Soothing Babies

As the eldest among my siblings and cousins, I’ve benefited from the babies that continue to surround me, long after my own two children have grown out of babydom. I’ve also had the amazing experience of having assisted at 5 births that were not of my own children! I was present in the delivery room for both my brother’s children, both my sister’s children, and witnessed my cousin give birth to her daughter au-naturale, at home! All births were beautiful and exhilarating, and I feel so privileged to have been asked.

Remembering how harrowing those first few months with a new baby can be, I offer my help and expertise to family by offering to stay overnight once a week to take some of the edge off the sleepless nights. Some take me up on it, some don’t. Those who don’t, I cook freezer meals for, because hey – I love to help. And those first few weeks can be a total blur!

Holding a baby, especially a fussy one who just wants to get to sleep is my specialty. My second daughter was a lot fussier than my first (Mother Nature’s way, I’m sure!), and as an infant, she would not allow herself to be held by anyone by me, my husband, and my sister-in-law. She cried during every car ride, bath, diaper change. 12 years ago, I hadn’t even heard of the term co-sleeping, but I was doing it, because my daughter would cry the moment I was beyond an arm’s length away from her.

I was offered tons of well-meaning tips and advice, but the only thing that worked for me was Dr. Harvey Karp’s book, The Happiest Baby on the Block. The theory that Dr. Karp shares is this:

1) All babies are born 3 months early. Although newborn horses can run within an hour of birth, our mushy little babies need a virtual 4th trimester of womb sensations (soft touch, jiggly motion, snug holding, etc).

2) The symphony of rhythms fetuses experience every day before birth triggers a reflex that keeps babies relaxed. This calming reflex is a virtual off-switch for crying and on-switch for sleep.

So after speed-reading The Happiest Baby on the Block, I began to put theory into action, by employing Dr. Karp’s “5 Ss”: Swaddle, Side/Stomach, Shush, Swing, and Suck… and wouldn’t you know it, my once-thought-to-be-colicky baby was soothed! Aah.

So now you know my secret. I am considered my family’s “baby whisperer” only because Dr. Karp’s method works! If your infant babe is fussy, you should give this a try.

This post was in no way sponsored, nor do I have any affiliation with Dr. Harvey Karp. I was just a tired, harried Mama for whom this method really worked!

Featured image credit: RobHainer/Thinkstock

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.