What do you think?
Rate this book
The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
In perhaps the most important parenting book of the decade, Dr. Harvey Karp reveals an extraordinary treasure sought by parents for centuries --an automatic “off-switch” for their baby’s crying.
No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy.
Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp has found there is a remedy for colic. “I share with parents techniques known only to the most gifted baby soothers throughout history …and I explain exactly how they work.”
In an innovative and thought-provoking reevaluation of early infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not fully ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies as well as improving their sleep and soothing their senses. ·The Missing Fourth Trimester: as odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon.
·The Calming Reflex: the automatic reset switch to stop crying of any baby in the first few months of life.
·The 5 “S’s”: the simple steps (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking) that trigger the calming reflex. For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it is triggered in precisely the right way. Unlike other books that merely list these techniques Dr. Karp teaches parents exactly how to do them, to guide cranky infants to calm and easy babies to serenity in minutes…and help them sleep longer too.
·The Cuddle Cure: the perfect mix the 5 “S’s” that can soothe even the most colicky of infants.
In the book, Dr. Karp also explains:
What is colic?
Why do most babies get much more upset in the evening?
How can a parent calm a baby--in mere minutes?
Can babies be spoiled?
When should a parent of a crying baby call the doctor?
How can a parent get their baby to sleep a few hours longer?
Even the most loving moms and dads sometimes feel pushed to the breaking point by their infant’s persistent cries. Coming to the rescue, however, Dr. Karp places in the hands of parents, grandparents, and all childcare givers the tools they need to be able to calm their babies almost as easily as…turning off a light.
No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy.
Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp has found there is a remedy for colic. “I share with parents techniques known only to the most gifted baby soothers throughout history …and I explain exactly how they work.”
In an innovative and thought-provoking reevaluation of early infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not fully ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies as well as improving their sleep and soothing their senses. ·The Missing Fourth Trimester: as odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon.
·The Calming Reflex: the automatic reset switch to stop crying of any baby in the first few months of life.
·The 5 “S’s”: the simple steps (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking) that trigger the calming reflex. For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it is triggered in precisely the right way. Unlike other books that merely list these techniques Dr. Karp teaches parents exactly how to do them, to guide cranky infants to calm and easy babies to serenity in minutes…and help them sleep longer too.
·The Cuddle Cure: the perfect mix the 5 “S’s” that can soothe even the most colicky of infants.
In the book, Dr. Karp also explains:
What is colic?
Why do most babies get much more upset in the evening?
How can a parent calm a baby--in mere minutes?
Can babies be spoiled?
When should a parent of a crying baby call the doctor?
How can a parent get their baby to sleep a few hours longer?
Even the most loving moms and dads sometimes feel pushed to the breaking point by their infant’s persistent cries. Coming to the rescue, however, Dr. Karp places in the hands of parents, grandparents, and all childcare givers the tools they need to be able to calm their babies almost as easily as…turning off a light.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2002
About the author
Harvey Karp
22 books78 followersDr. Harvey Karp is a nationally renowned pediatrician and child development specialist. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine. Over the past 30 years, he has taught thousands of parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer and Pierce Brosnan his secrets for making children happy.
Dr. Karp has committed his full-time efforts to writing, lecturing and education. He now travels extensively across America and around the world lecturing the medical community and the public about how to use his innovative discoveries to help parents successfully meet the needs of their young children.
Dr. Karp has committed his full-time efforts to writing, lecturing and education. He now travels extensively across America and around the world lecturing the medical community and the public about how to use his innovative discoveries to help parents successfully meet the needs of their young children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,510 reviews
July 8, 2009
Let me preface my review by acknowledging that the tips and tricks described in this book will probably be of great use in calming my baby when I have a newborn. And, if this book were, say, a seven-page article in a magazine, I would rip it out, keep it for reference, and recommend it to friends.
The problem is that this is not a seven-page article. It is a 260-page book. 260 pages of fluff, filler, and drawings. 260 pages to essentially inform the reader that calming a newborn takes "the 5 S's" (swaddling, side/stomach positioning, shhh'ing, swinging, and sucking).
How does one turn seven pages of material into a 260-page book? Oh, it's easy.
First, fill the book with nonsense. Here is an actual quote from the book: "I think a breast-feeding mom should be called Galactic Goddess!" No, really. Actual quote.
Second, use obviously-fictional "testimonials" from parents who have succeeded with your technique. My favorite is the one about the father who was so good at swaddling that, when he was at work as a lawyer, and his clients brought a screaming baby to the office, he was able to calm the baby in moments. Answer me this: Who the hell brings their screaming baby to their lawyer's office???
Oh, and let's not forget the "testimonial" from the Russian immigrant. She tells the author, "You don't have to show me dat. In my willage, we wrap dem and put BELT around. It holds dem wery good." In case you missed that she is a Russian immigrant, the author makes sure to underline "dat," "willage," "dem," and "wery" so that you, the reader, can't miss it. Oh, those crazy immigrants with their crazy accents!
So many times, I wanted to hurl this book across the room. I only finished it (a) because my husband insisted, and (b) to better be able to rant about it.
Apparently, there is a DVD. This is perhaps the only time I would recommend the movie over the book.
The problem is that this is not a seven-page article. It is a 260-page book. 260 pages of fluff, filler, and drawings. 260 pages to essentially inform the reader that calming a newborn takes "the 5 S's" (swaddling, side/stomach positioning, shhh'ing, swinging, and sucking).
How does one turn seven pages of material into a 260-page book? Oh, it's easy.
