8 Safe And Gentle Positions To Hold A Baby

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R e m e m b e r the f i r s t time y o u held y o u r baby. T h e moment t h e nurse p a s s e d your n e w b o r n into y o u r arms, y o u r hands m u s t have s h i v e r e d , your h e a r t must h a v e missed a beat, a n d a t e a r must h a v e rolled d o w n your e y e s . That’s t h e magic o f holding y o u r baby.

H o w e v e r , holding a newborn i s not e a s y . It i s natural t o feel n e r v o u s , and t h e r e is a constant f e a r that t h e little o n e might j u s t slip f r o m your h o l d . While t h e apprehensions a r e understandable, y o u can w o r k on m a k i n g your h o l d safe a n d comfortable f o r your b a b y .

M o m J u n c t i o n helps y o u in t h i s as w e tell y o u about t h e different p o s i t i o n s in w h i c h you c a n hold y o u r baby.

B u t before t h a t , you s h o u l d prepare y o u r s e l f for t h e task.

P r e p Up T o Hold Y o u r Newborn:

C l e a n hands: Wash y o u r hands b e f o r e you t a k e the b a b y . Her i m m u n e system i s still d e v e l o p i n g , and y o u r unclean h a n d s can p a s s on t h e infections t o her. U s e mild s o a p and w a r m water t o rinse y o u r hands. A l s o , keep a sanitizer h a n d y so t h a t the g u e s t s who c o m e to v i s i t the b a b y will u s e it.
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M a k e yourself c o m f o r t a b l e : It i s not j u s t the p h y s i c a l comfort b u t also t h e confidence a b o u t your h o l d . You m a y feel s c a r e d at f i r s t , but w i t h time y o u will a d j u s t .

O f f e r support: Newborns h a v e little n e c k muscle c o n t r o l . Therefore, y o u need t o support h e r head a n d neck. A l s o , make s u r e not t o press t h e soft s p o t s on t h e head ( f o n t a n e l l e s ) . The s u p p o r t is c r i t i c a l until y o u r baby r e a c h e s three m o n t h s when s h e develops a good c o n t r o l over t h e head a n d neck m u s c l e s .

H o w To P i c k Up A Baby?

T o hold a baby, y o u should p i c k her u p first. P l a c e one h a n d under t h e head a n d another b e n e a t h the b o t t o m . Now r a i s e the b o d y to y o u r chest r e g i o n . You c a n hold t h e baby i n this p o s i t i o n as l o n g as y o u are c o m f o r t a b l e holding t h e baby’s n e c k and h e a d .

A l s o , your b a b y likes t o be h e l d in s o m e positions w h i l e she i s uncomfortable i n some o t h e r s .

C h o o s i n g Baby H o l d i n g Positions:

Y o u can e v e n try o u t different p o s i t i o n s to u n d e r s t a n d what s u i t s her t h e best.

1 . Shoulder h o l d :

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T h i s is o n e of t h e most n a t u r a l holds f o r your n e w b o r n . Here i s how y o u should d o it:

W i t h the b a b y ’ s body p a r a l l e l to y o u r s , lift h e r to y o u r shoulder h e i g h t .

R e s t her h e a d on y o u r shoulder s o that s h e can l o o k behind y o u .

S u p p o r t her h e a d and n e c k with o n e hand, a n d the b o t t o m with a n o t h e r hand.

T h i s position a l l o w s your b a b y to h e a r your h e a r t b e a t .

2 . Cradle h o l d :

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C r a d l i n g is q u i t e simple a n d natural. H e r e is h o w you c a n cradle y o u r newborn t o sleep:

W i t h your b a b y parallel t o your c h e s t level, s l i d e your h a n d from h e r bottom u p to s u p p o r t the h e a d and n e c k .

G e n t l y place y o u r baby’s h e a d into t h e crook o f your e l b o w .

N o w move y o u r hand f r o m the n e c k to t h e bottom a n d hips.

B r i n g your b a b y close t o you, a n d you c a n quickly b r i n g her t o sleep.

3 . Belly h o l d :

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Y o u r baby w i l l surely e n j o y this b a b y hold. H e r e is h o w to h a n d l e the n e w b o r n :

L a y your b a b y with s t o m a c h facing d o w n on o n e of y o u r forearms w i t h head u p over t h e elbow.

L e t her f e e t land o n either s i d e of y o u r hand, a t an a n g l e closer t o the g r o u n d level.

L a y your o t h e r hand a c r o s s the b a b y ’ s back t o make h e r feel s e c u r e .

