’t be put down to normal crankiness, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.
Incessant crying wears away at the fabric of the family. As you practice these five steps and learn what works best with your baby, you’ll be able to add your twist to them. Have fun!