This book is the 1st book you should read when coming home from the hospital (or shortly before having the baby). I had a very fussy baby and the soothing techniques shared in this book are an amazing education on how to care for a fussy child when nothing else works. The results are immediate. This book gave me the knowledge that boosted my confidence and made me more capable of caring for my child.

Pros- Invaluable soothing techniques and easy to understand definition on colic
Cons- None

I bought this book when I was still pregnant and did my best to get through it. That was difficult because it is incredibly repetitive. I don't need to be told something multiple times. He could tell you everything once and this book would be much more useful and only 10 pages long. I already knew the basics and thought this book would enlighten me. It didn't. It bored me. And, as it turned out, my son wasn't a crier so the information in it was completely useless to me. If you already have a colicky infant and have tried everything else, you might consider this book but otherwise, I'd save yourself some money and avoid it.

I have no idea how come so many intelligent people like this book and talk about it like it's the discovery of the century. There is ONE idea in the book (the fourth trimester) and one practical set of advice summarized in 5 words: swaddle, swing, shush, side and suck. The rest is fluff. The whole amount of information could have been fit on one index card, no need for a book.
Maybe the structure of the book works best if you are reading it already sleep deprived and your brain cannot handle complex sentences and you actually need all that repetitive stuff.
So, bottom line: swaddle your child, stick a pacifier in his/her mouth, rock the baby in your arms and sooth him/her by shushing (I really don't buy the author's suggestion that a roaring vacuum cleaner is the next best thing to the noises of the womb).

I have no idea how come so many intelligent people like this book and talk about it like it's the discovery of the century. There is ONE idea in the book (the fourth trimester) and one practical set of advice summarized in 5 words: swaddle, swing, shush, side and suck. The rest is fluff. A waste of trees, seriously. The whole amount of information could have been fit on one index card, no need for a book.
Maybe the book works best if you are reading it already sleep deprived and your brain cannot handle complex sentences and you actually need all that repetitive stuff. I still have a month of my pregnancy to go, and I have to say that I'd rather read What to expect in the First year than this bag of fluff.
So, bottom line: swaddle your child, stick a pacifier in his/her mouth, rock the baby in your arms and sooth him/her by shushing (I really don't buy the author's suggestion that a roaring vacuum cleaner is the next best thing to the noises of the womb) and go buy yourself something nice with the money you'd spend on the book.
USELESS BOOK

I was disappointed in this book. All it has to offer are the 5 s's which don't take up a whole book to understand. Additionally, if you've taken a child birth class you were most likely taught the 5 s's. Not worth the money. Very wordy and low on information.

I bought this book with a bunch of other books, I'm due in two months so I haven't actually tried any of Dr. Karps techniques but the book was super easy to read, and had some really interesting techniques that I'm dying to try now! :-)
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially for first time parents.

Seriously this book helped me more than I can describe. I'm in the military and just randomely picked this book up at one of our exchanges. When she was born I resorted to it on several occasions. I read it a lot and my husband couldn't figure out why I knew so much already. It teaches you MULTIPLE solutions to a crying baby!!
I PROMISE IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME MOM THIS BOOK IS MAJIC!!!
I really hope you take my advice.. I would reccommend it any day!!

We make swaddling blankets and give a copyof the book as baby shower gifts or as welcome baby home. It makes for a happier baby and parents.
Sandy

My son is not a colicky baby, but he isn't a sleeper either. Although I tried to put him on a schedule he just wouldn't sleep during the day, and he'd only sleep for a few hours at night. When I tried to lay him down for a nap he would shriek, as if in pain. Many of my friends ended up putting there babies on there stomachs to sleep but I just didn't want to do that. The only way he would sleep for an extended period of time was if he was in the swing, but I felt guilty for letting him sleep in the swing, as if I was getting him addicted to something. Last night after reading some of this book I swaddled him, put on a cd of ocean sounds and put him in his swing, he slept for 8 hours (he's 7.5 weeks old). He's also been taking naps between feeding for the first time! I don't worry that he'll be addicted to the swing(because I know he's in the 4th trimester as explained in the book) and I'm now able to do housework and spend time with my husband. This book is absolutely wonderful, and I only wish that I had read it sooner.

