Commonly Asked Questions About The Happiest Baby Certification Program
Q: Would this be a way to diversify my current profession or practice?
A: Absolutely. If you touch parents’ lives everyday this will help you become even more successful at making a REAL difference. Professionals who would benefit from certification include: childbirth educators, RN’s, La Leche League leaders, CLEs, IBCLCs, labor doulas, postpartum doulas, clinic staff, pediatricians, NP’s, PA’s, health educators, pregnancy and infant massage therapists, parent group leaders, fatherhood programs, teen programs, adoption agencies, foster care providers, home visitation programs and child abuse prevention case workers and supervisors.
Q: Is this program available worldwide?
A: Yes, it is available worldwide.
Q: How long does it take to complete the program?
A: Completion time varies with each student. Students should expect to spend 1-3 months working towards completion of the program. The length of time depends primarily on how quickly a candidate is able to complete the various components of the program. Completion time varies with each student.
Q: Do I have to go to a location for the training?
A: No. The training comes on DVD and may be watched at your facility or home.
Q: Once I am certified, what would an outline of teaching a class look like?
A: There is a suggested outline included in the course information. Typically classes last between two and three hours although the lesson can also be integrated into other infant care classes.
Q: How much should I charge parents for a class like this?
A: Class fees usually range from $0 to $40.00 per couple. Certified educators agree to provide (sell, loan or give as a gift) a Parent Kit to every parent (or family) taking the class. The parent can be given or charged for in class.
Q: What is the Parent Kit?
A: The Parent Kit includes a Happiest Baby on the Block DVD plus a Soothing Sounds CD (approximate retail value $40). Class participants are to be strongly advised to use the CD to help calm their baby during fussy spells and all night to promote sleep over the first year of life. Additionally, they are encouraged to review the DVD at home for reinforced learning. Families usually watch it 2-4 times to become fully proficient in the approach.
Q: Will I have to continuously order the Parent Kits for distribution?
A: Certified educators are expected to order these kits on an ongoing basis to distribute to each new parent or couple participating in class.
Q: Once certified, will the educators teach individual families or are small group classes a possibility?
A: Educator may teach one-on-one or in groups.
Q: Will marketing suggestions be included in the program materials or is the educator responsible for the marketing?
A: Recommendations for marketing/PR are included in the program materials. The Happiest Baby, Inc. will not do the marketing for your classes, but we will give you “how to” ideas and sample flyers that can be modified to provide information on your own class and class location. Additionally, we provide you with press release templates that you can send to your local newspapers. During conferences and media events Dr. Karp will mention that interested parents can visit our website to find information on local classes and Certified Educators. Once you are certified, if you wish, you will be included on our website as a Certified Happiest Baby Educator and people will be able to contact you regarding classes.
Q: What is Dr. Karp’s goal of the program?
A: Dr. Karp’s goal is to have every new parent learn how to quickly calm their fussy baby and add 1-3 hours to their nighttime sleep. His hope is that this will help parents be more confident, enhance a their bond with their baby and start this blessed new relationship on a very positive note.
Additionally, since infant crying and parental fatigue can trigger breastfeeding failure, postpartum depression, exhaustion, marital stress, Shaken Baby Syndrome, excessive doctor visits and prescription of medication and it likely also increased a baby’s risk of SIDS. Dr. Karp hopes his approach may help prevent these unwanted outcomes. Finally, his goal is to help fathers feel more competent and secure and be more involved with their baby’s care.
Q: Who supports the Happiest Baby Education Program?
A: Numerous maternity/infant care experts from across the country have endorsed the Happiest Baby approach, including leaders of Lamaze, DONA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Attachment Parenting International and Prevent Child Abuse America. The Happiest Baby concepts are being incorporated into the curriculum of medical schools, hospitals, clinics, government health programs and military bases around the world. Many statewide programs have also incorporated The Happiest Baby program into their parent services (e.g. Wyoming has certified 100 home visiting nurses, Pennsylvania has certified over 250 educators to teach in every WIC office in the state).
Q: Have Continuing Education Hours been approved for this program?
A: This program has been approved to award 5.5 contact hours by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the OBN Approver, Ohio Organization of Nurse Executives
6.5 alternate contact hours approved by ICEA
6.6 alternate contact hours approved by Lamaze International, which may be applied toward recertification for LCCE educators
