So the philosophy behind this class is based on the actual book 'Happiest Baby on the Block.' Dr. Karp, a pediatrician in Santa Monica, Calif., and assistant professor at the School of Medicine, UCLA, offers a new method to calm and soothe crying infants. While nursing or being held satisfies some babies, others seemingly cry for hours for no reason. These babies suffer from what Karp calls the Fourth Trimester. When you bring your soft, dimpled newborn home from the hospital, you may think your nursery is a peaceful sanctuary.... To him, it's a disorienting world part Las Vegas casino, part dark closet! Karp recommends a series of five steps designed to imitate the uterus. These steps include swaddling, side/stomach position, shhh sounds, swinging and sucking.
During the class we learned the five techniques but the one that was the most over the top was the 'shhh sounds.' Doctor's and nurses all swear that if you have a crying baby and you hold them on their side and you 'shhhhhh' as LOUD as they are crying into there ear that they will be calmed. Imagine how ridiculous that sounds and if you need to see what it actually looks like here is a link to his website.
http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/
On this site is a video that automatically loads and if you watch for about 15 seconds you will see him using the 'shhhh' method. J is the most excited to try this because he has said that he always wants to cry as loud as the baby is crying...well this is his chance!! I guess he will have to tell you in about two months if this actually works.
The instructor brought in baby dolls for us to practice swaddling on. For those who do not know what it is, it's a way to tightly wrap your baby and let me tell you there is an art to it!! I am not going to explain how to swaddle the baby so I have added a picture so you can all get an accurate image of how it is done! When J was done swaddling his baby doll, the instructor walked over to him and exclaimed 'PERFECT!!' To me the baby looked like he was going to be choked by this blanket or thrown as a pass in a football game and not as something that would soothe him.
By the end of the class I was rather impressed with everything I was able to learn -- I just hope she wasn't feeding us an hour and a half of BS and this actually comes in handy!! Our next class is in October and it is a tour of the L&D floor at Virtua Hospital -- where we will be delivering him!
Love,
Dada & Mama J
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