First, fill the book with nonsense. Here is an actual quote from the book: "I think a breast-feeding mom should be called Galactic Goddess!" No, really. Actual quote.
Second, use obviously-fictional "testimonials" from parents who have succeeded with your technique. My favorite is the one about the father who was so good at swaddling that, when he was at work as a lawyer, and his clients brought a screaming baby to the office, he was able to calm the baby in moments. Answer me this: Who the hell brings their screaming baby to their lawyer's office???
Oh, and let's not forget the "testimonial" from the Russian immigrant. She tells the author, "You don't have to show me dat. In my willage, we wrap dem and put BELT around. It holds dem wery good." In case you missed that she is a Russian immigrant, the author makes sure to underline "dat," "willage," "dem," and "wery" so that you, the reader, can't miss it. Oh, those crazy immigrants with their crazy accents!
So many times, I wanted to hurl this book across the room. I only finished it (a) because my husband insisted, and (b) to better be able to rant about it.
Apparently, there is a DVD. This is perhaps the only time I would recommend the movie over the book.
May 29, 2009
I saw this doctor on Oprah YEARS ago... I remember that the audience was full of QUIET, contented babies and I wondered if they were all sedated.
The premise is that human babies are born 3 months BEFORE they are really developed because of the size of their heads. Therefore, the fist 100 days of their life is virtually a "fourth trimester" in which the baby needs constant vigilance and caring.
He offers "cuddle cure"... 5 steps done in sequence to calm a baby and simulate life in the womb: Swaddling (firmly), Side/Stomach, Ssshhhing, Swaying, Sucking. They are combined and should match the VIGOR of any crying to immediately pacify the baby.
Actually... this all made sense to me and most importantly.... IT WORKS!
Author: Harvey Karp
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Copyright: 2002
Genre: Parenting/Childcare
Pages: 260
Date Read- 5/21/09 to 5/26/09
p.100
The FASTEST way to succeed in stopping your baby's cycle of crying is to MEET THEIR LEVEL OF INTENSITY. Only after your screaming baby pauses for a few moments can you gradually slow your motion, soften your shushing and guide them from frenzy to soft landing.
The best colic-calmers say that soothing an infant is like dancing with them in the lead. These talented people pay close attention to the vigor of ther 5 "S's"
p.125
1st S- Swaddling
This TURNS on the calming effect by stopping the Moro reflex (hand jerking/flailing) that helps them to pay attention to the other S's.
2nd S-Side/Stomach
Lay your child on their side or place them in your arms on their stomach. This prevents them from feeling that they are falling.
3rd S- Shhhh
You have to do it as LOUD AS YOUR BABIES CRY and close to their ear. It stimulates the sound of the womb. It can be replaced by white noise.
4th S- Sway
Support your babies head and neck and wiggle their HEAD with fast, tiny movements (like you are shivering). Once they are entranced, you can move to a slower swinging motion.
5th S- Sucking
This works best after the other S's have calmed. A finger or pacifier work and can be eliminated after the 3rd month.
p.195
Baby Massage.
In a 1986 study by Tiffany Field, massaged babies gained 47% more then babes who did not have the same touch. The same babies had higher IQ's a year later.
1. Prepare for pleasure. Warm the room, dim the lights, play soft music.
2. Bring Yourself to the moment. Sit comfortably, take 5 slow deep breaths and allow yourself to be present for the experience. Its an exchange of love in one fleeting, tender moment of time.
3. Speak to your baby with your hands. Always try to keep one hand in contact with the skin and talk to them about what you are doing and what your hopes are for their life, or sing a lullaby. Let your massage strokes move in synchronicity with your calm breathing.
4. Reward your babies tummy. Bicycle their legs then firmly push both knees to their belly and hld them there for 20 seconds. Massage the tummy in firm, clockwise, circular strokes - starting at their right lower belly, up and across the top of their tummy and ending at their left lower side (this traces their colon and intestines)
5. Follow you baby's signals.
p.245
Top 10 survival Tips for Parents of New Babies
1. Trust Yourself. You are the Latest in the Unbroken Chain of the World's Top Parents.
2. Lower Your Expectations.
3. Accept All the Help You Can Get
4. Get Your Priorities Straight: Should You take a break or do the dishes?
5. Be Flexible. It is better to bend than snap.
6. Know Thyself. Share how you are feeling.
7. Don't Rock the Cradle to Hard. Know when to take a break.
8. Keep Your Sense of Humor Handy
9. Take Care of Your Spouse
10. Don't Ignore Depression.
The premise is that human babies are born 3 months BEFORE they are really developed because of the size of their heads. Therefore, the fist 100 days of their life is virtually a "fourth trimester" in which the baby needs constant vigilance and caring.
He offers "cuddle cure"... 5 steps done in sequence to calm a baby and simulate life in the womb: Swaddling (firmly), Side/Stomach, Ssshhhing, Swaying, Sucking. They are combined and should match the VIGOR of any crying to immediately pacify the baby.
Actually... this all made sense to me and most importantly.... IT WORKS!
Author: Harvey Karp
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Copyright: 2002
Genre: Parenting/Childcare
Pages: 260
Date Read- 5/21/09 to 5/26/09
p.100
The FASTEST way to succeed in stopping your baby's cycle of crying is to MEET THEIR LEVEL OF INTENSITY. Only after your screaming baby pauses for a few moments can you gradually slow your motion, soften your shushing and guide them from frenzy to soft landing.
