Harvey Neil Karp is an American pediatrician, best known for the techniques he has developed and popularized for calming infants. Karp is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the author of two books, The Happiest Baby on the Block, published in 2002, and its 2004 sequel, The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

Karp's technique

The technique is designed to recreate the essential elements of the experience of living in the womb. Human babies, according to Karp, are born less-developed than other mammals. The first three months of life Karp calls the "fourth trimester". Karp believes there is a "calming reflex" that causes babies to instantly relax when they are given clues that they are safe inside the womb. There are five parts of the technique he calls the "five S's".

1. Swaddling: Tight swaddling recreates the confinement of the womb.
2. Side/Stomach position: Holding the baby on the right side slightly face down.
3. Shushing: Karp uses a loud "ssh" sound similar to the loud white noise that is present in the womb.
4. Swinging (and jiggling): Gentle but constant jiggling (especially of the head) is intended to remind babies of the constant motion they experienced in the womb.
5. Sucking: Karp also recommends the use of pacifier
   Pacifier
   A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon. In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle...
   
   s.

Criticism

CBS news reports that "Critics say Karp is riding to fame on the strength of his patients' VIP parents, who include Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...

, Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...

 and Madonna

Madonna (entertainer)

Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...

. Endorsements from several stars appear on his book jacket and video cover." Some doctors have also expressed concern that babies may accidentally be left to sleep face down, a position which increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...

. Karp explicitly warns parents not to leave babies in this position.

External links

• Harvey Karp's website