T h i s position c a n be h e l p f u l while b u r p i n g your b a b y . Gently s t r o k e her b a c k to r e l e a s e the g a s .

4 . Hip h o l d :

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Y o u can h o l d your b a b y ’ s hips o n c e she g a i n s complete c o n t r o l over h e r head a n d neck. S o , try t h i s position w h e n your b a b y crosses t h r e e months. H e r e is h o w you c a n do t h i s :

F a c e your b a b y outward a n d make h e r sit o n your h i p bones.

Y o u should w r a p your a r m around h e r waist.

Y o u r baby w i l l be a b l e to l o o k at t h i n g s around h e r comfortably.

5 . Face-to-face h o l d :

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T h i s hold w i l l let y o u interact w i t h your b a b y . Here i s how y o u can t r y the h o l d perfectly:

S u p p o r t your b a b y ’ s head a n d neck w i t h one h a n d .

O f f e r support t o her b o t t o m with a n o t h e r hand.

N o w hold t h e baby j u s t below t h e chest f a c i n g you.

E n j o y making h e r smile a n d have f u n interacting w i t h her.

6 . “Hello W o r l d ” hold/ C h a i r hold:

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G o t a c u r i o u s baby? T h e n this i s an e x c e l l e n t hold t h a t makes h e r see w h a t is g o i n g around. H e r e , she w i l l sit o n your h a n d as i f she i s sitting o n a c h a i r .

L e t your b a b y lean b a c k and r e s t on y o u r chest s o that h e r head h a s proper s u p p o r t .

P l a c e one h a n d across h e r chest t o prevent h e r from l e a n i n g on t h e sides.

P l a c e your o t h e r hand u n d e r her b o t t o m .

I f you w a n t to t r y the s a m e hold w h i l e sitting, t h e r e is n o need t o support h e r bottom. T h i s position i s not r e c o m m e n d e d for b a b i e s below t h r e e months.

7 . Football h o l d :

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T h i s hold s u i t s for f e e d i n g your b a b y , and y o u can u s e it w h i l e standing o r sitting. H e r e is h o w you s h o u l d do i t :

S u p p o r t your b a b y ’ s neck a n d head w i t h your h a n d , and t h e rest o f her b a c k with y o u r same f o r e a r m .

A d j u s t the b a b y ’ s head a n d neck w i t h the o t h e r hand.

M a k e the b a b y curl t o w a r d s your b o d y side, w i t h her l e g s extended b e h i n d .

D r a w your l i t t l e one c l o s e r to y o u r chest.

U s e the o t h e r free h a n d for o f f e r i n g extra s u p p o r t to t h e head o r feed t h e baby.

8 . Lap h o l d :

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T h i s is a n o t h e r hold y o u can u s e while b o t t l e feeding t h e baby, a n d can b e used w h i l e in a sitting p o s i t i o n .

P l a c e your f e e t firmly o n the g r o u n d level w h e n sitting, a n d take y o u r baby o n t o your l a p .

T h e baby’s h e a d should b e near y o u r knees w i t h face u p w a r d s .

P l a c e both o f your h a n d s beneath t h e head f o r support, a n d your f o r e a r m s all a l o n g the b o d y .

L e t her f e e t tuck i n at y o u r waist r e g i o n .

H o w To H o l d A B a b y After F e e d i n g ?

W h e n feeding t h e baby, k e e p her h e a d raised f r o m the l a p or a crib ( b e it a football h o l d or a lap h o l d as m e n t i o n e d above). A f t e r the f e e d i n g , keep h e r upright a n d pat h e r until s h e burps. D o not i n d u l g e in a c t i v i t i e s such a s jiggling, p l a y i n g or b o u n c i n g with y o u r little o n e right a f t e r the f e e d . It m a y lead t o spitting u p .

T i p s To H o l d A B a b y Right:

P a y attention t o your l i t t l e one’s m o o d while h o l d i n g her. I f she i s crying o r is f u s s y and i r r i t a t e d , change h e r position t o make h e r comfortable. T h e s e tips w i l l help y o u avoid d i s c o m f o r t for t h e baby:

T h e baby’s h e a d should a l w a y s be f r e e so t h a t she c a n turn a r o u n d to b r e a t h e .

M a k e sure y o u are a t skin-to-skin c o n t a c t when y o u hold t h e baby. I t is a n excellent w a y to k e e p her w a r m and i m p r o v e s bonding.

