From Publishers Weekly
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. The book includes detailed advice on the proper way to swaddle a child, the difference between a gentle rocking versus shaking and more. According to the author, virtually all babies will respond to these strategies although some trial and error may be needed to find the most effective calming method. A number of the steps letting kids nurse more frequently or encouraging babies to use pacifiers, for instance contradict other childcare experts. However, parents who are at their wits' ends because of a baby's incessant crying will find this book invaluable. In fact, expectant parents may want to read it before they bring their newborns home from the hospital.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Frazzled parents describe Dr. Harvey Karp's technique for soothing screaming, colicky babies as a miracle cure. Indeed, the results are astounding, but the method Dr. Karp teaches in this immensely readable and reassuring book has actually been used by parents the world over for thousands of years. It consists of five steps -- swaddling, holding the baby in a side/stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking -- that simulate the womb environment and trigger a baby's Calming Reflex in no time. Along with providing instruction on administering the "5 S's" in just the right way, The Happiest Baby on the Block also imparts parenting wisdom on everything from pooping to pacifiers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In perhaps the most important parenting book of the decade, Dr. Harvey Karp reveals an extraordinary treasure sought by parents for centuries --an automatic “off-switch” for their baby’s crying.
No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy.
Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp has found there IS a remedy for colic. “I share with parents techniques known only to the most gifted baby soothers throughout history …and I explain exactly how they work.”
In a innovative and thought-provoking reevaluation of early infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not fully ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies as well as improving their sleep and soothing their senses:
·The Missing Fourth Trimester: as odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon.
·The Calming Reflex: the automatic reset switch to stop crying of any baby in the first few months of life.
·The 5 “S’s”: the simple steps (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking) that trigger the calming reflex. For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it istriggered in precisely the right way. Unlike other books that merely list these techniques Dr. Karp teaches parents exactly how to do them, to guide cranky infants to calm and easy babies to serenity in minutes…and help them sleep longer too.
·The Cuddle Cure: the perfect mix the 5 “S’s” that can soothe even the most colicky of infants.
In the book, Dr. Karp also explains:
What is colic?
Why do most babies get much more upset in the evening?
How can a parent calm a baby--in mere minutes?
Can babies be spoiled?
When should a parent of a crying baby call the doctor?
How can a parent get their baby to sleep a few hours longer?
Even the most loving moms and dads sometimes feel pushed to the breaking point by their infant’s persistent cries. Coming to the rescue, however, Dr. Karp places in the hands of parents, grandparents, and all childcare givers the tools they need to be able to calm their babies almost as easily as…turning off a light.
From the Hardcover edition.

Author Biography:

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

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. The book includes detailed advice on the proper way to swaddle a child, the difference between a gentle rocking versus shaking and more. According to the author, virtually all babies will respond to these strategies although some trial and error may be needed to find the most effective calming method. A number of the steps letting kids nurse more frequently or encouraging babies to use pacifiers, for instance contradict other childcare experts. However, parents who are at their wits' ends because of a baby's incessant crying will find this book invaluable. In fact, expectant parents may want to read it before they bring their newborns home from the hospital. (June) Forecast: Promotion along with celebrity endorsements from actors including Pierce Brosnan and Michelle Pfeiffer should boost sales of this title. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Steven P. Shelov

Dr. Karp￯﾿ﾽs practical approach is a superb way to help babies when they are crying or upset. All who care for children will gain greatly from this new addition to our parenting library.  — Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Infants and Children￯﾿ﾽs Hospital of Brooklyn, Maimonides, editor-in-chief, American Academy of Pediatrics Caring for Your New Baby and Young Child: Birth to Five

Robin Swicord

Dr. Karp was exactly the doctor to see us through parenthood. He has the magic touch - not just with babies, but with new parents too.  — screenwriters of Matilda, Reversal of Fortune and Practical Magic

Elizabeth Bing

The Happiest Baby on the Block is fun, fascinating and convincing. I highly recommend it to all new parents to help them accomplish one of their most important jobs￯﾿ﾽsoothing their crying baby.  — author and co-founder of Lamaze International

Martin Stein

What a marvelous book! Parents for years to come will be grateful to Dr. Karp for this lucid and entertaining explanation of why babies cry and how to help them. — Professor of pediatrics, University of California, San Diego Medical School, author of Encounters with Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development

Morris Green

This beautifully written volume meets a tremendous need for a scientifically sound and effective parent guide to the care of persistently crying babies. Dr. Karp has written the best book that I've read on this challenging topic.  — Perry W. Lesh Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine

James McKenna

A witty and masterful book bursting with wisdom from start to finish. It contains some of the best, most original ideas about new babies I have ever seen. Dr. Karp entertains as he teaches, providing wonderful and innovative suggestions in a family-friendly way.  — Chairman, Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, and director, Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory

William Lord Coleman

Simply put, this is the best book I've ever read about keeping babies calm and happy. It is a must for everyone who cares about infants.  — Center for Development and Learning, University of North Carolina, and author of Family-Focused Behavioral Pediatrics

Alfre Woodard

Harvey Karp would make my Big Mama proud! He is leading us back to ages old basics, back to motherwit.  — actress

Michelle Pfeiffer

Harvey writes about areas that most parenting books don￯﾿ﾽt address. What every mother needs are simple tools that really work . . . and Harvey￯﾿ﾽs do.  — actress/producer

Lindsey Buckingham

Harvey Karp￯﾿ﾽs enlightened and creative approach has been a benefit not only to our children, but to my wife and me as parents.  — photographer and singer-songwriter, Fleetwood Mac

Larry David

There is nothing quite like watching Dr. Harvey work wonders on a screaming baby. He￯﾿ﾽs not a pediatrician, he￯﾿ﾽs a magician. Every time I bring my kids in to see him, I walk out wishing he was their father.  — star of Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-creator of Seinfeld

Hunter Tylo

I wish I had known Dr. Karp for my first two children. With the soothing, loving tips in this book, caring for my two most recent babies has been a dream.  — actress/founder of Hunter￯﾿ﾽs Chosen Child

Pierce Brosnan

A must read! Dr. Karp offers insights into parenting by combining ancient and modern wisdom. Our baby boy responded to the 5 S￯﾿ﾽs immediately!  — TV journalist/environmentalist and actor

Stanley Inkelis

"Dr. Karp's 'Cuddle Cure' is quite simply the best way I know to calm crying babies.  — Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Hospital

Neal Kaufman

Dr. Karp's book is extraordinary. The advice contained in this book, will make any parent, or grandparent, feel like a baby expert.  — Professor Of Pediatrics, UCLA School Of Medicine, Director Primary Care Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Lynn Sullivan

The ￯﾿ﾽKarp Wrap￯﾿ﾽ can stop a baby￯﾿ﾽs cries instantly.  — RN, Director, Newborn Nursing Services, SM-UCLA Hospital

Jerry Zucker

Dr. Karp is simply the best. Any time a problem pops up in our children, he guides us with warmth, wisdom and humor. And that helps us sleep better at night.  — Director of Airplane, Ghost, and Rat Race

Sandra Steffes