The Happiest Baby on the BlockThink of the first three months of your baby’s life as the 4th trimester!

When your baby cries: first check the diaper, then offer an extra bit of milk (even if s/he has just fed!)

Is your baby still crying? Here are five simple steps that make most babies happy and sleep better, too! They are called the 5 S’s and if you follow them exactly as shown on the DVD you’ll be the best baby calmer on your block!

This is not meant to replace a doctor’s advice. Please consult your baby’s doctor before using these techniques and if your baby continues to cry despite doing the 5 S’s correctly.

1st S SwaddleSwaddling is the key to calming and sleep! Some babies resist at first, but all calm better, and sleep longer, when wrapped. Swaddle only during fussing and sleep, not 24 hours /day. Wrap for at least 4 months though many babies need it even longer.

Swaddle arms snugly : Keep hips loose, but arms snug (loose arms increase crying). Swaddle in a big, thin blanket (44” square). Never use bulky blankets or cover your baby’s head or face.

Keep cool : If hot and sweaty, cool the room and remove clothes or unwrap.

Feed your baby : during the first weeks of life, some babies get a bit too comfy and need to be unwrapped and awakened to eat. (Breastfed babies need 8-12 feeds/day; formula babies need 6-8 fees/day)

2nd S Side/Stomach PositionThe side or stomach is the best position for calming a baby. But never leave your newborn alone on the side or stomach.

Babies should never sleep on the side or stomach, especially if swaddled!

3rd S ShushingA strong 5-second “shush” can calm many crying babies...mid-cry.

4th S Swinging

Is your baby still crying after the first 3 S’s? Then add some swinging!

Fussy babies are calmed the fastest with quick, jiggly, very tiny movements; no more than just 1” (one inch) back and forth.

Support your baby’s neck and use very small “shiver-like” motions to let the head jiggle in your open hands.

Even if you’re upset never jiggle roughly; never shake your baby! (Also, tell your friends and family never to shake the baby!)

5th S SuckingSucking is the icing on the cake of calmness! Sucking on your breast or a clean finger is wonderful, but please, avoid pacifiers until your baby is nursing well, unless advised by a doctor.

Bedtime pacifiers may reduce SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.) Most SIDS occurs between 2-6 months... and rarely up to 1 year.

There is a 6th S! Sleeping

Want your baby to sleep an extra 1-3 hours? Use swaddling and strong white noise all night long. Together these can boost your baby’s sleep immediately!

(Never let your baby sleep on the tummy!)

At around 4 months, put your baby to sleep swaddled... with one arm out. If your baby sleeps well, you can stop the wrapping. If your baby sleeps poorly, resume normal swaddling and try the 1-arm wrap again in a month.

Some infants need swaddling for 6-9 months, but most are ready to sleep unwrapped before then. White noise magically helps infants AND toddlers sleep better...even through teething pain, mild hunger and street noise! 1

1 Karp, H. (2006). The Happiest Baby on the Block (DVD)

The Period of PURPLE CryingA New Way to Understand Your Baby’s Crying

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome: www.dontshake.orgPURPLEcrying.info, NCSBS 801-447-9360

P eak Pattern : Month 2 is probably when your baby will cry the most. Crying may decrease in months 3-5.

U nexpected / Unpredictable: You may not be able to find a reason for the

baby to cry. You have fed them, changed them, rocked them, they are not cold, you have walked around, sang, taken the baby for a walk and a car ride as well as skin-to-skin contact and it seems like they should be content. These things work only about 50% of the time.

R esists Soothing : Nothing you do to comfort your baby helps and your baby will

continue to cry. ALL babies will have times when they CANNOT stop crying.

P ain-like Face : Your baby looks like they are in pain, even when they are not!

L ong Lasting : Did you know that it is normal for some babies to cry as much as 5 hours a day or more!!

E vening Cry : Late afternoon and evening often will be when your baby cries the

most. 2

Crying normally starts to increase at about two weeks of age, peaks in intensity during the second month, and has decreased and stabilized by the fourth or fifth month of life. The average amount of crying is between one to two hours a day at the peak of crying, but some infants will cry less than that, and some will cry more (almost 6 hours for some babies!).

Why is it important to know about the Period of Purple Crying?

Frustration dealing with infant crying is the most common reason given for shaking a baby.

Seek help if crying is problematic for you or your baby. Sometimes the crying is a symptom of a medical problem. Parents also need to seek help if they are having trouble coping with infant crying.

2 Barr, R. (2011). Did you know your baby would cry like this? (with DVD) National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. USA.

A crying baby can be very frustrating, and physically and emotionally draining. All parents need help and support with the challenges of parenting.

Frustration can happen if: You had no idea your baby would cry so much. This is harder than you thought. Your baby won’t stop crying no matter what you try. You feel like you are a bad parent or that you are doing something wrong.

Who is likely to shake a baby?Sometimes a parent or caregiver gets so angry or frustrated that they lose control and, without thinking, shake the baby. (Most victims are under a year old.) Know you can trust your baby’s caregiver! Almost always the person caring for the baby is the one who shakes the baby. Parents need to educate others who look after their babies.3

The most common person that shakes a baby is the parent; the second most common is the mother’s live-in boyfriend. Male, under 25 years, who is a father or father figure (live-in boyfriend is a father

figure).o More females are shaking babies but the injuries are often less serious

and less likely to be identified. A person with a history of abuse who can’t control their anger and/ or impulses;

they may have already committed violent acts, or they were abused as children or youth.

A person with mental illness can impact how well they can handle the demands of infant care.

Person who uses excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol. A person who lacks child care experience or has unrealistic expectations about

normal child development.

Even a few seconds of shaking can cause serious permanent brain damage, blindness, paralysis, and even death.

Remember All babies cry. It is more important to stay calm than to stop the

crying. It’s OK to ask for help.

3 Ensom, R. (1998). Shaken Baby Syndrome background information. (with video) Children’s Hospital ofEastern Ontario. Supplement to Never Shake a Baby! What Parents and Caregivers need to knowVideo.

Never shake a baby for any reason.

Take a break, don’t shake! Put the baby in a safe place. Shut the door. Leave for up to 15 minutes; go to another area

of the home. If you are clam, try again to soothe baby. If you are not calm, seek help. Call someone.

Learn ways to soothe a crying baby. (5 S’s)Learn ways to calm yourself when frustrated.Plan ahead to call for help if you need it! 4

County Commissioners, NDSU and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. NDSU is an equal opportunity institution. Direct all inquiries to the Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach; 205 Old Main, (701) 231-7708. This publication will be made available in alternative format to people with disabilities upon request (701) 780-8229.

4 Davies, W.H. & Garwood M.M. (2001). Who are perpetrators and why do they do it? In S. Lazoritz &V. Palusci (Eds.) The Shaken Baby Syndrome A Multidisciplinary Approach. (pp. 41-54). New York:Haworth Press Inc. (p. 46).

If you think a child has been shaken or abused, call your County Social Services.

Grand Forks County 701-787-8500Walsh County 701-352-5111Polk County , MN 218-773-2431Pembina County 701-265-8441Nelson County 701-247-2945