The best colic-calmers say that soothing an infant is like dancing with them in the lead. These talented people pay close attention to the vigor of ther 5 "S's"
p.125
1st S- Swaddling
This TURNS on the calming effect by stopping the Moro reflex (hand jerking/flailing) that helps them to pay attention to the other S's.
2nd S-Side/Stomach
Lay your child on their side or place them in your arms on their stomach. This prevents them from feeling that they are falling.
3rd S- Shhhh
You have to do it as LOUD AS YOUR BABIES CRY and close to their ear. It stimulates the sound of the womb. It can be replaced by white noise.
4th S- Sway
Support your babies head and neck and wiggle their HEAD with fast, tiny movements (like you are shivering). Once they are entranced, you can move to a slower swinging motion.
5th S- Sucking
This works best after the other S's have calmed. A finger or pacifier work and can be eliminated after the 3rd month.
p.195
Baby Massage.
In a 1986 study by Tiffany Field, massaged babies gained 47% more then babes who did not have the same touch. The same babies had higher IQ's a year later.
1. Prepare for pleasure. Warm the room, dim the lights, play soft music.
2. Bring Yourself to the moment. Sit comfortably, take 5 slow deep breaths and allow yourself to be present for the experience. Its an exchange of love in one fleeting, tender moment of time.
3. Speak to your baby with your hands. Always try to keep one hand in contact with the skin and talk to them about what you are doing and what your hopes are for their life, or sing a lullaby. Let your massage strokes move in synchronicity with your calm breathing.
4. Reward your babies tummy. Bicycle their legs then firmly push both knees to their belly and hld them there for 20 seconds. Massage the tummy in firm, clockwise, circular strokes - starting at their right lower belly, up and across the top of their tummy and ending at their left lower side (this traces their colon and intestines)
5. Follow you baby's signals.
p.245
Top 10 survival Tips for Parents of New Babies
1. Trust Yourself. You are the Latest in the Unbroken Chain of the World's Top Parents.
2. Lower Your Expectations.
3. Accept All the Help You Can Get
4. Get Your Priorities Straight: Should You take a break or do the dishes?
5. Be Flexible. It is better to bend than snap.
6. Know Thyself. Share how you are feeling.
7. Don't Rock the Cradle to Hard. Know when to take a break.
8. Keep Your Sense of Humor Handy
9. Take Care of Your Spouse
10. Don't Ignore Depression.
May 10, 2008
I will save you the 336 pages: suck, swaddle, shush, side position, swing. Wow, 5 Ss. That's inventive.
4 years of medical school and better than 4th grade writing skills can generate a book like this. You know what? Forget it: Just make your last name MD. Have someone fill in the sources and make the book run a bit over 100 pages. The fact that Americans (including myself) are looking for instructions allows tripe like this onto the bookshelf to sell millions of copies. It's also why serious literary talent like Mark Leyner will probably never write a postmodernist masterpiece like Tetherballs at Bougainville again: because his medical book, Why Do Men Have Nipples, coauthored with another MD (Billy Goldberg) sold more copies than all of his real masterpieces combined.
You know what? James Joyce's literary masterpiece, Ulysses, has fewer stars than this piece of crap. Is there no God?!?!
4 years of medical school and better than 4th grade writing skills can generate a book like this. You know what? Forget it: Just make your last name MD. Have someone fill in the sources and make the book run a bit over 100 pages. The fact that Americans (including myself) are looking for instructions allows tripe like this onto the bookshelf to sell millions of copies. It's also why serious literary talent like Mark Leyner will probably never write a postmodernist masterpiece like Tetherballs at Bougainville again: because his medical book, Why Do Men Have Nipples, coauthored with another MD (Billy Goldberg) sold more copies than all of his real masterpieces combined.
You know what? James Joyce's literary masterpiece, Ulysses, has fewer stars than this piece of crap. Is there no God?!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2008
There's quite a bit of filler in this, I think it could have been about half the length or less, and the publisher was looking for an excuse to charge the full 12.95 or whatever a book costs nowadays. That said, THIS BOOK IS MAGICAL. As a new parent, I don't know what I would do without this book.
Swaddle, Side, Sway, Shhh, Suck. There be magic in them words, and while I'm up at 1am writing this review, my baby is quiet, if not asleep enough to lay down on her own. I'd be ripping my hair out instead of writing this if it weren't for the wonderful wizard Dr. Karp.
Three cheers, and 4 stars only because of the filler.
Swaddle, Side, Sway, Shhh, Suck. There be magic in them words, and while I'm up at 1am writing this review, my baby is quiet, if not asleep enough to lay down on her own. I'd be ripping my hair out instead of writing this if it weren't for the wonderful wizard Dr. Karp.
Three cheers, and 4 stars only because of the filler.
June 6, 2018
Honestly, no offense to this book’s feelings, but it should have been a pamphlet instead.
March 17, 2011
Hopefully the techniques are more effective than the style
There's a lot of unnecessary fluff trying to convince you of the 'calming reflex' and the 'fourth trimester' idea. Skip the first 75 pages.
VERY repetitive (how many times must he remind us that "he had this type of stimulation 24 hours a day IN the womb, what you're doing now is a big decrease"?--apparently, this is written in the context of a society that is afraid of spoiling 3 month-olds by soothing them, which was news to me.
Off-putting overly enthusiastic and conversational (in the motivational speaker sort of way) style, but probably like many of these mothery books
Really disruptive quotes from parents, outdated (like 18th century) parenting guides, and famous people that are inserted in random places in the middle of text. They do not add anything other than occasional humor but mostly frustration (I don't trust anecdotal 'evidence' by nature). The book would be better without them, though only 1/2 the length. Oh, same for the silly cartoons.