I ordered this 6 weeks ago and still haven't gotten it! I've sent a message to the seller but still nothing!

Now that we're expecting #2 and I'm back in the baby section, I happened across the listing for this book and felt compelled to write because this book really had a positive impact on us with our first. I learned early on in my first pregnancy that there is WAY TOO MUCH information out there and if you read long enough (books, blogs, mags, etc) you'll find both an author who agrees completely with you and an author who is at total odds with you. Sanity came for me when I allowed myself to remember that I am a fairly intelligent person and that I should trust more of my own judgement and instinct - even if this was our first child. Anyway, this book, to me, just made sense. The author talks about a "4th trimester" during which your newborn adjusts to his new surroundings. Compare the environment a newborn leaves when he's born: a loud, motion filled, warm and very snug home listening to Mom all day long - to what he's usually delivered in to (especially a first child): a quiet, still, very open environment. How would you react to such a drastic change! :) If nothing else, learn the way to properly swaddle - I promise you will be glad you did. And best wishes to your new bundle of joy!!

As a mother with a colicky baby...this book was a blessing. I highly recommend it and will be giving it to all new parents!

Do yourself a favor and buy this book if you are a parent of a newborn (up to three months) and would like to sleep through the night. My son was fussy and would cry in the early evening every night. I tried the methods described in this book (the 5 S's) and he would calm down right away. I found that swaddeling him at night with a snug swaddle (I use the kiddopotamus swaddle me blanket which worked like a charm- Kiddopotamus & Co 100% Cotton Knit SwaddleMe® Circle Bear - Small)and he was sleeping through the night at 2.5 months. This book is wonderful. I appreciated the author's perspective that you can not spoil an infant and embracing the idea of the "4th trimester" did the trick to calm him down. I recommend any new parent read this book before your baby is born. They say they don't make baby manuals, but after reading this book I have to say I disagree.

I don't agre with everything in this and I discovered most of the things on myown but I love how he describes babywearing as a good thing and gives several methods to treat colic--they work! My son's colic was because of garlic in my diet though--we've proven that multiple times contrary to what he believes

we received this book as a gift and we used it constantly as a reference for the first three months of our baby's life. dr karp keeps his method so simple and easy anyone can use this book without getting frustrated or feeling like they are doing it all wrong.

i would definitely recommend this book to new parents and parents who are expecting again. his method is just so simple it would help anyone who has tried everything or has done it all before because every baby is different. there is something in here for everyone.

This book helped us to keep our sanity during our baby's evening 'troubles'. We thought this was a unique problem. The techniques worked right away and are easily applied. I only wish someone had given this to us as a shower gift.

Unbelievable that so many people gave this book such a high rating. I'll sum this book up with 5 words. Swaddle, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking. These are the "magic" techniques that are the basis of this book. The other 250 pages are pure filler fluff. Look online and you'll be able to find a site that shows how to swaddle (it's not tough), shush is pretty self explanatory and laying the baby on his side, along your arm is quite easy to master too. Put those three together and you have a good way to quiet a fussy baby, for a couple of months anyway. Swinging and sucking are pretty self explanatory too.

The popularity of this book just shows me how out of touch we are as a species with our own biology. All of the techniques in this book should be pretty instinctual for people, but for some reason they don't seem to be for many. If you are completely clueless, and have a hard time differentiating your newborn from the family puppy, then run out and buy this book. If you have any common sense at all, and spend some time getting in tune with the needs of your child, then save your money for a more worthwhile purchase.

I have a content newborn, no colic, but whenever a baby cries for seemingly no reason, as all do, you want an immediate, consistent solution, and this book provides that solution in five easy-to-implement steps. My whole family has learned the steps from watching us interact, and our daughter benefits from it as much as we do.

The book is written in an engaging manner, sometimes a little repetitively, however. Occasionally the referenced "science" seems more anthropological, but the anecdotes are interesting, and if it works, it works. Helpful book, recommended by my childbirth instructor, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any new or exhausted parent.

I have a 2 week old infant and was given this book by a friend. I was skeptical at first, but after trying his methods on a fussy baby (the 5 S's) I swear I want to write the author myself and tell him how much I appreciate his insight. My infant does not seem to have colic, (yet), but the methods work for even just fussy spells. It saved me a great deal of frustration and saved my baby a great deal of grief. He is sleeping peacefully right now thanks to this book. Definitely worth purchasing and reading.

Like everyone says- this is a must have. Our daughter was colicy- until 2 months old- which is when we found her calm trigger. We thought this only sort of worked and were pacing and jiggling and shushing, but it only brought it down once and a while. TIP: like the author says be louder than the baby so they can hear you. We found the blow dryer! For our son, we only turn on the monitor's reciever and the feedback is perfect. It is like a switch. Angry to cooing or sleeping in less than a minute. :) Enjoy your baby!

This book was a gift I received before my son was born... and I am so thankful that I took the time to read it before I gave birth! You never know if colic will strike your household- and when it does, it pays to be prepared! I know that my son and I both benefited from the information in this easy to read, practical guide to treating fussy babies. Your nights will flow more smoothly with this book (Bible?) about babies and colic.

We have twin girls and found this book to be immensely helpful just after they were born. The 5 S's really worked for us (THANK GOD they liked the swings!). Swaddling worked really well for us too. Not all babies are alike, but this book taught us a lot of things about how to soothe newborns very quickly (I was able to read this in the crazy midnight hourse after they were first born and used the information immediately.) We just watched the sequel (Happiest Toddler on the Block) on DVD and also find it useful. We are big fans of Dr. Karp!

I loved this book and now lend it to all my new mom friends. You have so many opinions on how it will be, then the baby comes, and it all changes! For the better, though. :) This book is so helpful and will make life easier for you and your baby right away. A MUST HAVE!

I took the happyist baby on the block class. I was very sad by it, first as other people have said it is mostly common sense but he also advocates the use of a pacifier, never once mentioned the calming effects of breastfeeding or wearing your baby. Also this is not a cure all for every single tiny cry the best way to help keep your child from fussing is to HOLD them.

A much better book with tons of information is Dr Sear's The Baby Book.

While I have not read the book. I have attended his class. As a first time parent the techniques that I learned have saved me a lot of heart ache and pulling out my hair. If you haven't made it to a class of his, read the book!

What I like about this book is it's the only one I've found that specifically addresses the first three months of a baby's life--and does it so well!

This book is a must for all first-time parents (and maybe even veterans). It goes through how to calm a crying baby, whether s/he is colicky or just a little fussy. I don't know how well it works on colicky babies (my baby was "easy," luckily), but the principles seem sound. You can tell that Dr. Karp has done a lot of research and his theories make a lot of sense. I've used his swaddling technique on my baby with wonderful results. I can tell he really likes to be all snug in the blanket, rather than having his arms flailing about, and unlike other techniques I've been shown, my baby stays swaddled the longest this way (and he probably wouldn't be able to get out of it if my blankets were the right size).

His prose is really fun and easy to read, making reading the book very enjoyable. I love the stories given from other parents and their experiences. Those are fun as well.

Overall, this book is highly recommended.

I was a younger sibling and not much of a babysitter. So basically I was clueless on how to take care of a baby. This book was sooo helpful and I am very glad I read it before the arrival of my baby. Newborn babies come into this world and have to adjust to it from the womb. Basically Dr. Karp explains that the baby is doing some serious adjusting during the first 3 months (he calls it the 4th trimester). He gives you the skills to help your baby through this time (i.e., soothe your baby when they are upset). He calls it "The 5 S's" ~ Swaddle, Suck, Swing, Side/Stomach, and "Shhhh". Let me tell you, without this book I probably would have been tortured listening to my baby cry as I fumbled around anxiously trying to help him. It is not as simple as making a nice room for your baby and then buying all the best products. Do not expect your baby to go to sleep right at 8pm and then you simply put him in his crib and call it a day. New papents with no prior baby experience: BUY THIS BOOK!

