How to Settle Your Fussy Newborn

Dr Harvey Karps 5 S's

When your newborn is fussy, it can feel overwhelming—not just for them, but for you too. One of the most well-known and effective settling strategies comes from Dr. Harvey Karp: The 5 S’s.

These five simple steps—Swaddle, Side/Stomach Position, Shush, Swing, and Suck—are designed to activate your baby’s natural calming reflex by mimicking the sensations of the womb.

Let’s break it down.

Why the 5 S’s Work

Dr. Karp’s approach is based on the idea that human babies are born earlier in their development compared to other mammals. While many animals can walk or run within hours of birth, human babies arrive relatively immature due to their large brain and head size. As a result, they need extra help adjusting to life outside the womb—and that’s where the 5 S’s come in.

Each “S” mimics a part of the womb experience and, when used together, they can create a powerful soothing response. While you don’t always need all five steps, it’s best to start from the top and move down the list. Practicing the steps when your baby is calm can also help them become familiar and more effective during fussier moments.

Swaddle

Swaddling is your first step in recreating the snug, cozy feeling of the womb. It involves wrapping your baby firmly (but safely!) with their arms at their sides while allowing some movement in the hips.

This secure wrapping can:

• Reduce the startle reflex (those flailing arms!)

• Help your baby feel held and safe

• Support longer stretches of calm or sleep

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At first, your baby might resist the swaddle, but with consistency, many babies begin to associate it with comfort and calm. Even if swaddling alone doesn’t fully settle your bub, it lays the foundation for the next steps.

Side or Stomach laying

Once swaddled, holding your baby on their side or stomach (in your arms) can offer instant relief. This position helps:

• Relieve pressure from their belly

• Reduce the feeling of falling, which can trigger the startle reflex

• Mimic how they were cradled in the womb

This position is only safe when your baby is in your arms. Always place your baby on their back to sleep.

Shushing

Inside the womb, your baby was surrounded by the constant whooshing of blood flow—louder than a vacuum cleaner! Recreating this noise helps soothe your baby and drown out other stimuli.

You can:

• Gently “shhhh” near their ear

• Use white noise machines or apps

• Try rhythmic, consistent sounds (not random chatter or music)

  
  

Match the volume to your baby’s cry, then gradually reduce as they begin to calm.

Swing

Movement is incredibly calming for babies. Think about how much motion they experienced in utero—every step you took rocked them gently.

To recreate this:

• Use small, fast movements (just an inch or two side to side) while holding your swaddled baby

• Once calm, slow your movements to a gentle sway

  
  

Avoid large, jerky swings. The goal is to mimic natural, rhythmic motion—not overstimulate.

Suck

Sucking is one of the most powerful self-soothing tools your baby has. It releases calming hormones and can help deepen their relaxed state or lull them into sleep.

Offer:

• A dummy (for non-nutritive sucking)

• Your breast (for both soothing and feeding)

  
  

By this point, your baby may already be drifting off. The addition of sucking often seals the deal.

Bringing It All Together

Each “S” works to replicate a different aspect of life in the womb, but together they create a powerful, familiar environment that helps your baby settle, sleep, and feel secure.

✨ Practice the 5 S’s even when your baby is calm—this helps them associate the steps with comfort before you need them in a high-stress moment.

Click here to view this technique in action and post any newborn sleep questions below!