Happiest Baby on the Block.

Updated on July 11, 2011
M.. asks from Detroit, MI
21 answers

Have you read it? My baby has colic from hell, and its been suggested by a few that I read it in my spare time. Spare time...*snicker*.

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A.F.

answers from Chicago on

Yep- read it but the video is more instructive. My first was colicky till 3 mos :( sucked! Theories are swaddling, shushing, sucking, and a movement that also starts with an "s" but I forget! My set also came with a nice extra large flannel swaddling blanket... My DD required swaddling for 4 mos. Good luck!

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Y.C.

answers from Washington DC on

The video was a lifesaver, and the Happiest Toddler on the Block is useful too. I didn't read the books, but the videos did the trick...faster. :)

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

If you have a public library you might be able to get the video (or if you can order it from amazon.com) it was AWESOME for my first daughter (who cried and I had to sit on a rocking chair for 4 hours so she would sleep) I also had to sleept sitting up on my bed so she could sleep on top of me without crying. I borrowed the video watched it two times and did what he suggested and it was so helpful, my baby girl wwas able to sleep by herself...just be gentle with the "shaking" it is kind of rocking...he shows you on the video. I didn't have time to read the book

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

It is a great book! There are some really great tips for soothing your baby. Since you don't have a lot of free time, I'd suggest renting the video instead. You can even get some mini videos of it on you tube.

Sorry your baby is giving you such a hard time. It will get better, so hang in there!

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

I liked the DVD cause it showed what he was talking about. I got it out of the library. Good luck!

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, it saved me from going insane during my 2nd baby's colicky phase!

The gist of it is the 5 S's"

SWADDLE your baby tightly
Hold the baby on its SIDE with your abdomens touching
Use white noise like a fan or running water and loudly SHUSH the baby right next to the ear
SUCK on a paci
SWAY/SWING from side to side, twisting your torso, sometimes also doing deep knee plunges

Did you end up getting your new swing? I just ordered the Fisher Price Zen Swing from Walmart (even though my other swing still works, because I have been spending almost $20 a week on batteries, so I wanted the plug-in option.)

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I rad the Happiest Toddler book and it had some good tips. I think there are also videos (to watch with closed captioning on while walking the screaming baby). Has your pediatrician ruled out reflux in your baby?

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R.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Loved this book! I highly recommend it. He has a DVD which highlights the main points for you- try that if you're pressed for time.

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C.R.

answers from Seattle on

Watch the video!!! There are lots of clips of it on YouTube, I'm sure. You could probably piece it together on there and get the gist.

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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

The book is great, but DVD is the best for busy mom's like yourself. It was a lifesaver for my husband and I when we had our first child, a very cranky baby who cried 4-5 hours a day even with me holding her all day long in my arms or a Baby Bjorn. Borrow the DVD from your library or order on Amazon.com. It's worth it!

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

I have the book, unfortunately didn't learn of it until around the time my grandson turned 2. But I read lots of parenting books to keep honing my Granny Strokes. This is a good one!

You can see a fair summary of the contents in these short videos:

How-to's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re...

Enhanced sleep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...

And by the way, The Happiest Toddler on the Block is another fantastic parenting book.

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A.H.

answers from Seattle on

It's amazing! Watch the videos on you-tube. It will literally stop your baby from screaming in seconds...with all the "s's" going that is...Good luck!

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A.F.

answers from Fargo on

It saved my sanity!

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

The book is really helpful, but you really just need to read the first quarter of it. The rest is repetition (maybe the author needed a minimum number of pages.)

Swaddle, shhh, shake (lightly), side. I might be forgetting one. Get the video and watch the relevant portion in 20 minutes.

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N.P.

answers from Mobile on

My son had it too! I would push him for hours around my block in his stroller. I also got a sound machine that sounds like forest/beach/birds etc. I kept it on the beach sound pretty loud and that helped too! Good luck! Colic sucks for sure! Hope it gets better soon for you all!

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S.G.

answers from Austin on

we read it and it worked amazingly well for my first daughter. (now 5). it basically enforces the idea of swadling. but there is a video you can watch too so if you don't have a lot of time, get the video on netflix or something.

ill say, this technique did NOT work for my second. but we figured out each baby has different needs. they were both good sleepers by 4 weeks.

my first HAD to be swaddled in order to calm down. she loved the vibrating bouncey seat and those classical baby videos seriously got her to stop crying on a dime.

my second daughter... nooooooo way. swaddling made her scream worse, she needed 'silky' blankeys, she HAD to have a pacifier, she hated bouncey seats and swings and couldn't care less about classical baby.

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M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes--and you have good advice on that. I'd also try gripe water and see if it helps. My dd had horrible gas pain and it was the only thing that helped.

I also remember giving up one day--I put her screaming in her crib to vaccuum and as soon as I turned it on she quieted right down and went to sleep!

Good luck!

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A.K.

answers from Wichita on

I have not read the book but I do have the DVD and found it very useful. My daughter calmed down almost instantly when I would swaddle her and rock her using the method described in the DVD. She will be 1 at the end of July and still sometimes likes being swaddled.

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K.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I didn't read it, I skimmed it, looked at the website, and got the basic idea of it (My baby wouldn't have given me time to read it either). I will say though, his S's didn't really work on my son. He wouldn't take a pacifier to suck, he screamed harder on his stomach or side, about all I could get to somewhat work was swaddling and even then, he screamed in the swaddle. I got a swing. That was all that worked.

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T.C.

answers from Dallas on

I think I watched a thing on it. Maybe on their website or youtube. I didn't read any book. You'd probably find it pretty helpful. Isn't it the one where you make sure you swaddle your baby (arms most important), turn them on their side while patting them and "shhh"ing loudly, and give them a pacifier...and they calm right down almost all the time? It's been about 4 years since I looked at it! So I might be totally remembering the wrong thing completely.

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L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Try giving your baby homeopathic chamomile 6c four times a day for five days and see if the baby's colic goes away. If it does use it 2x a day until the child is four months old.

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