But HOPEfully, the strategies and techniques work (that's why I'm not giving it a 0.5), but I wouldn't discourage you from getting the meat of the book from another source and skip the read. Borrow it from someone and see which pages they dogeared or something. After I endured the text, I've marked the relevant pages so I can convert the book to a more palatable (and concise) reference. For those of you with the paperback 2003 edition, see the following pages:
23: determining why your baby's crying
115: how to swaddle
126-127: really, this is the book summarized. I guess he put it in the middle so the book can stay open to it. You can get away with just these two pages (I'm not suggesting you break copyright and photocopy it yourself, nosiree!)
134: some ways to hold baby to soothe him/her
187: the progression: try one technique, add another, add another till he calms down
194: infant massage
217: weaning off the soothing techniques
There's a lot of unnecessary fluff trying to convince you of the 'calming reflex' and the 'fourth trimester' idea. Skip the first 75 pages.
VERY repetitive (how many times must he remind us that "he had this type of stimulation 24 hours a day IN the womb, what you're doing now is a big decrease"?--apparently, this is written in the context of a society that is afraid of spoiling 3 month-olds by soothing them, which was news to me.
Off-putting overly enthusiastic and conversational (in the motivational speaker sort of way) style, but probably like many of these mothery books
Really disruptive quotes from parents, outdated (like 18th century) parenting guides, and famous people that are inserted in random places in the middle of text. They do not add anything other than occasional humor but mostly frustration (I don't trust anecdotal 'evidence' by nature). The book would be better without them, though only 1/2 the length. Oh, same for the silly cartoons.
But HOPEfully, the strategies and techniques work (that's why I'm not giving it a 0.5), but I wouldn't discourage you from getting the meat of the book from another source and skip the read. Borrow it from someone and see which pages they dogeared or something. After I endured the text, I've marked the relevant pages so I can convert the book to a more palatable (and concise) reference. For those of you with the paperback 2003 edition, see the following pages:
23: determining why your baby's crying
115: how to swaddle
126-127: really, this is the book summarized. I guess he put it in the middle so the book can stay open to it. You can get away with just these two pages (I'm not suggesting you break copyright and photocopy it yourself, nosiree!)
134: some ways to hold baby to soothe him/her
187: the progression: try one technique, add another, add another till he calms down
194: infant massage
217: weaning off the soothing techniques
October 14, 2011
This book sucked. Some of the ideas in it might prove very useful. But the book sucked. Rather than read it, I suggest one just skip to page 126-127 and copy the 5 S techniques as they are briefly described. Karp definitely knew that this idea couldn't justify a book length volume, but that didn't stop him from writing one. I'd say you'll read the same information (sometimes verbatim) every 20 pages or so. Before any information, you'll have about 5 pages of "you are about to learn..." or "in Chapter 13 you will learn..."
God this is awfully written! Terrible! Plus, he uses exclamation points like a fourth grader: way more often than could be logically justified! His only pseudo-scientific claims (some dealing with evolution) are always prefaced by "I believe" or "I am convinced," completely undercutting any real value these statements might hold and revealing the utter lack of actual scientific research. Here's his most scientific sentence: "Actually, the [5 S's] trigger a profound neurological response never before recognized or reported--until today." Sounds like he's hawking some miracle hair growing ointment.
Oh, and he's just a dick: "In many ways, the people living in primitive cultures are backward compared to Western societies" (7). He amends his comments later...on page 84, "Please don't be fooled by the word 'primitive.' Although it conjures up images of backward people, over the past eighty years research has shown that many so-called primitive peoples possess wisdom of the natural world about which we are ignorant." I'm not sure who should be more offended--the primitive, backward people or me, the reader for his assumption that I think primitive means "backward." Dick!
God this is awfully written! Terrible! Plus, he uses exclamation points like a fourth grader: way more often than could be logically justified! His only pseudo-scientific claims (some dealing with evolution) are always prefaced by "I believe" or "I am convinced," completely undercutting any real value these statements might hold and revealing the utter lack of actual scientific research. Here's his most scientific sentence: "Actually, the [5 S's] trigger a profound neurological response never before recognized or reported--until today." Sounds like he's hawking some miracle hair growing ointment.
Oh, and he's just a dick: "In many ways, the people living in primitive cultures are backward compared to Western societies" (7). He amends his comments later...on page 84, "Please don't be fooled by the word 'primitive.' Although it conjures up images of backward people, over the past eighty years research has shown that many so-called primitive peoples possess wisdom of the natural world about which we are ignorant." I'm not sure who should be more offended--the primitive, backward people or me, the reader for his assumption that I think primitive means "backward." Dick!
May 20, 2013
All right, there really are nuggets of good advice hidden in mounds of dirt in this book. For example, I skimmed the entire first half of the book. And there are just so many darned testimonials from his patients - perhaps a fifth of the book is testimonials. Why? To make this actually book-length, I suppose. Oh, and for your mental well-being you should probably skip the section listing all the rare medical conditions that can lead to colic. So, anyway, there are just nuggets...
But what nuggets! Solid gold advice.
This book is, supposedly, addressed to parents of colicky babies, but honestly any new parent can use the key advice. My baby isn't colicky but using this advice helped him (and us) sleep much, much better at night, and calms him down when need be. We went from spending 1 1/2 hours calming him down after his middle-of-the-night feeding (and really I think he just cried himself to sleep) to spending 20 minutes helping him drift back to sleep using some of this advice.
