How To Calm a Fussy Baby Using the 5 S’s

Babies communicate by crying. And while it’s hard for mama (and dada) to hear, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is “wrong.” If you’ve gone through your typical checklist and nothing is helping, we suggest trying these 5 simple techniques coined by pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp, called the 5 S’s.

Swaddle

Swaddling keeps baby safely secure, mimicking a snug, womb-like feeling for your little one! It also prevents their startle reflex, which can lead to them waking or hitting themselves by accident.

You can swaddle your baby easily using a large square blanket. We have a simple tutorial here. Or you can shop our favorite SwaddleMe* swaddles on our Amazon storefront, with hook-and-loop closures that keep the swaddle from loosening!

This is an appropriate technique to follow until your baby is showing signs of rolling - then the swaddle must be dropped! 

Side or Stomach

Holding your baby on their stomach or in a side-lying position can be soothing, as well as relieve gas. After swaddling, face your baby outward, holding him/her against your forearm so there is slight pressure against their belly.

While this is comfortable and safe for them while being held, please note that babies should always be placed on their back for sleep! 

Shush

Your baby is accustomed to the “whooshing” sound they’ve heard constantly in the womb. You can easily mimic this sound by shushing repeatedly or playing a sound machine with white noise. Our favorite sound machine is the Hatch!

Swing 

Babies are used to constant movement, so it’s no surprise they love to be swung/rocked when they are fussy or tired. While slow rocking can help keep a calm baby quiet, it is recommended to soothe your crying baby by gently jiggling them in tiny motions (about an inch in either direction). 

Suck

If the previous steps are unsuccessful, offer him/her a pacifier. This is not only soothing to your baby, but provides other benefits such as a reduced risk of SIDS, an extension of time between feedings, or a break for your breasts if you’re a breastfeeding mom!

While babies have different preferences when it comes to pacifiers, these pacifiers* are our tried and true, and those we recommend most often to our clients!

We hope these simple techniques help the next time you’re having a hard time getting your little one settled. Put these in a note as a checklist in your phone, or save it on Instagram to quickly refer back to when needed!

*Commissionable links

For more tips, explore our other blogs or follow us on Instagram at @choosejoynursing.