Written by: Jenn Schoen, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant
If your newborn struggles to settle, especially during the witching hour or after a long day of stimulation, you’re not alone. Babies have immature nervous systems and often need extra help calming their bodies. That’s where the 5 S’s come in.
Developed by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, the 5 S’s—swaddle, side/stomach hold, shush, swing, and suck—mimic the sensations of the womb and help activate your baby’s natural calming reflex. These simple, science-backed steps can ease fussiness, support smoother transitions into sleep, and help your newborn feel secure.
This guide walks you through each of the 5 S’s, how to use them effectively, and why they’re especially helpful during the newborn stage.
What Are the 5 S’s?
The 5 S’s are a series of soothing strategies designed to recreate the rhythmic, comforting environment your baby experienced before birth. Each “S” adds a layer of familiar sensation that signals safety and helps calm an unsettled newborn.
They work best when you begin with the first S and layer them one at a time, stopping once your baby calms. Not every baby needs all five—sometimes just one or two is enough.
The 5 S’s include:
- Swaddle
- Side or Stomach Hold
- Shush
- Swing
- Suck
Let’s look at each one in detail.
1. Swaddle: Create a Secure, Womb-Like Feeling
Swaddling is the foundation of the 5 S’s because it recreates the snug, contained environment your baby experienced in the womb. Newborns are used to very little space—tight boundaries help them feel grounded and safe. Swaddling also reduces the startle reflex, which can jolt babies awake or escalate fussiness when they’re already overwhelmed.
A good swaddle should be:
- Snug around the arms to help limit startling
- Secure around the torso so your baby feels supported
- Roomy around the hips to allow natural leg movement
- Comfortable, not tight, so your baby can breathe and move easily
Swaddling lowers overstimulation and gives your baby a calm, organized feeling. It sets the stage for the next S’s to work more effectively.
2. Side or Stomach Hold: A Naturally Calming Position
Newborns spent months curled in positions that were never flat on their backs. Holding them on their side or stomach can instantly feel familiar and soothing. These positions help organize your baby’s body and reduce the frantic movements that often accompany crying.
You can:
- Hold your baby on their side against your chest
- Place them tummy-down along your forearm
- Cradle them with their body slightly angled to the side
These holds help babies feel more secure and supported during difficult moments.
Important: This step is for soothing only. For sleep, always place your baby on their back to follow safe sleep guidelines.
3. Shush: Mimic the Sounds of the Womb
The womb was a noisy place—much louder than most parents imagine. Babies heard constant whooshing and rhythmic sounds from your heartbeat and blood flow. Recreating those sounds through shushing is deeply comforting.
To use shushing effectively: begin the “shhh” at the volume of your baby’s cry then gradually soften the sound as they calm.
Shushing tells your baby, “You’re safe; you can relax,” and helps quiet the chaos of overstimulation.
4. Swing: Add Gentle, Rhythmic Movement
Newborns were in constant motion during pregnancy—rocked by your walking, swaying, and shifting throughout the day. Small, rhythmic movements help replicate that sensation and can quickly activate your baby’s calming reflex.
Keep in mind:
- Think gentle jiggles, not big rocking motions (we know - it says “swing”, but trust us on this one)
- Movements should be small and rhythmic, not fast or wide
- Always support your baby’s head and neck
Swinging works especially well when combined with swaddling and shushing, because it layers movement onto a secure, familiar base.
5. Suck: Support Full Relaxation
Sucking is one of the most powerful soothing tools for newborns. It helps regulate their breathing, lowers tension in their body, and provides a deep sense of comfort as they settle.
You can offer:
- A pacifier
- A clean finger
- Comfort nursing
Sucking is often the final step that brings everything together—helping your baby ease fully into calm and, when appropriate, drift toward sleep.
How to Use the 5 S’s Together
One of the biggest strengths of the 5 S’s is that they’re meant to be layered, not used all at once or in a random order. Each “S” builds on the previous one, creating a sequence of comforting, womb-like sensations that help activate your baby’s natural calming reflex.
