The 5 Ss To Calm an Upset Baby
Swaddling, Side-lying, Shushing, Swinging/shimmying/bouncing, Sucking
We are ever grateful to the parents that clued us in on the 5 S's, it really does work like a miracle (see videos below). Sometimes you can get away with the first 2 or 3, sometimes you really have to do ALL 5 at once together for it to really work. Don’t be skittish about really getting into it, imagine what life was like when inside the womb and try to duplicate that. WATCH ALL THE BELOW VIDEOS, each one adds a bit on how to have the techniques be really effective.
Swaddling- Someone gave us a video tape that showed the best swaddling technique ever. Morgan is still proud of his ability to swaddle a baby like it is a calf roping competition, the nurses at the hospital were super impressed with his technique. The swaddling keeps them tight and secure while sleeping like they felt in the womb.
Side-lying/Stomach- Cradle them across your arm on their side, sometimes they like to be tipped forward a bit on their front. Don’t lay a baby on their stomach when swaddled on a bed, they can’t push themselves up to get off their face, this side/stomach position is only for this arm cradled calming technique. If they just ate make sure they lay on their left since that is the side the stomach empties on.
Shushing- It is loud in the womb, a loud shushing in their ear mimics the sound of the circulatory system and other noises coming in.
Swinging/Swaying/Shimmying- Babies in utero are moving with your diaphragm, walking, dancing, running, getting up and down from a chair, etc…
Sucking- I just used my pinkie, some people use thumbs or pacifiers.
https://youtu.be/6OtPSfyZXNw?si=GYRb3E7eVYENnIP5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkRlvPGywM
