The Five S’s For Baby Soothing: Proven Techniques to Calm a Crying Baby

It’s 2 a.m. Your baby has been crying for a while. You have fed them, changed them, checked for fever, and tried everything you can think of and nothing is working. You are exhausted, a little scared, and starting to wonder if you are doing something fundamentally wrong.

You are not doing anything wrong. You may just need a few soothing tools that take time to learn.

Baby crying is one of the main ways your baby communicates. As you learn to respond to those cues, the early weeks can start to feel more manageable. The Five S’s, developed by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, are one well-known soothing framework for new parents. This guide explains each step, shows how to layer the Five S’s, and shares additional techniques postpartum doulas often use when babies need extra support.

Why Do Babies Cry?

Your baby is not crying to frustrate you. They are crying because it is the only language they have.

The womb vs. the world: Life outside the womb feels very different to a newborn. Before birth, your baby was held in a warm, snug space with constant movement and steady sound. After birth, the world can feel bright, open, and unpredictable. That big shift helps explain why some babies need extra help settling in the early weeks. 

The most common reasons a baby cries:

• Hunger
• Discomfort 
• Overstimulation 
• Overtiredness
• Need for closeness 
• Colic (Crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks) 

Before reaching for any soothing technique, always rule out an unmet need first. Check when they last fed, whether the diaper needs changing, whether they are too hot or cold, and whether there is any sign of physical discomfort. A baby with an unmet need will not respond to soothing the way a baby who simply needs comfort will.

The Five S’s: What They Are and Why They Work

The Five S’s refer to a set of soothing techniques developed by Dr. Karp. Essentially, these techniques soothe babies by recreating some of the sensations of the womb.

In the womb, your baby experienced constant firm pressure, rhythmic sound, gentle motion, warmth, and the comfort of sucking. The Five S’s aim to recreate some of the sensations babies were used to before birth. For many babies, that may help trigger the calming reflex Dr. Karp describes.

Combination is key. Each S may help on its own, but many babies respond best when these techniques are layered together. Even then, every baby is different, and crying can still signal hunger, discomfort, illness, or a need for closeness.

Breaking Down Each S

S1: Swaddle

Why swaddling helps: Swaddling recreates the snug feeling of the womb, so many babies settle faster.
Need a visual guide? This video shows How To Swaddle A Baby Using Different Types Of Swaddles

S2: Side or Stomach Position

When this helps: Holding a swaddled baby on their side or stomach activates a calming response.

How to hold your baby: Lay your baby face down along your forearm, head near your elbow, legs straddling your wrist, hand supporting their bottom. Maintain a firm, confident hold. Babies who feel insecurely held may startle rather than settle.

Important safety note: Use side or stomach positioning only for soothing while your baby is awake and in your arms. For every sleep, place your baby on their back on a firm, flat sleep surface.

S3: Shush

Why shushing works: The womb is full of rhythmic sound. Because of that, steady shushing can feel familiar and calming.

How to do it effectively: Shush close to your baby’s ear and match the volume of the crying at first, louder than most parents expect. Sustain continuously rather than in short bursts. Gradually reduce volume as they settle. When your voice gives out, a white noise machine, app, or fan works just as well.

S4: Swing

Why it works: Your baby was in near-constant motion in the womb. Complete stillness is unfamiliar and unsettling.

How to swing effectively: To mimic a swinging motion, think of driving over a bumpy road versus a gentle rocking chair. Support the head and neck at all times. Gradually slow as the baby settles.

Critical safety note: Never shake a baby. If you feel frustrated or overwhelmed, place your baby safely in their crib and take a moment before continuing.

S5: Suck

Why it works: Babies begin sucking in the womb, and sucking can be very calming for many newborns. It is one of the most common self-soothing behaviors in early infancy.

Options: Breastfeeding for comfort nursing, a bottle, a pacifier once breastfeeding is going well, often around 3 to 4 weeks for breastfed babies, or a clean adult finger offered knuckle-side up. The fifth S often works best as a final layer once your baby is beginning to settle.

