When the nurse brings your baby to you, you are filled with emotions. Your hands
may shake, and tears of joy start streaming down your face. But like any other new parent, you may wonder how to hold a baby correctly. Every parent feels a sense of fear out of protectiveness for their baby while holding them in their arms. You may think things like, what if they accidentally slip out from your hands. However, you need to be gentle and calm while holding your baby despite the obvious nervousness. In this post, we help you out with it. We have put
together a collection of information about steps for preparation along with the safest ways to hold your baby. To hold a baby, you should pick her up first. Place one hand under the head and another beneath the bottom. Now raise the body to your chest region. You can hold the baby in this position as long as you are comfortable holding the baby’s neck and
head. Also, your baby likes to be held in some positions while she is uncomfortable in some others. Paul Patterson, MD, PhD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician and expert in developmental and behavioral pediatrics from Bethesda, Maryland, says, “When carrying a newborn, be sure to support their head and neck to prevent any quick head movements that may startle them or cause an
injury. When picking a baby up from the lying down position, gently bring one hand behind their head and the other behind the child’s back or bottom. Then, gently lift them toward your chest.” You can even try out different positions to understand what suits her the best. Image: iStock This is one of the most natural holds for your newborn. Here
is how you should do it: This position allows your baby to hear your heartbeat. Image: Shutterstock Cradling is quite simple and natural. Here is how you can cradle your newborn to sleep:
3. Belly hold
Image: iStock Your baby will surely enjoy this baby hold. Here is how to handle the newborn:
4. Hip hold
Image: iStock You can hold your baby’s hips once she gains complete control over her head and neck. So, try this position when your baby crosses three months. Here is how you can do this:
5. Face-to-face hold
Image: Shutterstock This hold will let you interact with your baby. Here is how you can try the hold perfectly:
6. “Hello World” hold/ Chair hold
Image: Shutterstock Got a curious baby? Then this is an excellent hold that makes her see what is going around. Here, she will sit on your hand as if she is sitting on a chair.
If you want to try the same hold while sitting, there is no need to support her bottom. This position is not recommended for babies below three months. 7. Football hold
Image: iStock This hold suits for feeding your baby, and you can use it while standing or sitting. Here is how you should do it:
8. Lap hold
Image: Shutterstock This is another hold you can use while bottle-feeding the baby, and can be used while in a sitting position.
How To Hold A Baby After Feeding?When feeding the baby, keep her head raised from the lap or a crib (be it a football hold or a lap hold as mentioned above). After the feeding, keep her upright and pat her until she burps. Do not indulge in activities such as jiggling, playing or bouncing with your little one right after the feed. It may lead to spitting up. Tips To Hold A Baby RightPay attention to your little one’s mood while holding her. If she is crying or is fussy and irritated, change her position to make her comfortable. These tips will help you avoid discomfort for the baby:
Dr. Patterson suggests, “Do not pick up a newborn by their arms, hands, or legs, you will want to always support the infant’s head. Newborns have three parts on their body that need to be supported during carrying and lifting. These include their fontanelles, or soft parts of their head/skull, their neck, and their bottom. Any time these three aspects of the baby are not supported when lifting or moving a baby, it puts your infant at risk of injury.” Keep these tips in mind, and you will hold the baby without any worry. It may be frightening at first, but with practice, you will master it. How To Hold A Baby To Stop Crying?There is a technique known as “The Hold”, demonstrated by Dr. Robert Hamilton, a practitioner at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in California. He showed a live demo of the hold that consists of four steps.
This technique is suitable for babies below three months. After that, they are heavy to hold in this position. Here is the video to demonstrate the position, which makes the babies stop crying in seconds. How To Hold A Baby During Shower?
Image: Shutterstock Bath times are fun times for babies. Here is how to hold a baby while bathing, to prevent accidents like drowning or swallowing of water.
You can use a bath support to free your hands. A bath cradle also provides support while bathing a baby. If the child is old enough to sit, you can try a bath seat. 1. Is it wrong to hold the baby in the upright position? There’s no harm in holding a baby upright as long as the baby’s neck and head are well-supported. 2. How do you lift and hold a newborn? Put one hand under the baby’s neck and head to provide their neck with ample support. Slide another hand under their bottom and bend forward, folding your knees, so your back is protected. Once you get a good hold, pick up your baby and hold them close to your chest while straightening your legs. 3. Can you hold the newborn under the armpit? No. You should not hold your baby under the armpit as the baby’s head, and neck will not have support. Babies have weak neck muscles that can’t support their proportionately larger heads, which can cause their heads to tilt backward when held under the armpit. 4. What happens if a baby’s head flops back? Dr. Patterson opines, “If a newborn’s head flops back, it is an indication that they are not getting enough support. A baby’s head control is not fully developed until they are four months old. They require external support while being held, especially while moving around. You may notice some slight movement of their head, but be sure to keep your hand close during these small movements just in case your child bobbles. You want to prevent your baby’s head from being shaken or flopping around.” Holding a baby close to you helps promote healthy bonding with them. Though it is a delightful experience to hold your little one, it is essential to know how to hold a baby correctly to avoid any complications. Knowing the appropriate techniques for holding a newborn could help ease your nervousness and make the baby more comfortable while being held. Nonetheless, follow basic hygiene practices, pick a suitable position, be comfortable and confident, and do not forget to offer proper support to the neck and head while holding a baby. Was this article helpful? The following two tabs change content below.
Rohit Garoo did MBA from Osmania University and holds a certificate in Developmental Psychology from The University of Queensland. The zoologist-botanist
turned writer-editor has over 8 years of experience in content writing, content marketing, and copywriting. He has also done an MBA in marketing and human resources and worked in the domains of market research and e-commerce. Rohit writes topics... Dr. Nikolina Zdraveska is a pediatrician, educator and a researcher, working at University Children Hospital in Skopje, Macedonia. She received her medical degree from the Medical Faculty of Skopje in her native Macedonia and completed Residency Training at University Children’s
Hospital in Skopje. She is attending physician at the Department of Neonatology for ten years and is Assistant Professor at... |