Summary!

The Happiest Baby on the Block is by a pediatrician named Harvey Karp. The book is about new ways to calm a crying baby and tips on how to make a newborn sleep longer. Dr. Harvey has given tips to help parents sooth their child. They will no longer have to watch as their child cries. 

 

Part one is about why babies cry and why some cry so much. It is important to know that all babies cry, but most new parents do not have experience or know ways of calming them. Dr. Karp believes there is a missing fourth trimester so babies cry more because they are born too soon. The calming reflex is how to make babies stop crying. The 5 S’s are ways to imitate the womb and have a calming reflex. It is important to know your baby’s preferred mix of 5’s. This is referred to as the Cuddle Cure. Whimpering, crying, and shrieking are three ways babies let you know how they are feeling. Babies cry for a response from their parents/caregiver. Colic is a big topic in the book. this means that a baby is crying for many hours of the day. The Five Modern Colic Theories are  Tiny Tummy Troubles,  Big Tummy Troubles,  Maternal Anxiety,  Brain Immaturity , and Challenging Temperament.

 

Part Two is about the ancient art of soothing a baby.  Newborns have reflexes which are built in skills and behaviors. The 5 S’s mimic the womb. They are swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swinging, and sucking. Precision, Practice, and Vigor help make the 5 S Technique succeed.  Allergies, constipation, and feeding problems are medical triggers of crying as well.  There is another S that is very important and that is sleep. It is smart to wake a sleeping baby. It Is good to share a room, but bed sharing is risky.