I recommend expecting parents read the sections on the "5 S's" and then read them again after they have the baby. The advice is only good for newborns - the first 3 to 5 months - so there's no reason to put off reading this. I read the good sections when our baby was 3 1/2 weeks old and I wish I'd read it 4 weeks earlier.
Lastly, you don't need to use this advice verbatim. Go with what your baby likes. For example, our baby doesn't like the side-hold recommended by this book - I just replace that 'S' with one of his two favorite ways to be held. These are guidelines, not rules, and every baby is different.
But what nuggets! Solid gold advice.
This book is, supposedly, addressed to parents of colicky babies, but honestly any new parent can use the key advice. My baby isn't colicky but using this advice helped him (and us) sleep much, much better at night, and calms him down when need be. We went from spending 1 1/2 hours calming him down after his middle-of-the-night feeding (and really I think he just cried himself to sleep) to spending 20 minutes helping him drift back to sleep using some of this advice.
I recommend expecting parents read the sections on the "5 S's" and then read them again after they have the baby. The advice is only good for newborns - the first 3 to 5 months - so there's no reason to put off reading this. I read the good sections when our baby was 3 1/2 weeks old and I wish I'd read it 4 weeks earlier.
Lastly, you don't need to use this advice verbatim. Go with what your baby likes. For example, our baby doesn't like the side-hold recommended by this book - I just replace that 'S' with one of his two favorite ways to be held. These are guidelines, not rules, and every baby is different.
June 17, 2014
This is one of those books that is gold... but very brief gold. Here is the failure of the modern book industry. The book should be about 40 pages, and it would be worth paying $10 or even $14. But no one thinks that brief advice could possibly be worth that much, so it's got filler. Whatever. Read the intro and a couple chapters. It'll save your life if you're a new parent. Plus, as a new parent, you only have time for a few chapters. Take it and read, the advice herein is great--it works!
June 11, 2008
This book is an absolute parenting essential. In the future, I will purchase this book, along with a swaddler, for every friend/relative who has a new baby. It's the closest thing to magic I have encountered during my brief time as a parent!
We used the techniques in this book almost every day for the first 4 months of our child's life. We still swaddle our son now and he's almost six months old.
I wold strongly recommend reading it before you give birth - we actually used the entire technique our first night home from the hospital.
The book really, truly works. I know a DVD is available too, but I would say read the book as well because it really gets into the science of sleep and infant development.
We used the techniques in this book almost every day for the first 4 months of our child's life. We still swaddle our son now and he's almost six months old.
I wold strongly recommend reading it before you give birth - we actually used the entire technique our first night home from the hospital.
The book really, truly works. I know a DVD is available too, but I would say read the book as well because it really gets into the science of sleep and infant development.
August 15, 2022
Obligatory disclaimer: at the time of writing this review, our family had raised exactly 0 babies. I *may* come back in a few months, when this state of affairs has suffered changes.
I have to start by saying that this book could have been shorter. Partly because the author repeats himself quite often, partly because there are too many testimonials everywhere. That being said, Dr Karp does manage to make his point clear: the babies need a fourth trimester before they're born and so, for the first 3 months of life, parents should create an environment as close to that of the womb as possible. To achieve this, the author proposed what he calls "The 5 Ss":
1. Swaddling
2. Side/stomach
3. Shushing
4. Swinging
5. Sucking
Dr Karp insists that these 5 steps, performed correctly, will trigger any baby's natural calming reflex. More details about these can be easily found online, if the reader of this review is in possession of such curiosities.
Apart from detailing and explaining each of the 5 Ss, the book is littered with practical advice for baby rearing, most of it moderate and common sense (something very hard to achieve, might I say).
I found the examples of medical errors interesting: victims of the "absence of evidence is evidence of absence" fallacy. I mention only the near disappearance of breast feeding in the United States and the expert advice to handle the baby as little as possible for the first six months, so as not to overstimulate her.
The book is adequately written, with a touch of humor here and there. It's an enjoyable and easy read, though cringe-worthy every now and then.
Must give 4 stars because of the unnecessary length. Half the book would have done it.
***************
I am back, a year later. We have applied close to nothing from this book and have come to disagree with most of it. Not because the "methods" do not work. They might as well be magic, but we went in a completely different direction with our attitude towards our baby girl. We have learned to respect her too much to apply what we now regard as inconsiderate (maybe even harmful) techniques with her. This book is invalidated by recent scientific findings and, even, by common sense.
I have to start by saying that this book could have been shorter. Partly because the author repeats himself quite often, partly because there are too many testimonials everywhere. That being said, Dr Karp does manage to make his point clear: the babies need a fourth trimester before they're born and so, for the first 3 months of life, parents should create an environment as close to that of the womb as possible. To achieve this, the author proposed what he calls "The 5 Ss":
1. Swaddling
2. Side/stomach
3. Shushing
4. Swinging
5. Sucking
Dr Karp insists that these 5 steps, performed correctly, will trigger any baby's natural calming reflex. More details about these can be easily found online, if the reader of this review is in possession of such curiosities.
Apart from detailing and explaining each of the 5 Ss, the book is littered with practical advice for baby rearing, most of it moderate and common sense (something very hard to achieve, might I say).
I found the examples of medical errors interesting: victims of the "absence of evidence is evidence of absence" fallacy. I mention only the near disappearance of breast feeding in the United States and the expert advice to handle the baby as little as possible for the first six months, so as not to overstimulate her.
The book is adequately written, with a touch of humor here and there. It's an enjoyable and easy read, though cringe-worthy every now and then.
