Discover the successful 5-step method for calming babies created by the well-known pediatrician Harvey Karp. Learn how to activate the calming reflex with which all children are born.
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 it also provides parents (whether first-time or not) with 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.
This 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 and 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. As he explains on his website, his method is based on the idea that babies are not fully prepared 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 can be "turned on" when his technique is properly applied.
"Using the correct technique is very important because the reflexes only work when activated in the right way (…) Likewise, '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 laid on their back).
3.- Make soft sounds (like shshshsh).
4.- Rock the baby.
5.- Offer something to suck on, like their finger or a pacifier.
"When these steps are performed perfectly well, the effect is almost magical," assures the doctor, who also guarantees that with them, the baby will sleep between one and three extra hours each night. How to apply the "The Happiest Baby" technique can be learned by parents both before and after the baby's arrival. 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 babies hear inside the womb. "It is a powerful tool to turn on the calming reflex," Karp states.
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 father—should swaddle them 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, not to overdress them, use large or thick fabrics, cover their face, or make them sleep on their stomach. Ideally, swaddle them only up to four months and stop when the babies can turn over on their own.
Once the first step is done, and regardless of whether they fell asleep in arms, the baby should be laid 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, the recommendation is to rock the crib with small, 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 manage to calm themselves.
It is important to know that these techniques can help any parent become as skilled as the best person at soothing children. You will learn how to calm your baby in minutes and, as a result, you will feel more rested, more capable in feeding and caring for your baby, and more successful in your role as a parent. Even the most restless babies can be calmed in minutes. This method has nothing to do with having a special gift; it is about understanding why newborns cry.
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