I received this book with my 3rd child. I wish I had recieved it with my first. My first was a good baby but woke many times at night. My second cried and cried and cried and NEVER slept. When my 3rd came along, I was ready to try anything. I didn't want to go thru that ever again. Wrapping my baby tightly and loudly saying "sh" in his ear was the BEST advice I have EVER been given. I now give this book to every new mom I know. Excellent. I just bought 2 more.

This book did it for my family. There was a day before I got the book and I just couldn't get my little one settled. I tried and tried many things. Then I received this book, read it cover to cover in one sitting and HELLO! I now have the Happiest baby on the block. There techniques are SIMPLE and on point. It's not rocket science but they put it in the ORDER of how you can calm your baby. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!!!

This book saved us! We finally understand our baby and his needs. Our 7 week old was an uncontrollable crier and although we were doing some of the 5 S's, we did not understand the importance of using them all together at the same time. Our baby has gone from 1-2 hour crying spells to 5 minutes at most after only having the book a few days. We also have hit a major milestone with naps and nighttime sleeping thanks to this book. Our baby went from 3 hour sleep stretches at night to 5-7 hour stretches, again after only have the book for a few days. This is the best investment we've made yet and I highly recommend this book to any new parent.

I recommend this book to all new parents. I read this book before my son was born, and it was an eye opener. We all think we "know" what a baby needs or wants when it's born. Most of us get that a baby will need a clean diaper and a full stomach, but what happens when those two needs are met and baby keeps screaming?
The methods that Dr. Karp describes are common sense driven with foundations in science. Before reading this book, it would have never occured to me that being in the outside world is very quiet compared to the noise level in the womb, and that being wrapped up like a burrito while experiencing the "jello head jiggle" is comforting!!!!

This book is a LIFE SAVER!!!! I think it should be handed out at all Obstetrician's offices and in "baby boot camps".

We got this before our second child was born based on a recommendation from a friend. The suggestions have been very helpful. In general, I dislike didactic "how to raise your baby" books. There are no decent studies to demonstrate that one method is more effective than another, and everyone has strong opinions based on anecdotes. That said, I find it helpful to hear what "tricks" and "techniques" work for other parents so that I can incorporate if and as needed. To that end, this book is very good - when Jamie was younger, I increased the noise of my shushing, I rocked with more vigor, etc. These techniques seemed to work for her, and it's likely that they could work for other babies as well.

Speedy delivery, good price and a great book that I highly recommend for every parent to read.

At first I thought this was my gift from God on how to comfort and calm my extremely fussy and colicky baby... however after 3 months of working this magic that I learned from the book, my baby was hooked on the five S's and I had to wean her off them. My suggestion would be to learn the S's and what they are about, but to really follow "Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child". That is the only book that really got me the Happiest Baby on the Block that I was anticipating in addition to much needed nighttime sleep and naps.

My mother bought me this book when my firstborn was two weeks old. It has many tricks and tips that are essential for first time parents. I highly recommend this book to all first time parents.

So, before I begin my review of this product, here's our background... our son who is currently 6 weeks has had to be sent to the hospital with gas pains so severe that the emergency room doctors were concerned that he might be trying to pass a kidney stone. Turns out he was allergic to soy, we had tried breast, standard formula and lactose intolerance formula. He had a negative reaction to all (including breast believe it or not, I went through tests also to determine what was in my milk even though I was on a mild diet.... cause was deemed later on to be for a substance need, our baby needed rice formula). So..... we tried just the rice formula with the children's mylicon with the VentAire bottles.... somewhat of an improvement, but our child was still needing to go to the doctor weekly for checkups without much success, our pediatrician would even call us daily to see how he was doing. Constipation was questioned, but was never an issue. Our breakthrough occurred when we took our son to a specialist appointment and the lady asking us if our son had excess gas since she noticed that Mylicon was listed as one of his meds. I stated quickly yes and told her of our ordeal. I was told that she was the grandmother of 5 children and a mother of 3 and had tried EVERYTHING to cure their extreme colic. The remedy they found, Hyland's colic tablets, Dr. Brown's bottles, and rice formula. After the doctor appointment I went to the store to give these products a try....... and it was like an angel had spoken to us. Our child could breathe again and was longer tense in the body, as he was making progress against constantly trying to push. I know that I'm being candid but I am hoping that this will help other parents and children that have been or will be in our situation. We are on day 4 of the product switch and WOW, he's a brand new baby! If these products can help a child who's been hospitalized, hopefully these can help yours as well. Pedialyte also works as well to help calm the tummy. I've been using tylenol every 5 hours (excluding when he sleeps) for the first week and have been continuing to use the Mylicon to help with the surface gas. Burping has never been an issue, but his burps and toots have become louder and more productive, sometimes just shifting him in our arms can help him to expel gas! I'll be making this post in numerous areas in hopes to help people.

