Pat Thomas PHN IBCLC
Winona County Community Health
Winona, MN

<I have not read the book, but saw the video before we started
discussing
this on Lactnet.  What I have been looking for and not found is
information
on the "calming reflex".  I have worked with infants for a long time and
have no research or other information about this reflex.
Infants are pretty different from each other and do well with different
Things>

<I also think that infants cry for a reason and think that things should
be
explored before trying the 5 S's.  I would doubt that there is a one
best way to calm all infants.>



Dear Pat,

I certainly hope you get a chance to read my book...it is currently one
of the top selling parenting books in the country and I hope it will
find it's way onto the reading lists of all professionals who work with
babies and want to know what their patients are reading.

The reason you have never before heard of the calming reflex is because
it I introduced the concept to the pediatric literature.  It is a newly
discovered neonatal reflex...or, to be more precise a series of related
reflexes (1 auditory, 2 different vestibular mediated reflexes...at a
minimum).  As you know, these responses are demonstrated multiple times
on the video you mentioned.

While I absolutely agree with you that infants have many differences,
they also have many nearly identical characteristics.  The approximately
70 neonatal reflexes identified so far are present in all babies.  And,
the calming reflex is no exception.

I believe it was selected for, in an evolutionary sense, was because it
"hypnotizes" fetuses and minimizes their movements during the last
months of pregnancy.  This dramatically lessens the chances of getting
caught in a transverse or breech lie or kinking the cord...any one of
which could prove fatal to the baby and mother.

The newborn cry is another baby universal.  It is a warning alarm, much
like a telephone ringer or a smoke alarm.  It goes off when there is a
problem, however, in certain intense and /or sensitive babies the cry
may rapidly escalate into a shriek; making it sound like the baby is in
serious distress...even when the upset that triggered the cry is only a
minor upset (in these babies, the cry builds on itself like a snowball
rolling down hill).

Finally, (aside from feeding) the 5 S's are the first things ALL parent
automatically do to try to calm their upset babies. We naturally rock,
shush, and cuddle our infants...those are important parts of the 5
S's...and if the baby is soothed by those we feel reassured that they
just needed a little reassurance.  The trouble is that, like nursing,
there are some babies who need their mothers to use perfect technique to
get the desired results.  These babies need the wrapping done just right
(snug with the arms down), to be turned off the back, to hear a loud
white noise and be jiggled like they were when their mom was walking
down the stairs.  They need the S's to be done perfectly and
simultaneously for the calming reflex to be triggered.

It really works, although don't be surprised if it takes you a few
attempts to learn the subtleties of the technique.  As with
breastfeeding the more you do it the more skilled you get...I hope you
try it!

You have nothing to lose and your patients have everything to gain.

Warmest wishes,

Harvey

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