The Nurturing Way To Comfort Your Baby
THE 5S’S INSPIRED BY DR. HARVEY KARP
In the early weeks of life, your baby is adjusting to a whole new world—outside the warm, rhythmic, and secure space of the womb. It’s no surprise that they often seek those familiar sensations for comfort.
Dr. Harvey Karp, a respected pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, developed a soothing method known as the 5 S’s, based on this very concept. These five techniques are designed to calm crying, settle fussiness, and support longer, more restorative sleep by gently recreating the environment your baby experienced in utero. Karp pays special attention to what we refer to as the fourth trimester, the time when your baby is outside of the womb, but is still needing time to adjust to their world outside of you. This is unfamiliar territory for them, and for these first few weeks they do need a lot of our assistance to get themselves settled, soothed and off to sleep.
At Whispers Sleep Co., we love the 5 S’s because they align beautifully with a responsive, nurturing, and holistic approach to infant care.
Swaddling
Why Swaddling Supports Sleep (And Soothes the Nervous System)
Swaddling is more than just a sleep trick—it’s a deeply nurturing practice rooted in biology. In the early weeks of life, your baby is adjusting to an entirely new world: brighter, colder, louder, and filled with unfamiliar sensations. The transition from womb to world can be jarring, and swaddling helps bridge that gap in a way that feels familiar and safe.
Newborns are born with what’s known as the Moro reflex—a natural, protective response that causes their limbs to startle or flail unexpectedly. While completely normal, this reflex often disrupts sleep, especially as your baby drifts into lighter stages of rest. A snug, safe swaddle gently contains these movements, helping your baby settle more easily and stay asleep longer.
But the benefits go deeper.
Swaddling provides deep-touch pressure, which sends signals of calm and safety to your baby’s developing nervous system. This type of sensory input lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and promotes the release of calming hormones like oxytocin, helping your baby feel grounded and secure. The soft compression of a swaddle can be particularly helpful for sensitive or unsettled babies, who may feel overstimulated by the openness of their new environment.
It also mimics the held, cozy sensation of the womb—where your baby was curled in for months, constantly held by the gentle boundaries of your body. This sense of containment is deeply regulating for young infants, offering a felt sense of security that supports both emotional settling and physical rest.
OUR ADDED SOOTHING SUGGESTIONS
Swaddling isn’t about restricting your baby—it’s about recreating the comforting sensations of life before birth, in a safe and responsive way.
When done correctly, swaddling can:
Reduce crying and fussiness
Extend the duration of naps and overnight sleep
Support the calming reflex
Help babies transition into deeper, more restorative sleep cycles
Foster a sense of emotional safety in the early weeks of life
Important to know: Always swaddle with the hips free to move naturally (to support healthy joint development), and stop swaddling when your baby shows signs of rolling. This is usually between 8–12 weeks.
How to do it
Use a soft, breathable swaddle or muslin cloth to wrap your baby with arms securely tucked in, while ensuring hips and legs can move freely. Think of it as a gentle cocoon—snug, but not restrictive. IF your baby is showing signs of rolling then it is time to transition to arms free sleeping bag options.
Side or Stomach Position
For Soothing Only*
The side or stomach position offers your baby gentle, comforting pressure across their abdomen that can significantly ease common newborn discomforts like trapped wind, colic, and reflux. These digestive issues are often sources of distress and prolonged fussiness, making it difficult for babies to settle or transition smoothly into sleep when lying flat on their backs.
This position supports your baby’s developing nervous system by providing a secure, contained feeling that mimics aspects of what it was like inside the womb. Inside the womb, babies experience constant gentle pressure and support from surrounding tissues and fluids. Holding your baby on their side or tummy recreates some of this calming containment, helping them feel safe and grounded.
This calming position can help stop your baby’s startle reflex—the sudden movements that often wake them up unexpectedly. By gently changing how they’re held and reducing overwhelming sensations, it helps your baby feel more relaxed and less scared. This makes it easier for them to stay calm and not get too overwhelmed.
