<I'm not familiar with Dr. Karp's book>
<I think he is starting from the premise that it is
NOT NORMAL to wake up often at night to nurse>
<when a baby cries, that's because it is in physical or
emotional pain and NEEDS SOMETHING.>
<If swaddling works to quiet down a baby in pain, but that means you
don't
find out what the source of the pain is (hunger, thirst, too hot, too
cold,
lonely, diaper pin open, formula-allergy) then you have solved the
immediate
problem, but not the long-term problem.>
<I don't believe that 'normal' babies cry a lot. When a baby cries a
lot, it is because its needs are not being met, or because something is
the matter with it (neurological problem, crack withdrawal, etc.)>
Dear Kathy,
I would LOVE you to see my video and read my book! Jim McKenna, another
anthropologist and lactation supporter has reviewed my work and said,
"The Happiest Baby is a witty and masterful book bursting with wisdom
from start to finish. It contains some of the best and most original
ideas about new babies I have ever seen." -James McKenna, PhD, Chairman,
Dept of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame.
When you read my book, you will understand that I DON'T believe it is
abnormal to wake frequently to nurse, however, I DO believe that once or
twice a day many normal newborns put together 2-3 sleep cycles (3-4
hours of sleep) without feeding. And, I believe that most babies can be
encouraged (by frequent daytime feedings) to have their longest periods
of sleep in the nighttime.
I DO not agree with your concept that crying is a sign of emotional or
physical pain. However, I definitely agree that the crying baby needs
something from the caregiver...that's why I am a proponent of the "4th
trimester" concept - our newborns should be considered to still need
much of the holding, confinement, rhythmic motion and rhythmic sound
they were so accustomed to in the womb.
Persistent crying is not usually a sign of a serious problem. As Ron
Barr, the world's authority on colic and crying in infancy, has
repeatedly said...severe, persistent crying does occur in 15-20% of
NORMAL babies in our culture during the first months of life. However,
I completely agree with you that these babies have a need that is not
being met!!
Some babies, have particularly immature state control or challenging
qualities of temperament (passionate and/or highly sensitive) and these
babies in particular can release their "pain" scream even when they are
only experiencing a minor disturbance (sudden startle, mild hunger,
etc). They are not neurologically abnormal or in pain...they just sound
like they are (much like a smoke alarm that releases the same sound
regardless of their being a major fire or just a little burnt toast).
Finally, I am happy to report that swaddling will not "quiet down a baby
in pain". The babies you described with pain (?) from "hunger, thirst,
too hot, too cold, lonely, diaper pin open, formula-allergy" will NOT be
soothed with just some swaddling (ask most moms...wrapping doesn't
usually even stave off the cries of a truly hungry baby for even 5
minutes...and it does absolutely nothing for babies with ear infections,
hair tightly wrapped around a finger, food allergy and other real
sources of pain!)
Sincerely,
Harvey
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