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What is taught?    

What is a Parent Kit?    

Interested in Becoming an Certified Educator?

Who Teaches the Class?   

Why Partner with RCPC?  

New Parenting Facts: Resources for Parents with Newborns

The Resource Center for Parents and Children has been awarded a grant to expand the Cuddle Cure Classes statewide.  Target locations include:  Barrow, Bethel, Dillingham, Fort Yukon, Haines, Kenai, Kotzebue, Nome and Valdez.  Funding is made possible by Alaska Children’s Trust through the Department of Health and Social Services.

The Cuddle Cure is a two-hour class which teaches five techniques or the 5 S's for calming a "fussy" newborn from birth to 3 months of age based on Dr. Harvey Karp's, The

Happiest Baby on the Block curriculum. New parents, pregnant women, couples,

grandparents, professionals, child care providers, or anyone who has an interest in the

well being of infants can attend this free class.

What is taught in the Cuddle Cure Class?
Topics for the class include: 

1. The missing 4th trimester

2. The “Calming” Reflex:  the extraordinary “off switch” for crying

3. The 5 S’s:  swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swinging, and sucking

4. The joys and challenges of becoming a new parent

5. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Shaken Baby Syndrome

The Cuddle Cure Class also addresses development stages and needs of a newborn from

birth to 3 months of age, the benefits of breastfeeding, and the importance of placing a

baby on its back to sleep.  Parents or cargivers practice the 5 S’s on a doll or their own

infant.  As a result of practicing and learning how to execute the techniques properly,

parents will experience less stress, get more sleep at night, and have more cohesive

families. View the Cuddle Cure Techniques in Action

Parent Kit
In addition to the class being free, each family or cargiver will receive a Parent Kit.  The

Parent Kit includes: The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, the Soothing Sounds CD, a

swaddling blanket, and a RCPC Bag full of local community resources.

Who teaches the classes?
Cuddle Cure Classes can only be taught by an educator who has been certified through

The Happiest Baby on the Block certification program.  Educators complete the certification

process that encompasses viewing required DVDs, reading required research articles,

books and texts, completing a certification application and passing a certification

examination.

Why partner with RCPC?
The Resource Center for Parents and Children has been providing child abuse and neglect

education and awareness in the Fairbanks North Star Borough for over 34 years. 

Founded in April 1973, RCPC’s mission is to “create a culture that values parenting and

keeping children safe through education, respect, advocacy, and strengthening families.” 

The ultimate outcome is to prevent child abuse and neglect.

RCPC is the Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Chapter for the State of Alaska.  As such, we are

committed to increasing the awareness of prevention through the provision of parenting

education, support and resources.With the expansion of the Cuddle Cure Project statewide,

we are able to supplement and support programs already established for new and expecting

parents in rural, high-risk communities with instruction and training on soothing a fussy

baby and reducing parental stress related to crying during a baby’s first three months of life.

Interested in becoming a Certified Educator?
If you live in Barrow, Bethel, Dillingham, Fort Yukon, Haines, Kenai, Kotzebue, Nome or

Valdez or the surrounding areas and would like to partner with us and to become a

certified educator, please contact Pamela Kemp, Community Education Program Manager,

907.456.9002 for more information.

Resources for Parents with Newborns
Becoming a New Parent
Safe Sleep for Your Baby
The Importance of Tummy Time - Birth to 5 Months of Age
Safety Points for Co-sleeping