I tend to agree with Pam with regards to Harvey Karp's book and 
methodology. In my experience, babies who are misearble need us to tend 
to what is making them miserable. I understand the concept of the 
"high-need" baby (thought I had one once, now I know I was missing his 
cues), but I think this is, as Gonneke said, a cultural construct. It 
makes no sense from a biological perspective that some babies are "just 
colicky" or have such a temperament. What does make sense is that 
something is very wrong. I think that in general (not necessarily 
across the board), stressful pregnancy and medicalized (or even intense 
normal) birth are the underlying condiitons that create such behavior.

Human infants are highly adapted to thrive in the environment of the 
mother's body. When the infant does not thrive here, then there is 
something amiss in the wiring or in the interface. Babies are designed 
to seek organization, not to be forced into some semblance of 
organization. I think that any infant who cannot organize, cannot 
seamlessy shift from a sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state 
needs to be supported in remembering how to do so and that it is safe 
to do so. Healing pregnancy or birth trauma is doen through 
reconnection--first with simple techniques such as co-bathing, STS and 
Bach Flower Remedies. Bodywork, inlcuding CST, chiropractic, IMT or 
massage should be used if these are not sufficient (I would use them 
anyway--babies love bodywork).

I have seen the most distressing cases of colic--another common western 
malady--resolve easily with bodywork. IMO, swaddling techniques do not 
generally communicate to the baby that we trust his cues. And, in truth 
as a culture we do not. Maybe this message "works" in that the baby 
gives up those cues, but I have to wonder what aspect of the adpative 
process is sacrificed along the way.

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
Intuitive Parenting Network LLC







From:    Heather Shelley <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: thoughts

My random thoughts on the 5 S's.



I wish that someone had taught these to me as a new mother. It would 
have
helped my breastfeeding my son, and it would have made me a better mom. 
My
son screamed all of the time, in fact I've only seen one other baby 
with as
bad of colic as my first had. I couldn't soothe him no matter what I 
tried.
He cried for hours every day AND night.  As a result my husband and I 
didn't
want to hold him, touch him, sleep with him or even be with him. We just
felt like we were going mad. Second child was perfect, third child 
started
the same way as the first.

The ONLY way to calm her was to swaddle her tight, lay her on her side,
breastfeed her while swaying, and shushing in her ear. Sometimes she 
would
nurse so much she threw the milk up so I would hand her to my husband 
and he
would have to do it as she knew he had no milk. Her poor tummy got so 
full
that with him holding her and mimicking these things (but with her 
facing
out rather than in) she calmed down.

I carried my daughter everywhere and though I loved it and had easy 
access
to nursing (nursed for 3 yrs) I didn't have time with 3 kids to have her
strapped to me all day and night every day and night. I still didn't 
know
about the 5's at this time, but through my years as a postpartum doula 
and 3
babies figured it out.



So my thoughts are that Dr. Harvey has admitted that this isn't a new
concept, but he has been able to bring this knowledge to the masses. 
Because
of him more parents can now calm their crying and hysterical babies. 
More
parents have some sense of sanity, AND I feel that more parents can 
enjoy
being parents and love their babies more rather than wondering why they
became parents and try to get away from their babies (see my first few
sentences).

As a doula I have used this method to show frustrated parents how to 
calm
their own babies and become better parents in the process.



As a side note I must say that I swaddle babies with their hands across
their chests as if they are giving themselves a big hug.




Date:    Fri, 9 Feb 2007 13:04:43 -0500
From:    "Micky Jones, LLL Leader, CLE, CLD, CHBE" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: HBOTB/Dr. Karp's book-a dissenter

The thing I just realized is I see HBOTB and Dr. Karp's ideas as a set 
of=

tools. I teach them as a set of tools. I don't just swaddle, shhush, 
and =
put
a paci in the mouths of all babies. Most babies who have a full tummy 
and=

aren't suffering from something that needs fixing quiet almost 
immediatel=
y
 from being swaddled (or sometimes just light pressure on their arms so 
th=
ey
won't flail around) and put on their sides. I almost never need to use
anything else. Of course, if mom has a sling, that almost always works 
ju=
st
as well. I just use what works, what is acceptable and appropriate and
available for that family and baby, etc.  I spend a lot of times on the
other aspects he talks about - babies have needs and need us to help 
them=

meet them, babies can not read clocks and shouldn't be scheduled, babies
need constant holding and food and need to be gently weaned from their 
la=
ck
of feeding tube and womb environment and most of all, you need to try a
variety of things to help your baby if the aren't soothed at the breast.
Other tools such as baby massage, slings, walking, etc are mentioned not
just doing "the 5 S's" all the time. I demo slings and talk about all 
the=

other methods when working with families. I tell parents they know their
babies best and will over time, learn what works with that baby.

My filter says, "These are tools that help parents. Sometimes you use 
one=
,
sometimes you use 5, sometimes you use 7 or 3. I like tools vs Methods. 
I=

guess that is why I see the value in HBOTB and others like The No Cry 
Sle=
ep
Solution by Elizabeth Pantley and the Baby Book by Sears. Unfortunately,
many around here, prefer an A plus B equals quiet, obedient baby. While 
m=
any
promise that, I think it is only delivered at a price. Around here, a 
via=
ble
alternative to Babywise and others like it is highly valuable.

Peacefully,=20
Micky=20
www.mochamilk.blogspot.com

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