Book SummaryThe Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Happiest Baby on the Block

Your baby won’t stop crying. The screams start up at any time of day or night and continue for hours, no matter what you do. The doctor says you just have to wait it out; your friends and family give conflicting advice, none of which works. You’re pretty sure you’re going to lose your mind. Luckily, you don’t have to: In The Happiest Baby on the Block, pediatrician Harvey Karp offers a solution to your problem. He makes the argument that colic—crying for three hours or more a day—is most often caused by under- or overstimulation when your baby is still adjusting to life outside of the comfortable environment of the womb. His technique for soothing colic...

The Happiest Baby on the Block Summary Part 1: Overstimulation and Understimulation

Karp argues that a majority of colic cases are caused by overstimulation and understimulation as your baby adjusts to the world outside of the womb. In Part 1, we’ll outline why too much or too little sensation causes colic, as well as Karp’s techniques for soothing an overstimulated or understimulated baby.

(Shortform note: While Karp mainly focuses on physical stimulation—sights, sounds, and sensations—emotional stimulation may also contribute to colic. Specifically, pediatricians believe babies may become colicky as a response to emotions like anxiety, excitement, and frustration. Some even suggest that a stressful family environment might make colic more likely, which can form a vicious cycle: The stressful environment causes colic, and the colic exacerbates the stress of caregivers in the environment.)

Why Too Much or Too Little Stimulation Causes Colic

Karp explains that newborn babies often cry incessantly because they’re unable to cope with all the new sensations around them. For the first three to four months of their lives, a baby’s nervous system is still relatively...

The Happiest Baby on the Block Summary Part 2: Underlying Medical Conditions

While Karp argues a majority of colic cases are due to over- or understimulation—and therefore can be addressed through the five methods in the previous section—he acknowledges there are some instances where underlying medical issues are responsible for colic.

In Part 2, we’ll cover medical and health-related causes of colic and Karp’s recommendations for addressing them.

How Underlying Medical Conditions Cause Colic

Karp explains that while many people and even some doctors assume all colic has a medical cause, only 5-10% of colic cases have an underlying medical cause. In these cases, your baby’s cries are signs of discomfort due to physical symptoms. Karp notes the most common physical ailments that cause colic: allergies and constipation. Let’s explore how to manage each in more detail.

Allergies

Allergies are responsible for 90% of medically-caused colic. Babies can be exposed to common allergens—such as cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and fish—through breast milk depending on the breastfeeding parent’s diet.

Karp explains that babies with allergies tend to cry throughout the day and night. They may also have diarrhea, indicated by...

The Happiest Baby on the Block Summary Part 3: Poor Sleep

Finally, Karp notes that irregular or insufficient sleep can contribute to colic. In Part 3, we’ll explain why this is the case and go through Karp’s advice for improving a baby’s sleep.

How Poor Sleep Causes Colic

Karp explains that newborns tend to sleep between 14 and 18 hours a day, usually for two to four hours with an hour of time awake in between. While asleep, babies tend to cycle between lighter and deeper forms of sleep every hour—if something wakes them up during a deeper sleep cycle, they tend to have an easier time getting back to sleep. During a lighter cycle, though, a baby who has trouble self-soothing may start crying because they’re unable to get back to sleep.

(Shortform note: Pediatricians explain that part of the reason why babies sleep so erratically is because they can’t tell the difference between day and night. The circadian rhythm, or “internal clock” that determines how our bodies respond to light and darkness, doesn’t develop until around three to six months of age. This...

Shortform Exercise: Make a Soothing Plan

Karp explains that every baby will respond differently to the different strategies he describes. Use these exercises to determine the most effective way to soothe your baby.

Does your baby respond particularly well to one of Karp’s techniques (swaddling, holding on side/stomach, shushing, swinging, or sucking)? Do some work better in certain situations?