Must give 4 stars because of the unnecessary length. Half the book would have done it.
***************
I am back, a year later. We have applied close to nothing from this book and have come to disagree with most of it. Not because the "methods" do not work. They might as well be magic, but we went in a completely different direction with our attitude towards our baby girl. We have learned to respect her too much to apply what we now regard as inconsiderate (maybe even harmful) techniques with her. This book is invalidated by recent scientific findings and, even, by common sense.
December 11, 2008
The basic points are good - and they work. But, the book is amazingly boring.
January 10, 2024
I hope this book helps! I am 8 months pregnant and one of the things I'm most worried about is getting my baby to sleep. I picked up this book because I heard great things about it and the methods that Dr. Karp uses.
This book essentially talks about how babies are born three months too early and need a fourth trimester to adjust to life outside the womb. There was a lot of dialogue about sleep issues but essentially this book came down to using the "5 S's" to help babies sleep. These are swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swaying, and sucking. I think there could have been a paragraph on each, and this book could have been a booklet at best.
This book is mainly filler, and I think if you just read an article about the 5 S's it will give you the same effect. I totally agree that those 5 things will help, but I didn't need to read this whole book to learn at all. There were a lot of outdated quotes and testimonials, so again, just feel free to google "the 5 S's" and you will learn just as much as I did.
This book essentially talks about how babies are born three months too early and need a fourth trimester to adjust to life outside the womb. There was a lot of dialogue about sleep issues but essentially this book came down to using the "5 S's" to help babies sleep. These are swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swaying, and sucking. I think there could have been a paragraph on each, and this book could have been a booklet at best.
This book is mainly filler, and I think if you just read an article about the 5 S's it will give you the same effect. I totally agree that those 5 things will help, but I didn't need to read this whole book to learn at all. There were a lot of outdated quotes and testimonials, so again, just feel free to google "the 5 S's" and you will learn just as much as I did.
September 1, 2014
This book should be subtitled, "How to Ruin Your Milk Supply." Following the tactics in this book will most likely sabotage breastfeeding relationships and make parents wonder why they don't know what their babies need...after learning to ignore all their cues and teaching the babies to shut down, not calm down, from being shaken and scared by loud noises. Here's a great review of Dr. Karp's methods:
http://www.regardingbaby.org/2012/05/...
For better information on normal infant sleep, check out:
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://www.uppitysciencechick.com/nig...
http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-slee...
http://www.ibfan.org/art/bb53.pdf by Helen Ball of ISIS & Durham U Parent Infant Sleep Lab
http://www.kellymom.com/store/handout...
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sle...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://www.bestforbabes.org/booby-tra...
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicwo...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/parenti...
http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/frequen...
And visit the "resources" tab on LLLi.org to find a local La Leche League group for breastfeeding support.
http://www.regardingbaby.org/2012/05/...
For better information on normal infant sleep, check out:
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://www.uppitysciencechick.com/nig...
http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-slee...
http://www.ibfan.org/art/bb53.pdf by Helen Ball of ISIS & Durham U Parent Infant Sleep Lab
http://www.kellymom.com/store/handout...
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sle...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/nightti...
http://www.bestforbabes.org/booby-tra...
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicwo...
http://kellymom.com/parenting/parenti...
http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/frequen...
And visit the "resources" tab on LLLi.org to find a local La Leche League group for breastfeeding support.
December 28, 2019
Very repetitive. Could’ve been an essay. The information was helpful in the book, but the book was so poorly written and so repetitive it was hard to even get through without skipping here and there. The actual 5 S technique is great to know.
September 20, 2018
Illuminating and inspiring!
January 31, 2021
These techniques work like a charm for my baby. She is not really fussy (yet) (knock on wood) (seriously KNOCK ON WOOD), but that may also be because my husband and I read this early on and have been using the 5 S’s since the beginning. Either she is a little angel baby or we are just very good at soothing her after reading this. It was also just generally a pleasant reading experience. I like the anthropological perspectives in the book and the way Dr. Karp references other cultures and different baby practices throughout history.
August 31, 2010
Really people, why do we always forget? There is such a thing called mothers instinct, and books like these make it seem as if it is something we made up. "when you do this, baby will do this", and etc, no no! Not all babies are the same, and no, they do not react in the same way! there are some good tips here, but mostly it repeats on the same thing over and over. As soon as my baby was born, I realized this book did nothing for me. Reality is always much better!
June 7, 2021
Информацията, вложена в тази книга, може да се събере на 50 страници и без да бъде предъвкана и преразказана 100 пъти. Жените, които я четат, по всяка вероятност не са чак толкова бавномислещи, било то и бременни.
Иначе нещата вътре звучат логично и полезно. Примерите за американски бебета тип Джесика, Боби, Пати ги прескачах, защото не ме вълнуват. Ако ставаше дума за Гошко, Мими и Кирчо, най-вероятно нямаше да го направя.
Иначе нещата вътре звучат логично и полезно. Примерите за американски бебета тип Джесика, Боби, Пати ги прескачах, защото не ме вълнуват. Ако ставаше дума за Гошко, Мими и Кирчо, най-вероятно нямаше да го направя.
July 26, 2023
I felt I had to read this book at Dr. Karp was my pediatrician. None of the information felt new to me as my mom lived by his words but it still was a good refresher. I would certainly recommend to any parent for learning ways to help a fussy newborn
April 21, 2021
tl;dr: IN THE SECOND EDITION, THE ACTUAL BREAKDOWN OF THE 5 S's ARE FOUND ON PAGES 114-119, 132-133, 142, 159, 165-167.
