How to Treat Colic and Quiet a Newborn Baby
A Review of The Happiest Baby on the Block Book
Sep 20, 2009
Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D. is a pediatrician and renowned expert on child development. In his book, The Happiest Baby on the Block [Bantam, 2002], he helps outline the causes of infant colic and newborn crying, and how to stop them.
The Missing Fourth Trimester
Dr. Karp’s theory, which he outlines in great detail, is that babies are born 3 months too soon. He hypothesizes that this is due to human brain development; if human babies gestated any longer, their heads would be too large for them to be born.
By missing those last three months, newborn babies may not be ready for the onslaught of the world. Therefore, parents need to try to recreate the womb environment for their children. This theory is based on the fact that colic typically does not last beyond the 12th week of life and that in many cultures, it does not exist at all.
The Cuddle Cure
Dr. Karp has devised a method of calming a crying baby which he deems, the Cuddle Cure. This is also referred to as The 5 S’s. These are Side, Swaddle, Swing, Shush and Suck.
The book takes great care in explaining why these steps are useful, and provides evidence that backs each step up. Dr. Karp’s theory is that if performed correctly, the Cuddle Cure will effectively stop the crying of any infant.
What Doesn’t Cause Colic
Dr. Karp does take care to both outline and disprove other theories about the cause of colic and newborn crying. He outlines a large body of evidence, as well as reasons why the crying may not be colic and when to see the doctor.
This manual proves extremely helpful for parents who may be wondering why their baby is crying, if their baby is in pain, and what can be done about it.
How to Swaddle
One of the most useful areas of the book is the step by step diagram of how to swaddle a baby, and why swaddling is so important. Many parents may have tried and failed to swaddle their child, or they may not realize its importance. Dr. Karp does a thorough job of explaining the secrets behind it, and the errors parents could be making that have been rendering it unsuccessful.
The Happiest Baby on the Block [Bantam, 2002] is a wonderful guide book for any new parent, or for any parent dealing with colic. Even the calmest baby will have fits of crying, and the confidence this book can lend to parents in helping to calm their baby down is invaluable. The steps outlined in this book will serve as a tool parents can use throughout babyhood.
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