Hyland's colic tablets, Dr. Brown bottles, Enfamil AR Lipil, infant's tylenol, gas drops is literally our formula to success.

Dr. Karp tells us the first three months are like the 4th trimester, and yet, as spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, he defends injecting these fragile babies with toxins and an overload of vaccines that has resulted in an epidemic of autism as well as a huge increase in ADD, allergies, asthma and various neurological disorders. Now that the U.S. government has conceded the Poling case showing the connection between vaccines and autism, and now that we've seen many, many scientific studies connecting vaccines and their components with neurological damage, it's time for the doctor to stop talking about saying "Shhhhhhhh" in babies' ears, and start talking about ending the epidemic. Don't contribute $$$ to government apologists who contribute to autism if you want to see happy babies.

A friend told me about this book and swore by it. I was a little skeptical at first but figured I would give it a try. As a first time mother of a fussy baby with nothing but stomach problems, please believe me when I tell you Dr. Karp's methods work!! The first night I swaddled my daughter, she slept 3 hour intervals at 7 weeks old. It may not sound great but she wasn't sleeping at all!! Then I added the white noise machine and within days she was up to 5 hour intervals. It is really amazing the turnaround she has done. She is smiling much more often and coos at me like crazy. Please try this book if you are at your wits end with a fussy and/or colicky baby. It will help! I know it saved my life and made me the happiest mother on the block!!

This book is wonderful, gives you a new more modern approach to understanding and calming your new baby! Great for new parents!!

An informational treasure for new parents, grandparents or anyone caring for a newborn. Research shows babies do not need to cry themselves to sleep. This book gives step-by-step instructions to calm the little one.

I agree with the previous poster, this method could be explained in a pamphlet and doesn't need to be an entire book. The rest of the pages are self-indulgent stories of how tired parents with colicky babies were immediately calmed by swaddling them up and rocking them to sleep....all thanks to the author and his revolutionary methods. The book consistently says, "if this doesn't work you are doing it wrong". Which can be discouraging for new parents, because not all babies take to these methods. There could be physical or emotional reason that the babies cry and this author does not take that into consideration. Dr. Karp says that you should keep your baby swaddled 20 hours a day and even suggests that you use duct tape to keep them wrapped tight. Yeah, sure your baby is happy....because he is comatose. He can't move, can't cry, and can't look around, so the only thing else to do is go to sleep. He also suggests that his sucking methods work because primitive women offered their breast up to 100 times a day. I'm sorry, I can't nurse my baby all day long, every 2 hours is enough. Getting into a habit of comfort nursing is not something I am will to do. I think for the first 2-4 weeks, they need the comfort and security of being swaddled, but thereafter infants need to have their arms free to learn what those things are used for. My baby had sweaty flaky skin from being swaddled too much. Besides the 5's are not a new concept. That's what they made slings for or the baby bjorn, stick your baby in it and walk around, in a few minutes they calm down. Its not rocket science. Spend the money on a good sling instead of this book.

