The 5 S’s

Today we’re going to talk about the 5 S’s. They are five tools that can be utilized to soothe your fussy baby! We’re also going to throw in a few bonus tricks of our own, which we call the 5 S’s Plus*.

Shush. Suck. Sway. Side. Swaddle

5 S’s Credit:

Dr. Harvey Karp is the creator of the 5 S’s terminology. Parents have been soothing their babies forever, but he put it together in a way that is easy to understand. He is the author of Happiest Baby on the Block and the inverter of the SNOO bassinet.

Concept:

The concept is that babies are born three months early. That 0-3 months is a “fourth trimester” where babies need to be responded to in a way that can help mimic the feeling of the womb. The 5 S’s can be used individually or in any combination!

What ARE the 5 s’s?

Suck.

Babies have an innate need to suck. On a bottle, a breast, a finger or a pacifier. Often we find that parents think that their baby is constantly hungry, when it’s just that the baby is seeking out sucking. If your baby is finished feeding- you can offer them a pacifier or let them suck on a clean finger. [We have not found pacifiers to have ANY negative impact on a breastfeeding relationship!]

Shush.

When in the womb babies hear a loud whooshing noise all of the time. In comparison the world can be oppressively quiet. Think of when you go to a loud concert and then go home after. The silence seems so loud! Back in the day we used to use our voices, running water, a vacuum, a fan or anything that made a loud steady noise to soothe babies. These days there is technology for that! Your phone has white/brown noise, there are Sound machines, and even a magic tool called the shusher!

Sway.

Movement! Babies often don’t like to be still. They like to be walked around, rocked, swayed back and forth and generally be on the go. Putting your baby in a carrier, holding them and doing the traditional “mom sway”, jiggling a bassinet, or putting them in a swing that does the swaying for you can help soothe even the fussiest of babies.

Side.

Oftentimes when babies are fussy it’s because they’re uncomfy. Putting a baby on their side can help them work out gas and feels generally more comfortable to their growing digestive system. Don’t leave your newborn on their side unattended because they can flop over onto their belly.

Swaddle.

The world is a big open place. Babies have arms and legs that they don’t know what to do with and they feel generally unmoored! Swaddling helps them feel safe and secure.

5 S’s Plus

Still looking for more hands-on options to soothe your baby? We’ve tacked on a couple of our own.

Sleep Environment

We work with a lot of fussy babies. Like, a LOT. And I can’t tell you how many times that a baby is a crank because they are overtired. Get your baby into a dark quiet room, crank that sound machine, swaddle the baby and you can side, suck and sway them to sleep!

Tapping.

Okay it’s not an S. But trust us it works. Tapping on the butt or on the back is soothing for babies and is a natural instinct for most of us. You can do this over your shoulder or when a baby is laying on their belly or side. Remember to never leave your baby unattended on their belly/side.

Want to learn more ways to soothe your baby? You may want to watch our video series! We break down how to assess your baby’s needs and how to realize what’s typical and how to evaluate and respond!