This technique encourages close, nurturing contact—a vital part of building your baby’s emotional security and strengthening your bond with them during these early days. Your warmth, scent, heartbeat, and gentle voice, combined with this position, create a multisensory position of calm.
While the side or stomach position can be incredibly soothing and helpful during comforting moments, it’s important to always follow safe sleep guidelines.
It is important to note that this position should only be used when your baby is awake and being held securely in your arms. When your baby relaxes or drifts toward sleep, transition them gently back to their back in a safe sleep environment.
OUR ADDED SOOTHING SUGGESTIONS
Pair this position with a warm hand on their tummy or a soft hum to add an extra layer of comfort and connection.
How to do it
Hold your baby on their side or tummy while they are in your arms or across your forearm. Always return them to their back for sleep.
Shhushing
How it calms and soothes your babies nervous system
Throughout pregnancy, your baby was surrounded by constant, comforting sounds—your heartbeat, the flow of blood, and gentle digestive noises. These steady, rhythmic sounds created a secure environment that helped your baby feel calm and protected. The shushing technique recreates this familiar “background noise” by producing a gentle, steady “shhh” sound near your baby’s ear.
This sound acts like a calming signal to your baby’s nervous system, helping to block out sudden or jarring noises in their new environment that might otherwise startle or upset them. This familiar hum and shushing of your lovely voice will help your baby settle more quickly, reduce their crying, and support longer periods of calm.
Using shushing alongside close contact and other soothing methods creates a reassuring environment that supports your baby’s ability to relax and drift off to sleep more easily.
How to Use Shushing Effectively:
To soothe your baby with shushing, position yourself close—ideally near their ear—so the sound feels gentle and comforting rather than overwhelming. Make a steady, rhythmic “shhh” sound, similar in volume to a running shower or vacuum cleaner. This steady noise mimics the womb’s environment and helps your baby feel secure.
You can create this sound naturally by softly whispering “shhh” or use white noise machines, fans, or smartphone apps designed for babies. Just be sure to keep the volume moderate—loud enough to cover other noises but not too loud to be harsh or startling.
Try combining shushing with other calming techniques, such as holding your baby close, swaddling, or gentle rocking. This multi-sensory approach deepens your baby’s sense of safety and helps them settle faster.
Shushing works best during fussy times, especially in the evening when babies can feel overwhelmed by new sensations. Consistent use of this technique can support better sleep habits and make those challenging moments easier for both you and your baby.
OUR ADDED SOOTHING SUGGESTIONS
When using shushing, try timing it to your baby’s breathing. Gently match the rhythm of your “shhh” sound to their inhales and exhales. This subtle synchronization can deepen their sense of calm and connection, helping them relax more quickly and feel truly soothed. Using white noise to take over for you once your baby has settled into sleep is a great tool to ensure they are assisted in getting a deep sleep.
Swinging
Rhythmic Motion
From the very beginning, your baby has been comforted by gentle, flowing movement. Inside the womb, they spent months floating in amniotic fluid, softly rocked by your every step, sway, and motion. This constant, soothing rhythm created a secure, calming environment that their nervous system remembers instinctively.
When you gently rock or sway your baby now, you’re recreating that familiar sensation of safety and comfort. This movement helps activate their calming reflex, signaling to their brain that they are protected and can relax. The steady rhythm of swinging or rocking can ease fussiness, reduce stress, and help your baby transition more easily from wakefulness to restful sleep.
How to Use Swinging to Soothe Your Baby
To gently rock or sway your baby, hold them securely in your arms or across your forearm, ensuring their head and neck are well supported (same positioning as the side or stomach position above). Use slow, smooth, and rhythmic movements—think of a gentle sway side to side or a soft back-and-forth rocking motion. Avoid fast or jerky movements, as these can startle or overstimulate your little one.
For parents who enjoy using an exercise or stability ball, sitting and gently bouncing while holding your baby close can mimic the womb’s natural motion beautifully—just keep movements calm and controlled.
Pair swinging with other comforting techniques like soft shushing, swaddling, or skin-to-skin contact to deepen your baby’s sense of security and relaxation.