I found this a little self-indulgent. The author constantly pats himself on the back, by quoting patients that have had this system work after trying other methods. The book consistently says, "if this doesn't work you are doing it wrong". Not all babies take to these methods. There could be physical or emotional reason that the babies cry and this author does not take that into consideration. The 5 s's only work for the first 8 weeks and then they are too big and too strong to be swaddled all day with a paci in their mouths.

Let me save you some money and disclose the amazing secret of Dr. Karp's technique right here and now: swaddle your baby, put your baby on its side/stomach (but never let the baby sleep on its side/stomach), shush the baby, swing the baby, stick the pacifier into your baby's mouth, all in this strict order -- and presto! You are done. Does one really need 267 pages in order to recite this? Dr. Karp feels he does, or at least his wallet tells him so.

What a horror. First of all, there is enough information in this book to fill a 5-page brochure at the most, 10 if you would like to be generous. The rest if fluff, empty fill, incessant repetition, inane pictures, unnecessary and insulting stories about "primitive" people and Dr. Karp's own patients (see more below on that).

Second -- the language. That Harvey Karp has a God Complex is evident from page 1; the reason for that is still a mystery to me. Well, I do admit that to write a fairly long book about nothing, and to make a lot of money by publishing and successfully marketing this book (and now, heavens help me, I see there is a DVD out) -- that does take a particular kind of cunning and intelligence. To solicit at least a couple of good reviews from accredited pediatricians also must have taken some work. But does it really justify the language of fantastic condescension that Harvey Karp uses throughout his book? One imagines the world full of lobotomized idiots unable to read a complex sentence, but popping out babies as if there is no tomorrow; and yet, I bet that even a semi-literate teenage mom of five would still find this book incredibly patronizing. Repetition -- ostensibly to help the new parents remember the simple truths, but clearly used to a) make the reader feel stupid, and b) fill more pages of the book -- are sure to drive anyone halfway intelligent absolutely insane.

Finally, let us return to the "primitive" people. You think Dr. Karp consecends to you? Wait till you read stories about backward cultures, and, still worse, about Harvey Karp's own patients who hail from such far-away places as Russia! Let's take a look at page 109, and read a heart-warming story about Karp's patient who emigrated from Russia to Los Angeles. A confused foreign moron that she is, she is having trouble understanding the wonderful doctor, struggling to make sense of his words of wisdom. But then, when the doctor shows her how to swaddle her baby, she erupts in a wonderful monologue, whereupon we learn that in her village, mothers swaddle their kids and put belts around them -- yet another piece of ancient primitive folk wisdom that we in America forgot! The most insulting thing is that the young woman's accent is actually replicated in the book, and the offending words are underscored -- lest you decide that it is Dr. Karp who cannot spell "village." Interestingly enough, Karp chooses very carefully whose accent or manner of speaking he dares to replicate: for some reason, not a single Ebonics phrase is transcribed in the book -- perhaps because Karp doesn't accept African-American patients, or perhaps because he is smart enough not to insult them. But Russians are a fair game (there are others). If his patient, named Elena (of course -- isn't every Russian?), even exists, she ought to be rather angry; but I doubt she is real. Russian villagers rarely find themselves consulting UCLA pediatricians -- not to mention that the accent rendered by Karp is utterly wrong. Russian alphabet doesn't have the letter "w" -- therefore, the lucky Karp-treated villager would be replacing "when" with "ven", and not "village" with "willage."

I am not sure whether Dr. Karp still has a title of assistant professor at UCLA because he is a practicing pediatrician, and cannot therefore go up for tenure, or because he hasn't come up for tenure yet. I hope the latter is the case: this book alone is an ample reason why the said tenure should be denied.

If you must, go to the library and photocopy pages 94-99; you will learn nothing new (any pediatrician is likely to give you the same advice), but you will have a handy reference on Karp's methods. These 5 pages are still full of fluff, but they will cost you close to nothing.

