Tips to Hold a Newborn Baby

Almost everything changes once you become a parent. Your world starts to revolve around your little bundle of joy, and along with all the love and happiness, you also start experiencing the emotion of worry. Worry about their weight gain, worry about what they should be wearing, and even worry about holding your newborn baby, who is so tiny and delicate.

Holding a baby is one of the greatest joys of new parenthood and can elicit much fear. Newborns appear fragile, from their tiny fingers to their teetering heads, and many new parents are concerned that they will harm their newborn babies by holding them in the wrong position. We understand new parents' concerns, but newborns are stronger than many parents realise.

While you must handle a newborn with care - and never shake the baby - you will not injure them during feedings or nappy changes if you use gentle, supportive movements. To learn more about what precautions to take while holding a newborn baby and how to hold a newborn baby to ensure proper posture, here are a few things to remember.

Things to do before holding a newborn baby in your arms

While carrying a baby in your arms might not be difficult, some prerequisites must be considered.

1 ▪ Wash Your Hands – Babies are more susceptible to catching infections than elders. And we can be carriers of those infections. Thus, it is important to properly wash and sanitize your hands before holding a baby. Also, use XtraHydrating baby wipes to keep the baby's surroundings clean. These baby wipes can retain 3.5x more moisture than regular wipes, are 3x thicker than ordinary wipes, and are 100% safe and dermatologically tested for use on your baby's skin while changing cloth diapers.

2 ▪ Make Yourself Comfortable – Before holding a newborn baby, you must be seated comfortably. This will also help you gain some confidence before holding that little bundle of you.

3 ▪ Offer Support - Babies cannot hold their necks for a few weeks. Therefore, newborn baby neck care is critical, especially while the baby is picked up and in their arms or when the father is holding the baby. Thus, you will need to be mindful of offering proper support while keeping them.

Types of Hold

Here is a quick list of how to hold a newborn baby and some safe newborn-holding positions to ensure the proper handling of a newborn baby:-

1 ▪ The Shoulder Hold

A natural way of holding a newborn baby is by putting the baby on the shoulder while sleeping or not wiggling too much. Lean in and gently pick the baby up by placing your palm under their neck and back. Place their head on your shoulder, still keeping the palms under their neck and back for support, and stand upright.

2 ▪ The Cradle Hold

Another most natural and straightforward hold, The Cradle Hold, is when you place the baby's head on your arm and another arm wrapped under them to give them a hug kind of hold using both arms. In this position, the head of the baby is placed securely over the arm.

3 ▪ The Belly Hold

The position of holding the newborn baby is most suitable for babies suffering from colic and gas. Place the baby's belly on your palm to pick the baby up for a while. This position works only if the baby is young and does not wiggle much. Also, if you have short arms, your baby might not be comfortable in this position.

4 ▪ The Lap Hold

For breastfeeding mothers or new moms who are still recovering, this position works the best as you need to be seated to hold the baby in a lap hold. Put the head of the baby on your knee while sitting with your legs folded. The rest of the body comfortably lies on your lap. If your baby is still not holding its neck upright, you can support the neck with your palm.

This position is also very secure if you need to give medication or drops to the baby and need both hands free for a few seconds. This position is also known as football hold, as you are holding the neck of the baby like you would hold a football, and your lap supports the rest of the body.

5 ▪ The Hip Hold

This position works only after the baby has gained neck control. When the baby gains control over their neck, it becomes easier to pick them up and hold them without too much worry about holding the baby. Placing the baby's hips on the arm and carrying them with the arm while placing the palm behind their back is what a hip hold looks like. This imitates a proper chair sitting position for them.

6 ▪ Face to Face Hold

Perfect hold for playful interaction with the child; in this position, your baby is face-to-face with you. Support your baby's neck and back with one hand while placing the palm of the other hand under their bum.

7 ▪ The Chair hold

When babies grow, they become more curious about the world and surroundings. A chair hold allows them to see what's happening around them. Make them sit on one arm in front of your chest, with their back towards you, and wrap the other arm securely around them. Let them enjoy having a look at the world!

While how you hold your baby depends a lot on the situation and the need, what becomes your predominant style of holding them will be decided and dependent on what makes both of you the most comfortable.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Can bring some fear - Holding a baby is one of the most rewarding aspects of new parenthood, but it can also be fear.
2. Gentle Movements - If you use gentle, supportive movements, you will not injure them during feedings or nappy changes.
3. Sanitizer before holding - Properly wash and sanitize your hands before holding a baby.

MESSAGE FROM SUPERBOTTOMS

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