Remember, each baby is unique—observe how your little one responds and adjust the motion to what feels most soothing for them. This mindful, loving approach supports your baby’s ability to self-soothe and enjoy more peaceful sleep.
OUR ADDED SOOTHING SUGGESTIONS
Babies often respond best to movement that mirrors your own natural rhythm. Try swaying or bouncing to the pace of your own slow breathing or heartbeat—it not only calms your baby but helps regulate your own nervous system, too. The calmer you are, the more your baby feels it.
Sucking
Sucking is one of the most powerful self-soothing tools your baby has—and it begins long before birth. Many babies are seen sucking their fingers or thumbs in the womb, instinctively using this calming rhythm to settle their tiny nervous systems. After birth, that same reflex becomes a beautiful bridge to comfort and connection.
When your baby sucks—whether during feeding, on a pacifier, or even on a clean finger—it releases a cascade of calming hormones, like oxytocin and serotonin. These help slow their heart rate, regulate breathing, and create a deep sense of safety and ease. It’s not just a reflex; it’s emotional regulation in action.
This repetitive, familiar motion helps babies transition from alertness to restfulness, especially during overstimulating moments or when settling to sleep. For babies who are already fed but still unsettled, non-nutritive sucking (sucking without feeding) can offer just the right amount of gentle comfort to soothe fussiness and support longer stretches of rest.
Sucking brings both physical and emotional relief—and when used with presence and intention, it becomes a grounding, nurturing way to guide your baby into calm.
How to use sucking to soothe your baby
Once your baby has had a full feed, they may still seek the comfort of sucking—not for hunger, but for soothing. If you’re breastfeeding, this might look like comfort sucking at the end of a feed, when the pace slows and your baby is simply resting at the breast. If bottle feeding, offering a pacifier or a clean, washed finger (nail facing down) can help provide that same sense of calm.
Gently offer the pacifier when your baby is drowsy, overstimulated, or needing support to settle. Wait for signs they’re willing—such as rooting, fidgeting, or turning toward you—then guide it toward their mouth calmly, without pressure. If they resist or spit it out, simply pause and try again later. Like all soothing tools, the key is to follow your baby’s cues.
If you're using pumped milk, you might try offering the pacifier after feeds to extend that feeling of fullness and comfort. Just be mindful to protect the feeding relationship in the early weeks—especially if breastfeeding—by establishing feeding first before introducing a pacifier.
Every baby is different, some find immense comfort in sucking, while others need less of it. The beauty of this technique is that it’s easily adjusted to your baby’s needs, helping you create a soothing rhythm that works for both of you.
OUR ADDED SOOTHING SUGGESTIONS
Let sucking be your baby’s guide, not just your tool. When offered with care and attunement, it becomes more than a habit—it’s a cue that their body is winding down and their nervous system is finding rest. Watch their rhythm: slow, steady sucking often signals they’re drifting into calm. If you’re breastfeeding, don’t worry about “spoiling” your baby with comfort feeding—trust your baby’s cues. You’re building a secure attachment.
Weaving the 5 S’s Into a Soothing Routine
Each of the 5 S’s offers comfort in its own right—but when combined with care and rhythm, they work in harmony to gently calm your baby’s nervous system and bring ease to unsettled moments.
Here’s what it might look like
Swaddle your baby snugly to recreate the warmth and security of the womb.
Hold them on their side or tummy (in your arms only) to ease tummy tension and help them feel anchored.
Shush with a steady, whooshing sound near their ear to mirror the familiar soundscape of life inside the womb.
Add rhythmic movement—gentle rocking, swaying, or bouncing—to trigger your baby’s natural calming reflex.
Offer sucking—through breast, pacifier, or finger—for deep relaxation and emotional comfort.
This layered, responsive approach can be especially helpful during the late afternoon and early evening hours, when babies often experience increased fussiness. It not only helps settle them in the moment but also builds a foundation for healthy sleep habits, emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of connection between you and your baby.
Once you are able to recognise that your baby has drifted off into a deep sleep, this is the perfect time to gently transfer them into their safe sleeping space, or take the moment to enjoy them sleeping on you during those early days.