Although this book is well written, I truly have mixed feelings about this book. It is obviously written for a stay-at-home parent! The 5 "S"'s did particularly work for a short period of time for our very colicky newborn, about 2 weeks, but, some of the suggestions were what we deemed to be a little "rough" and only upset our little girl even more. The Shhh-ing did work, momentarily, but, mostly as an abrupt scare when she was out of control crying, but, then she would begin screaming seconds later. We felt as if we are hyperventilating with all of the "Shhh-ing" and became more annoying to each other along with the loud crying. The swaddling always only overheated our newborn to the point of sweating no matter how thin the blanket and we even purchased the large cheesecloth dish towels that are made of very thin cotton to try to keep her cooler. Putting the swing on high caused her to be even more upset as you could see her eyes widen with fear as if she was on a roller coaster. Yes, we did combine all of the techniques as suggested at one time, but, basically, what we feel would happen was that she would cry to a point of complete exhaustion and finally fall off to sleep.

Ideally, if this is an only child with a stay-at-home parent who can walk around day and night with their child glued to them, it may work. But, in today's society where 2 incomes are necessary, sleep is a necessity. We eventually resorted to the fact that this too shall pass and it is getting better. We just have to take turns when she has her "spells of crying" since one of us has to attend to our 21 month old and get sleep. It's not pretty, but, sometimes you do have to put them down and give yourself a break and let her cry, while going into the bubble bath with ear plugs and cry yourself! You come back with a little bit more sanity & patience, pick her up and start over! Sometimes, just sometimes, they fall asleep during the process. Good luck!

One of the hardest things I had to deal with when I became a new father is what to do with my screaming baby. At three in the morning, my ability to restrain my anger at my wailing son was tested many times, but the lessons in this book saved me and my son. You can use that frustration to employ Karp's "5 S's" most effectively: swaddling the baby tightly, swinging obsessively, and shhing loudly. Though the concept of the 5 S's can be distilled into a two-page chart (which is in the book), the rest of the book describes the framework for the concepts in a way that makes total sense. I teach a class for new fathers at the hospital where I work, and this book is one of the most important things I recommend for new dads (and moms).

There's no question this book saved our sanity. I only wish I had read it before our son was born and we were dealing with colic. The "5 S's" really work! The techniques are simple and if you follow the directions, you can learn to calm the baby down MUCH faster than you could without these techniques. We were at the end of our rope, feeling like we were walking on eggshells wondering if this would be a night that Alex had a colic spell or would we escape for a night? It was miserable, and you feel so helpless when your baby is crying and nothing you do soothes him. Our pediatrician told us we would have to "wait it out" for several weeks until the colic phase passed. I would have lost my mind if we had not found this book! I have since recommended it to anyone and everyone I know having a baby, because even if the baby doesn't have colic, all babies cry at some point, and this book is invaluable!!

an excellent, practical book relevant to the first few months of your baby's life. It is very useful in managing fussiness/colic. great to read during the third trimester. That way, you can use the skills learned in this book on day 1.

I have read many baby books, but this book makes sense, and most of all Dr. Karp's techniques really work! If you follow his advice step by step, you will have a calm baby! We begin to swaddle our son and his eyes get sleepy even before we are done! A fast and helpful read!

As the mother of a 7 week old-I have decided that babies need to come with an instruction manual. For the first month of my son's life I would dread him waking up as I never knew if he was going to be awake for 5 minutes or start in on a 3 hour crying spree.

We also could not understand how our son would get out of a swaddle, could not burp him very well, and would sometimes spend up to 3 hours getting our son to sleep.

This book was miraculous. This was the closest thing to the instruction manual we needed when our baby was born. We learned how to swaddle well-which helps tremendously with keeping our baby asleep. We also learned a very good technique to burp him-which so far has cut down tremendously on his spitting up, and general gassiness. But most importantly-my son doesn't cry for hours anymore-we can usually calm him down in a few minutes. Now when he is crying, we can usually attribute it to something.

My son still has his fussy moments. He is a high needs, intense baby. However now I feel equiped to deal with him rather than at a loss for how to calm him down. I don't dread him waking up as much-and I feel better about having a baby. I think that every parent of a new baby should have this book.

I did not find this book until my son was 4 months old and it is really for those first few months, but I bought it as a shower gift because I think that it is full of useful info. Buy before baby is born!