The 5 S's for soothing newborns, developed by Dr. Harvey Karp, are Swaddling, Side/Stomach position, Shushing, Swinging, and Sucking, techniques that mimic the womb's comforting environment to trigger a baby's innate calming reflex and settle fussiness. These methods help reduce the startle reflex, provide security, and create a womb-like sensation, though the side/stomach position is only for soothing, with babies always returned to their back to sleep.
😔 It can be challenging, but there are ways to soothe your baby and understand their needs. Try the 5 S's: swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing sounds, swinging, and sucking (a pacifier). Sometimes, a warm bath 🛁 or gentle rocking can help too. Remember, it's okay to ask for help and take breaks when needed.
The 5 S's for newborns originated from Dr. Karp's book, “The Happiest Baby on the Block.” In this blog, you will learn about the five different ways to soothe and comfort your baby: swaddling, side or stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking.
Fontanelles allow for the brain to grow. You cannot hurt your baby by touching their fontanelle, patting their head or washing their hair. The posterior (back) fontanelle closes at around 2-3 months of age. The anterior (front) fontanelle closes between 12-18 months of age.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The 3-minute rule means you should apply moisturizer to your baby's skin within three minutes of taking them out of the bath. After giving your baby a warm bath, gently pat them dry. Be careful not to rub their skin. Then, immediately rub a baby eczema cream onto their slightly damp skin.
Never shake your baby, whether in play or in frustration. Shaking can cause bleeding in the brain and sometimes death. If you need to wake your baby, don't do it by shaking. Instead, tickle your baby's feet or blow gently on a cheek.
If you touch the top of your baby's head you can feel a 'soft spot' in between the bones — this is a fontanelle.
While the fontanelles may seem very fragile, they are not so delicate that you could easily poke through them or damage the baby's skull just by touching them. It's okay to be careful around the area, but don't be too scared to touch it or care for it properly.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
Shushing has a calming effect on babies because it reminds them of the sounds they heard in the womb. Inside the womb, babies are surrounded by a constant symphony of sounds, including the rhythmic whooshing of blood flow and the mother's heartbeat.
"Follow the 'five cleans' which must be followed to prevent infection in the newborn - Clean hands, clean cord tie, clean cord, clean surface and clean blade. "
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
To soothe a crying baby:
The following are some of the normal reflexes seen in newborns.
It may take a few days or even weeks for your baby's head to round out. Some infants continue to have plagiocephaly after birth or develop flatness soon after.
Head Circumference
This simple measurement may be the first clue to an underlying problem. The 50th percentile for OFC of a term newborn is 34 cm, so if an infant has a normal weight and length for a term infant (near 50th %ile for age), a measurement of <31 cm is disproportionately small (<< 10th %ile for age).
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
“Crib hour” is when you leave your baby in the crib for one full hour, from the minute he or she falls asleep. So, for example, if you put your baby in the crib at 8:45am for their first nap and they fall asleep at 9:00am, you do not get them out of the crib at 9:45am but at 10:00am instead.