Most new parents are very worried during their first attempts to take the baby in their arms. It seems to them that the slightest wrong move can harm the child. Since panic in this situation is not the best helper, we recommend using the tips that we have prepared in the article on how to properly take a newborn and hold him in different situations.
How to pick up a newborn
The first and most important step is to learn how to lift the baby from the surface. It is best to take your baby from the bed or changing table when he is lying on his back. A safe and easy way is to put one or both hands under the head, neck, spine and buttocks of the newborn and begin to gradually raise it. Thus, it is also good to transfer the baby from one position to another. Remember that this should be done smoothly, without sudden movements.
You should also carefully put the child back. Mom or dad should tilt the body above the surface, lower the baby gradually and remove their hands from under the body only when the newborn’s body is on a table or bed. It is always very important to support the baby’s head when lifting, because in the first months the muscular system of the newborn is not yet fully formed and is very fragile.
How to hold a newborn
There are several positions for holding a baby.
- Cradle.
In this position, with one hand, an adult supports the baby by the ass and back, the head is placed on the elbow of the opposite arm. Both newborns and older children are usually kept in this way. You can hold the “cradle” both sitting and standing. In this position, it is convenient to lull the baby, feed or just walk around the house or street.
You should constantly alternate hands and carry the child for a certain time on the right, and then on the left hand. Placing a newborn in one position for a long time can adversely affect the formation of the spine. - Column.
This position is universal, so many moms and dads have a question about how to properly hold a child in a column.
To take the correct posture, with one hand you need to hold the baby’s head and attach it to you so that his chin touches your shoulder. The second hand should be along the spine. If you want to turn the baby to face away from you, then place his head on your shoulder, and hold his chest and tummy with your hands.
You need to hold the baby in a column so that his body hangs slightly on the arm of mom or dad. Parents often make the mistake of putting their child in their arms. The spine of a newborn baby is very weak and not ready for stress, so it is worth holding the child so that there is no pressure on his back. - Face to face.
This position is considered one of the most comfortable and loved by both adults and children in the first months after birth. Mom or dad holds the head, neck and back of the baby with one hand, and holds the ass with the other hand. The face-to-face position helps to establish contact between the baby and parents, because in this position the baby can better see the face of the one who holds it. - On your knees.
This position is similar to the previous one, except that the child’s body is now not on the adult’s hand, but on his knees. The hand holds only the head and neck. For greater comfort, the knees can be slightly raised up. The most important thing is that you sit comfortably and steadily, and the baby does not feel discomfort. - On the stomach.
The child is placed belly down on a half-bent arm so that the child’s chin is at the level of the adult’s elbow. At this time, the tummy or back is held with the other hand. In this position, you can carry the baby, starting from birth and especially during the period of colic or excessive gas formation. - On the hip.
This position is suitable for children from 6 months after birth. At this age, they will already be able to hold their back and sit on their own.
To fix the baby in this position, you need to hold his back and buttocks with one hand, push his legs apart and put him on his thigh. The convenience of this position lies in the fact that the second hand can hardly be used. So mom or dad can be close to their child, while doing small household chores. However, you should not neglect safety and from time to time hold the baby’s back with both hands, especially at times when you need to “correct” the placement of the child’s body on your hip.
How to hold a baby while washing
During hygiene procedures, girls are held with their stomachs up, and boys with their stomachs down. But experts note that boys can be washed, while holding them on either side.
It is very important to consider the age of the child. If this is a newborn who does not yet know how to hold his head, then when washing, he must be kept face up, while placing the body horizontally on the forearm, and the head just above the bend of the arm. With a free hand, you can easily carry out water procedures. Or ask someone else for help.
When the baby grows up and at the age of six – seven months months he will sit confidently on his own, then you can try to take a bath in the following position: turn the child back to you, press it to your chest and stomach, throw the legs in the knee bend through your arm.
