Nikki and all,
I first heard of Dr. Karp and HBOTB as a LLL Leader after he spoke at the
LLLI conf in 03, I believe. I didn't attend, but heard he had been a speaker
and LLLI had approved the video. However, being completely and violently
opposed to ALL baby training, I had not given it any thought. I was curious,
but had no need for the information.
Later, 2004 maybe, I attended a CAPPA conference where Harvey was to speak.
I already knew Sherry Turney-Mayeaux from conferences where we had seen each
other. She is the director of Education for HBOTB. I talked with her BEFORE
hearing him speak. I GRILLED her for several minutes. What about baby cueing
for food with their hands? What about shaking to hard? Question after
question... She answered them all, and finally said, just wait until you
hear him speak.
I went in to the lecture room and sat directly in front of him. I did not
smile. He was going to have to prove this to me. I can smell a baby trainer
a mile away. I kept waiting for him to slip up. Surely this method can't be
supportive of breastfeeding AND help them sleep longer, surely it is not as
fair to the baby as the parents...I WAS WRONG. I came away totally
impressed. Same phenomenon as another poster said. A crying baby from the
back of the room was brought up and after gently asking permission, he did
the technique and like magic, the baby quieted - but NOT for long because
the mother admitted the baby needed to nurse. It does not work on hungry
babies. I am now an instructor and I tell my clients and anyone I tell about
the book that it is NOT a replacement for feeding babies - in fact, it won't
work for that. They won't buy it.
I don't know as far as hard scientific trials - he lays the basis of his
theory in the book. It is in many local libraries - just check it out and
read for yourself. I don't agree with him on everything (I am more wary of
pacifiers than he is, for example) but it isn't a deal breaker for me and we
agree to disagree. I do believe that they have their place and now, having
dealt with a Reflux/tongue tie baby that cried all the time, I value a
properly used pacifier. He, as well as the educators will tell you, most
babies don't need all 5 S's to organize and quiet. The average baby only
needs the first 2 or 3. Only the very fussy need all 5. And when your baby
will not/can not be comforted by nursing and you NEED something else - this
technique is a LIFESAVER.
End of the story, after more questions, answered by both Harvey and Sherry,
I became an instructor. I just want to help parents have tools for soothing
their baby. Especially dads and especially when baby won't nurse or even for
those parents like many here who will not nurse for comfort or want to "make
sure" that the baby is eating at the breast. This way baby is still being
held and loved and comforted, and probably nursed more often b/c when the
5S's don't work, they will feed them again. I tell more people about it for
free than I will ever get paid for, but I also have helped many families
through home visits and paid classes.
I also now have a personal story. I never thought I would use the techniques
myself. I have always co-slept, nursed on demand, worn the baby. Then my 3rd
child was born on 6/16/06. His reflux made us all miserable. Had it not been
for the techniques of HBOTB, I don't know what would have happened. My wrist
had carpel tunnel from holding him on the side so much, but it was the ONLY
way he was happy (when nursing was part of the pain) and it was part of
every day for the first 3-4 months.
He also briefly mentions in the book that you should NOT schedule babies.
So, I don't know if that helps but I am the MOST hard-core breastfeeding
advocate I know and I think HBOTB is wonderful. It is not new information
but it is step-by-step, simple to use, simple to understand techniques and
tools for the new parent who didn't learn about babies and their needs from
their parents.
If you grew up in LLL and had a baby-wearing, extended nursing mama who
taught you good, you probably won't need it. But then again, if colic or
reflux or something changes the picture, it can even come in handy with that
crowd.
That's my personal story about it,
Micky
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