Discover the successful 5-step method to calm babies created by the well-known pediatrician Harvey Karp. Learn how to activate the calming reflex that all children are born with.
At Hoyos Foto Estudio, we apply this valuable technique in all our sessions. We have learned that by doing so, not only does it make our photographic work with newborns easier, but we also give parents (first-time or not) an added value they will never forget. Harvey Karp's book will be of great help to you, you can order it online or at Agapea.
This method relieves colic, improves sleep, reduces tantrums, cultivates patience, and ultimately makes parents and children happier.
It is "The Happiest Baby," a technique developed by the American pediatrician Harvey Karp, which has proven to be so successful that even celebrities like singer Madonna or actress Michelle Pfeiffer learned it to apply when they became mothers.
Karp is a well-known doctor, specialist in child development, and university professor, whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages. According to his website, his method is based on the idea that babies are not completely ready to face the world, as they are born three months early, so they need an extra fourth trimester to be carried, rocked, and cared for. Furthermore, the pediatrician argues that all children come into the world with what he calls a "calming reflex," which is not active when the baby is restless or crying, but it is possible to "turn it on" when his technique is well applied.
"Using the correct technique is very important because the reflexes only work when activated in the right way (…) Also, 'turning on' the calming reflex generally fails unless the five steps are carried out correctly," he states.
The five steps of the method proposed by Harvey Karp are quite simple:
1.- Swaddle the baby with a blanket or "tuto."
2.- Place the baby on their side (this while in arms, because in the crib they should always be lying on their back).
3.- Make gentle sounds (like shshshsh).
4.- Rock the baby.
5.- Offer something to suck on, like a finger or a pacifier.
"When these steps are perfectly executed, the effect is almost magical," assures the doctor, who also guarantees that with them the baby will sleep an extra one to three hours each night. How to apply the "The Happiest Baby" technique can be learned by parents both before and after the arrival of the baby. However, the idea is to start applying it when the child is between one and two weeks old. It is a kind of training, for which the so-called "white noise" is used, a mix of high and low tones that mimic the sound that babies hear inside the womb. "It is a powerful tool to turn on the calming reflex," says Karp.
In this way, when the child is receiving their last meal of the day, this "white noise" should be heard as background music. Then, when finished, the mother -or the father- should swaddle the baby with a blanket or "tuto," leaving only their head free. According to the American pediatrician, swaddling children gives them security and tranquility. Moreover, he assures that this practice does not interfere with their motor development, as it should only be used during naps or at night. However, he advises never to swaddle them with tight or straight legs, nor to overwrap them, use large or thick fabrics, cover their face, or make them sleep on their stomach. Ideally, they should be swaddled only until four months and stop when babies are able to roll over on their own.
Once the first step is completed, and regardless of whether they fall asleep in arms, the baby should be placed in their crib. At that moment, Karp suggests making the child open their eyes a little, even if just for a few seconds, and then close them again. And if they start to fuss, it is recommended to rock the crib with small and quick movements for a period of 20 seconds until the baby falls asleep again.
After one or two weeks of performing this routine, the baby will automatically sleep better and will be able to calm themselves.
It is important to know that these techniques can help any parent to be as skilled as the best person at calming children, learning to soothe
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