You don’t have to use all five S’s every time. Many babies relax after the first two or three. The key is to start at the beginning and add each step gradually, pausing between them to see how your baby responds.
Here’s how to layer them in order:
- Start with Swaddle. Swaddling creates the foundation for soothing by giving your baby a secure, contained feeling and reducing the startle reflex.
- Add the Side or Stomach Hold. Once swaddled, gently hold your baby on their side or stomach for soothing only (always return to the back for sleep). This position naturally calms newborns and helps organize their bodies when they’re overwhelmed.
- Layer in Shushing. Bring a steady “shhh” sound close to your baby’s ear. Start at the volume of their cry, then soften as they settle.
- Introduce Swinging. Add small, rhythmic movements—more of a gentle jiggle than a wide rock. This rhythmic motion reminds your baby of the movement they felt throughout pregnancy.
- Offer Sucking, If Needed. If your baby is still struggling to settle, add sucking as the final layer. A pacifier, clean finger, or comfort nursing helps your baby fully relax and ease into a calmer state.
Between each step, pause for a moment and watch for signs that your baby is beginning to settle—slower breathing, reduced tension, softer crying, or a quiet gaze. If you see these cues, there’s no need to keep going.
When the 5 S’s Help Most
The 5 S’s are designed specifically for the newborn stage, when babies rely heavily on caregivers to regulate their bodies and emotions. They tend to be most effective from birth through the first few months, when your baby’s nervous system is still developing and they’re most soothed by womb-like sensations.
The 5 S’s can be especially helpful when your baby is:
- Overtired or overstimulated. After a day full of light, sound, and activity, newborns often struggle to settle. The 5 S’s recreate the secure, rhythmic environment they knew before birth.
- Struggling with the witching hour. During that intense stretch of evening fussiness, layering the 5 S’s can help activate your baby’s natural calming reflex and ease the overwhelm.
- Finding transitions difficult. Moving from nap to wake, wake to nap, or day to night can be hard for young babies. The 5 S’s provide familiar cues that make transitions smoother.
- Experiencing short sleep cycles. With sleep cycles lasting only 40–50 minutes, newborns often need help calming their bodies to link cycles or settle back down.
- Managing big feelings or crying spells. When your baby is upset and can’t self-settle to sleep yet, the structured, rhythmic comfort of the 5 S’s gives them the support they’re not yet able to create on their own.
Age-Appropriateness for the 5 S’s
The 5 S’s are specifically designed for newborns and are most effective during the early months when babies still respond strongly to womb-like sensations. As your baby grows and develops new skills, their soothing needs naturally shift. During the newborn period, though, the 5 S’s provide the kind of predictable, comforting input their brain and body expect
FAQ: The 5 S’s for Newborns
Parents often have questions about how to use the 5 S’s in real life—when to use them, how many to use, and what to do if one doesn’t seem to work. Below are the most common questions families ask when learning this soothing method, along with simple, practical answers to make the 5 S’s easier to use at home.
Do I Need to Use All 5 S’s Every Time?
No. Start with swaddling and add one S at a time, pausing after each S to see how your baby responds. You can stop as soon as your baby begins to calm.
Is the Side/Stomach Position Safe?
Yes—but for soothing only. Always place your baby on their back for sleep.
How Loud Should the “Shhh” Be?
Match the volume of your baby’s cry at first, then gradually soften as they relax.
What if My Baby Doesn’t Like the 5 S’s?
Every baby is different. If you find your baby doesn’t respond well to the 5 S’s try one of these other calming strategies:
- Skin-to-skin
- Warm bath
- Baby wearing
- Time in a low stimulation environment (e.g. with dim lights, white noise)
Want Personalized Sleep Support? Poppins Can Help.
If you want expert guidance for building independent sleep skills or preparing for sleep training, Poppins offers:
- Customized bedtime routines
- Age-appropriate sleep schedules and wake windows
- Support for regressions, naps, and night wakings
- Evidence-based sleep training plans
Better sleep starts with the right foundation. We’ll help you build it. Schedule your free sleep consultation with one of our certified pediatric sleep consultants here.