Woof, heed all of the comments before me! This definitely could have been a long pamphlet or a very short book. I hated almost every minute of reading this. It's super heteronormative, the guy makes some bizarre off-putting comments, and there is an exorbitant amount of repetition - like, pages and pages of him saying things he said a few chapters earlier.
Luckily, I realized early on that this book was *mostly* hot garbage and started skimming once I got confirmation from fellow goodreaders' reviews.
There is some valuable info, but it's NOT worth a word-for-word reading.
My suggestions for reading:
1. Skip the entire first section and chapters 6 and 7 of part two and start at chapter 8 (or 9 if you're like me and know how to properly swaddle a baby).
2. Skip the main points at the beginning of each chapter and all of the "anecdotes" (easy to identify because they're in a smaller font. They are mostly ridiculous and not at all pertinent).
3. When you come across sans serif font blocks, read the title and decide if it's worth it for you to read (it usually isn't), and move along.
4. Skip all the bold/italicized quotes (seriously, was this guy paid Charles Dickens-style per word?!).
5. Do not pay full price for this book! Get it secondhand or at the library and just xerox the pages at the top of my review.
Woof, heed all of the comments before me! This definitely could have been a long pamphlet or a very short book. I hated almost every minute of reading this. It's super heteronormative, the guy makes some bizarre off-putting comments, and there is an exorbitant amount of repetition - like, pages and pages of him saying things he said a few chapters earlier.
Luckily, I realized early on that this book was *mostly* hot garbage and started skimming once I got confirmation from fellow goodreaders' reviews.
There is some valuable info, but it's NOT worth a word-for-word reading.
My suggestions for reading:
1. Skip the entire first section and chapters 6 and 7 of part two and start at chapter 8 (or 9 if you're like me and know how to properly swaddle a baby).
2. Skip the main points at the beginning of each chapter and all of the "anecdotes" (easy to identify because they're in a smaller font. They are mostly ridiculous and not at all pertinent).
3. When you come across sans serif font blocks, read the title and decide if it's worth it for you to read (it usually isn't), and move along.
4. Skip all the bold/italicized quotes (seriously, was this guy paid Charles Dickens-style per word?!).
5. Do not pay full price for this book! Get it secondhand or at the library and just xerox the pages at the top of my review.
September 1, 2007
I have to read this book to be certified in the curriculum for my job with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and normally I wouldn't put this type of thing on a personal book list, but it's so great! Obviously I don't have children, but some day in the future when I do, I definitely want to use these techniques! It talks of the "5 S's to Stop a Crying Baby"- swaddle, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking! And I have the DVDs for the whole curriculum, which is amazing! The guy is a genius! Every parent should have access to this info! (And if you are interested and have a baby, and live in IL, let me know or go to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois' website....later this fall, I will be able to teach the curriculum for free!)
August 4, 2023
This book is great. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because there were a lot of times that the author would say such and such thing raises/lowers the chances of SIDS and I would want to know why, even if there’s only theories, but those whys just aren’t in the book, which made me frustrated. Like why are babies more likely to die from SIDS between 4-6 months? As a mother of a nearly 3 month old, I’d really like to know, yet no explanation. This drives me nuts and makes me feel more nervous. But there are definitely helpful perspectives and it’s been a helpful tool for my husband and I to be on the same page as parents.
December 31, 2007
How can I say this?... If you want to never hear your baby cry for longer than 5 seconds and have them sleep through the night for their first three months, read this book and get the instructional DVD. I read it twice and perfected the technique before my baby boy was born and I seriously LOVED having a newborn and NEVER felt like I couldn't console him. It worked EVERY TIME. I really don't know how people do it without knowing this technique. It's a must for every mom.
December 19, 2015
Anne adaylarinin ve taze annelerin isine yarayacak,huzursuz bebeklerini sakinlestirebilmeleri icin 5 temel prensipten tekrar ve tekrar!! bahseden bir kitap.Ancak henuz dogum yapmadan okunmasi tavsiyem.Kolik ne degildire de vurgu yapiyor Karp.Mahallenin en mutlu bebegine sahip olmaniz mumkun mu bilmiyorum ama bebeklerle dair ozellikle yenidoganlara dair yararli bilgiler edineceginizden suphem yok.
May 22, 2016
Agreed with other reviewers that the book is overly wordy, though Dr. Karp's method is highly effective and has saved my sanity as a first-time mother, especially during the early weeks when I did not know how to soothe my little booger.
October 27, 2022
Very practical guide to soothing your baby.
I actually learned a lot from this relatively short book (compared to other pregnancy/baby books)
Yea it had it's very repetitive parts but just skip over those parts.
The key takeaway is the 5 S's to soothe your baby:
1. Swaddling
Some people think that their babies don't want to be swaddled but it's a myth, they just don't know they'll like it. And it takes a baby about a minute to realize they like something, they're a little slow lol So give it time and be patient. You can have your baby swaddled all day and it's actually okay. They are use to be kept tight and they actually learn and interact faster while they're swaddled because they don't have to worry about all their overwhelming limbs.
2. Side/Stomach
When you place a baby on their back they get the fear falling jolt and feel uncomfortable, they don't like it, so put them on their side or stomach or pick them up.
3. Swinging
The enjoy gentle movements left to right or up and down
4. Sucking
Where it be the boob, a pacifier, a finger. Introduce pacifier once you have breast feeding established
5. Shushing
This is the noise they hear in the womb, and it's actually quite loud, as loud as a vacuum cleaner so don't be afraid to blast it when the baby is screaming and turn it down once they're calm. You can have shushing sounds play all night.
