The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp reveals the 5 S’s to make your baby sleep happily. I am probably the least qualified person to review this book since I don’t have a screaming infant that I need to make happy. yet. I will re-visit this review once I have the ear bleeding crying experience.
In my limited experience this book SEEMS like it was great and I am planning on implementing all 5 S’s pronto. The evidence Dr. Karp gives in his book all makes sense and in theory I believe this method would calm an infant. The book has great reviews everywhere you look. Most of the parent reviewers claim this method worked on their bundle of joy.
The book is an easy read, and I bet even a sleep deprived, insanity driven new parent could read and absorb the information needed. The book introduces five S’s (swaddling, side/stomach, shhhing, swinging, sucking) and explains in detail how to perform each S successfully. One criticism I read about this book stated the information in the 288 pages could have been condensed into a short essay. While this may be true, I think the full book is necessary to understand the importance of all the S’s and how to do each properly. Like Dr. Karp says, you have to do each step correctly, in order, and with the correct intensity. Overall I was very happy I read this book. I feel it will help prepare me a little to at least know what to do with a crying baby… instead of crying myself.