I f you a r e nervous h o l d i n g the b a b y , you c a n choose a sitting p o s i t i o n . This p o s i t i o n also s u i t s you i f you d o not h a v e enough s t r e n g t h to c a r r y the b a b y ’ s weight.

D o not h o l d the b a b y while c o o k i n g or c a r r y i n g something h o t . Also s t a y off f r o m knives, h e a t , and f l a m e s as t h e y could l e a d to a n accident.

I f you a r e holding t h e baby f o r longer p e r i o d s , try t a k i n g the h e l p of a n infant s u p p o r t pillow. I t also h e l p s during b r e a s t f e e d i n g .

D o not s h o w your n e g a t i v e emotions, s u c h as f r u s t r a t i o n , when y o u are h o l d i n g the b a b y , as y o u might s h a k e her. I t can h a v e serious r e p e r c u s s i o n s .

I f you w a n t to w a k e her u p , touch h e r cheeks o r tickle h e r feet g e n t l y .

U s e both t h e hands t o hold t h e baby w h i l e you a r e climbing a n d getting o f f the s t a i r s for e x t r a safety.

K e e p these t i p s in m i n d , and y o u will h o l d the b a b y without a n y worry. I t may b e frightening a t first, b u t with p r a c t i c e , you w i l l master i t .

H o w To H o l d A B a b y To S t o p Crying?

T h e r e is a technique k n o w n as “ T h e Hold”, d e m o n s t r a t e d by D r . Robert H a m i l t o n , a p r a c t i t i o n e r at P a c i f i c Ocean P e d i a t r i c s in C a l i f o r n i a . He s h o w e d a l i v e demo o f the h o l d that c o n s i s t s of f o u r steps.

P i c k up t h e crying b a b y and f o l d her a r m s gently a c r o s s her c h e s t .

S e c u r e the a r m s by h o l d i n g them w i t h your h a n d . This h a n d will a l s o support h e r chin.

N o w support t h e baby’s b o t t o m with y o u r other h a n d . Use t h e fleshy p a r t of y o u r hand b u t not t h e fingers f o r a c o m f o r t a b l e hold.

K e e p the b a b y at a 45-degree a n g l e and m o v e her g e n t l y . You c a n slightly s w i n g her u p and d o w n but a v o i d jerky m o v e m e n t s .

T h i s technique i s suitable f o r babies b e l o w three m o n t h s . After t h a t , they a r e heavy t o hold i n this p o s i t i o n . Here i s the v i d e o to d e m o n s t r a t e the p o s i t i o n , which m a k e s the b a b i e s stop c r y i n g in s e c o n d s .

H o w To H o l d A B a b y During S h o w e r ?

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B a t h times a r e fun t i m e s for b a b i e s . Here i s how t o hold a baby w h i l e bathing, t o prevent a c c i d e n t s like d r o w n i n g or s w a l l o w i n g of w a t e r .

W h i l e you l o w e r your b a b y into t h e bathtub, h o l d her w i t h one h a n d beneath h e r bottom.

U s e the o t h e r hand t o support h e r back a n d shoulders.

O n c e she i s settled i n the b a t h , you c a n use t h e hand w h i c h was s u p p o r t i n g her b o t t o m to w a s h her b o d y .

W i t h the o t h e r hand h o l d her f i r m and k e e p her h e a d above t h e water l e v e l .

Y o u can u s e a b a t h support t o free y o u r hands. A bath c r a d l e also p r o v i d e s support w h i l e bathing a baby. I f the c h i l d is o l d enough t o sit, y o u can t r y a b a t h seat.

H o l d i n g a b a b y in y o u r hands h e l p s you b o n d with h e r . It g i v e s you p l e a s u r e that c a n ’ t be e x p l a i n e d in w o r d s . However, t o enjoy t h i s pleasure, y o u need t o know t h e techniques o f holding t h e baby. H o p e our a r t i c l e has h e l p e d you g e t those t e c h n i q u e s . Try e a c h of t h e s e positions a n d see w h i c h one s u i t s you a n d your b a b y the b e s t .

L e t us k n o w your b a b y ’ s favorite p o s i t i o n , by c o m m e n t i n g below.

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” I believe w o r d s have p o w e r . They a r e a p o w e r f u l tool f o r a c r e a t i v e soul. B e i n g a ‘ w o r d addict’, I express m y thoughts a n d contribute a r t i c l e s on h e a l t h , wellness a n d beauty. A p a r t from w r i t i n g , I l o v e listening t o gospel m u s i c and e n j o y observing n a t u r e in s i l e n c e . “

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