How to Use the Five S’s Together

The Five S’s work best when layered together rather than used one at a time.

The full sequence:

1. Swaddle first: move calmly and confidently. This step often helps the other techniques feel more effective.
2. Pick up into side or stomach position and begin shushing simultaneously: two S’s activated at the same moment.
3. Add jiggling motion: you are now combining three to four S’s at once. Stay consistent for a minute or two while watching your baby’s cues.
4. Offer sucking as settling begins: as the crying softens and the body relaxes, introduce the fifth S.

How Long Should You Try the Five S’s?

It can take a minute or two for your baby to respond. Some babies settle quickly, while others may not respond much at all. A brief increase in crying can happen, but if there is no improvement after several minutes, pause and reassess for hunger, discomfort, illness, temperature, or another unmet need.

Time	What to expect
0 – 30 seconds	The baby may escalate slightly. Stay consistent.
30 seconds – 2 minutes	First signs of calming reflex activation. Crying shifts in quality.
2 – 5 minutes	Many babies who are going to respond show clearer signs of settling.
5 – 8 minutes	Some babies may be quiet or asleep by this point, while others may simply be calmer.

Eight to ten minutes with no change at all is the point to reassess for an unmet need that soothing cannot address.

Additional Techniques to Soothe a Baby

• Skin-to-skin contact: Can help regulate your baby’s temperature and heart rate while supporting bonding and calm. Place your baby in only a diaper against your bare chest and cover their back with a light blanket. This can be soothing for both birthing and non-birthing parents. 
• Infant tummy massage: Gentle tummy massage may help some babies who seem gassy. The ‘I Love You’ massage can be done with light pressure when your baby is calm and between feeds. You can also try bicycle legs. Stop if your baby seems uncomfortable.
• Warm bath: A bath can help some babies reset during a fussy stretch. Use comfortably warm water, around 37 to 38°F, and have a warm towel ready. This tends to work best as a calming routine rather than an emergency fix in the middle of the night.
• Change of environment: Moving to a different room, stepping outside, or letting another calm caregiver take over can sometimes help interrupt a crying cycle. It is simple, immediate, and often worth trying.
• Babywearing: A wrap, ring sling, or structured carrier can provide warmth, closeness, and motion. For some families, that may help reduce fussiness. Follow the T.I.C.K.S. safety guidelines: Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Supported back.
• Feeding position adjustments: For breastfed babies, an upright or laid-back position reduces gulping from fast letdown. For bottle-fed babies, paced feeding while holding the bottle more horizontally reduces swallowed air. Burp thoroughly during and after every feed, not just at the end.

How a Postpartum Doula Helps You Master These Skills

Reading this guide gives you a strong foundation. Still, it can feel very different to try a soothing technique while holding a crying baby on very little sleep. If your baby keeps crying, it can be hard to tell whether the technique needs more time, a small adjustment, or a completely different response.

A postpartum doula offers hands-on support that goes far beyond what you can learn from text alone. At DOULAS by the BAY, our doulas are trained to gently soothe babies—even during the most challenging moments—and, just as importantly, to teach you how to do the same. They guide you step by step, helping those uncertain moments become more natural and manageable. Especially in the middle of the night, when you’re tired and overwhelmed, having a calm, experienced presence by your side brings both immediate relief and lasting confidence so you feel supported.

Conclusion

New parenthood often feels challenging and more demanding than expected. That does not mean you are doing anything wrong. Many families feel more grounded when they have practical tools, emotional reassurance, and support they can lean on.

The Five S’s can be a helpful starting point when your baby is unsettled, but you do not have to navigate those hard moments alone. Many parents feel more confident with the right support, especially in the early weeks when everything feels new. At DOULAS by the BAY, we bring more than fifteen years of hands-on experience, practical guidance, and compassionate postpartum support to families.

If you would like extra support, you can book a free consultation to explore what feels right for your family.