Do you have the happiest baby on the block?

Published Nov. 12, 2008
By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson
305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- What is the most irritating sound in the world?

While some may picture a certain scene from the movie "Dumb and Dumber", any parent would probably tell you it's the sound of a baby crying - and so would any person stuck in an airplane for several hours with an unhappy infant.

Studies have shown that sound of a baby crying raises the heart rate of any adult in earshot, whether they're the baby's parents or not. For parents, the stress caused by their baby's cries may be compounded by a sense of responsibility to calm the baby down, guilt and frustration when soothing attempts don't work, and sleepless nights filled with said baby's screams.

So what can a new parent do?

Well, some new parents may have the luxury of a proud new grandparent to turn to with a look of desperation as they hand the baby over and pitifully plea "Just make it stop!"

Many new parents are on their own. Or at least that's what it feels like as they pace the floor in the middle of the night wondering if this red-faced noise machine is the same little angel they held in the hospital or if the nurse made a switch somewhere between the hospital elevator and their car.

The good news: All military members and their spouses who are expecting - or recently welcomed - a new baby can turn to the Family Advocacy Program for the Happiest Baby on the Block program.

Happiest Baby on the Block is a simple, one-hour class taught by Family Advocacy nurse Amy Thomas. The program was developed by Dr. Harvey Karp, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, who has taught the Happiest Baby principles on TV, in celebrities' homes and at seminars nationwide.

"The purpose (of Happiest Baby) is to turn off the crying and help them sleep better at night," said Ms. Thomas, who has taught the class at McGuire since 2004 and is a certified instructor. "It's really crucial during the first few months of development. "What Dr. Karp came up with is that babies should still be in the womb; they're missing a fourth trimester, so mom should be pregnant for a year instead of nine months - no mom ever volunteers for that! - and that's why babies act the way they do."

According to the Web site www.happiestbaby.com, Dr. Karp studied the parenting techniques of many different cultures and discovered that there are some cultures that don't experience the fussy babies that many modern communities consider normal. He then developed the principles of Happiest Baby based on what he learned from studies of babies' growth and development and the various cultural practices he observed.

"With Happiest Baby, there are five S's that you do: swaddle, shift them on their side or stomach (while baby is awake), shoosh or provide white noise, sway and get them moving, and let them suck (on a pacifier)," said Ms. Thomas. "You can do all five or a combo - depending on what that particular baby needs - and it turns off the crying."

"The only time it doesn't work is if the baby is sick, if the baby is hungry or if you screw it up," she added.

The program is designed for parents with babies from birth to 3 months old, though Ms. Thomas recommends taking the class as soon after having the baby as possible. She also recommends not taking the class before having the baby since a doll doesn't respond like a newborn baby does, so the lesson is not as effective. Ms. Thomas also emphasized that the program is helpful for any new parent, even if it's not their first child.

Stephanie Castle took advantage of the program after learning about it in her role as a Phoenix Spouse for her husband's squadron. Her daughter Trinity, who is now 1 month old, was only ten days old when Ms. Thomas arrived at their home to teach the principles of Happiest Baby.

"It was really helpful because when she's crying it's like 'What do I do?'," said Mrs. Castle. "The five S's were most helpful. You think about some stuff but you don't put it all together. Now instead of just trying to do every little thing (to calm the baby down) we put it all together one-by-one and it's a little more routine."

"It's a lifesaving tool," said Ms. Thomas, who has also used the Happiest Baby techniques as a mom herself. She added that often child abuse occurs when a newborn is inconsolable and "when parents get completely frustrated. When they've tried everything and still the baby won't stop crying, and out of desperation they shake the baby. (Happiest Baby) gives parents a tool that they can use, something that moms and dads can do just as easily."

"I find that dads tend to take the baby and follow mom around saying 'Feed him! Feed him!' So this gives dads a little confidence so mom can go to the store and if the baby's crying (dad) can make it stop, he can calm the baby," Ms. Thomas said.

Rosie Case, mom of 3-month-old Jasper, agrees that the class helped give her husband the confidence to take care of the baby on his own - giving the new mom a much-needed break.

"As soon as he comes home, he takes over with the baby," Ms. Case said. "I'm not sure if he would have if he didn't feel more empowered as far as being able to calm (Jasper) down."

Every parent who takes the class is given a free DVD with the Happiest Baby program information and a white noise CD. While the Happiest Baby class would normally cost about $30, the program is provided at no charge by Family Advocacy.

For more information or to register for Happiest Baby on the Block and other Family Advocacy programs and classes, call (609) 754-9680. Interested parents can also visit www.happiestbaby.com for more information about the program.

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Happiest Baby on the Block