It also talked a lot about colic babies, and the 5 S's help but there may be more to it, like allergies etc.
I actually learned a lot from this relatively short book (compared to other pregnancy/baby books)
Yea it had it's very repetitive parts but just skip over those parts.
The key takeaway is the 5 S's to soothe your baby:
1. Swaddling
Some people think that their babies don't want to be swaddled but it's a myth, they just don't know they'll like it. And it takes a baby about a minute to realize they like something, they're a little slow lol So give it time and be patient. You can have your baby swaddled all day and it's actually okay. They are use to be kept tight and they actually learn and interact faster while they're swaddled because they don't have to worry about all their overwhelming limbs.
2. Side/Stomach
When you place a baby on their back they get the fear falling jolt and feel uncomfortable, they don't like it, so put them on their side or stomach or pick them up.
3. Swinging
The enjoy gentle movements left to right or up and down
4. Sucking
Where it be the boob, a pacifier, a finger. Introduce pacifier once you have breast feeding established
5. Shushing
This is the noise they hear in the womb, and it's actually quite loud, as loud as a vacuum cleaner so don't be afraid to blast it when the baby is screaming and turn it down once they're calm. You can have shushing sounds play all night.
It also talked a lot about colic babies, and the 5 S's help but there may be more to it, like allergies etc.
July 5, 2021
چی میتونم بگم دربارهاش؟ جز اینکه مثل یه مامای خیلی حرفهای کمکم کرد پسرم رو توی روزهایی که دلدردهای شبانه(نمیگم کولیک چون همه فکر میکنن هر دلدردی کولیکه همونطور که نویسنده توضبح میده) نگه دارم. هم آرومم کرد و هم بهم راه و روش تسکین درد نوزاد رو یاد داد. این کتاب به فارسی ترجمه نشده و به نظرم خیلی ترجمهاش برای مادرهایی مثل من راهگشاس
تنها نکتهای که آزارم میداد و توی بقیهی ریویوها هم خوندم تکرار بیش از اندازه بود. البته باید بگم همین تکرار یه کاری میکرد که هیچ جوره فراموش نشه بحثهای اصلی
پنجراهکار اصلی
Shhhing
Swinging
Side/stomach your baby
Swaddling
Sucking
تنها نکتهای که آزارم میداد و توی بقیهی ریویوها هم خوندم تکرار بیش از اندازه بود. البته باید بگم همین تکرار یه کاری میکرد که هیچ جوره فراموش نشه بحثهای اصلی
پنجراهکار اصلی
Shhhing
Swinging
Side/stomach your baby
Swaddling
Sucking
March 20, 2020
Doğumdan önce mutlaka okunmalı🥰
July 18, 2020
I meant to read this before J was born, but alas...global pandemic and pregnancy got in the way. As it focuses on the first 3-4 months after birth, though, it's still relevant.
Overall, I think the strategy for calming babies and helping them sleep laid out in this book makes sense and has a lot of value. The 5 S's: Swaddling, Side/Stomach holding, Shushing, Swaying, and Sucking. It's been my experience that some combination of those DOES in fact calm an angry baby. The book's tips on how to do so most effectively was actually really helpful (particularly how loudly to shush...I was not being forceful enough at all and have already seen a difference). It's a very encouraging book for parents who are in the trenches of the fourth trimester.
That said...is this something we really need a whole book, DVD, and "experts" on? Is this honestly a "new way" to calm babies? Have we reached a point where people have so little faith in their own ability to care for their child that they need told to do those things? That makes me sad.
Everything above is pretty standard for a parenting book. They're always a mixed bag. I have two real complaints about this book, though.
1. The author, a pediatrician, actually advises against playing white noise from your cell phones because of "microwaves"...are you being serious? I am SO disappointed to read this sort of pseudo-science BS from a medical professional. While I recognize doctors aren't physicists, they are responsible for reading the scientific literature and understanding it well enough to know that's ridiculous.
2. The author repeatedly lists "smart sleepers" as an option for calming babies. He seems really into these, which is fine...except he never acknowledges that they cost thousands of dollars and are not a realistic option for many families. It came across as pretty tone deaf.
Overall, I think the strategy for calming babies and helping them sleep laid out in this book makes sense and has a lot of value. The 5 S's: Swaddling, Side/Stomach holding, Shushing, Swaying, and Sucking. It's been my experience that some combination of those DOES in fact calm an angry baby. The book's tips on how to do so most effectively was actually really helpful (particularly how loudly to shush...I was not being forceful enough at all and have already seen a difference). It's a very encouraging book for parents who are in the trenches of the fourth trimester.
That said...is this something we really need a whole book, DVD, and "experts" on? Is this honestly a "new way" to calm babies? Have we reached a point where people have so little faith in their own ability to care for their child that they need told to do those things? That makes me sad.
Everything above is pretty standard for a parenting book. They're always a mixed bag. I have two real complaints about this book, though.
1. The author, a pediatrician, actually advises against playing white noise from your cell phones because of "microwaves"...are you being serious? I am SO disappointed to read this sort of pseudo-science BS from a medical professional. While I recognize doctors aren't physicists, they are responsible for reading the scientific literature and understanding it well enough to know that's ridiculous.
2. The author repeatedly lists "smart sleepers" as an option for calming babies. He seems really into these, which is fine...except he never acknowledges that they cost thousands of dollars and are not a realistic option for many families. It came across as pretty tone deaf.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,510 reviews