Now that your journey of carrying your baby has come to an end and you have introduced him or her to the outer world, another one begins — and you're sure to have lots of questions about it. You’re going to need to usher your baby through the various facets of this new world.
In these first months before your baby can get around on his or her own two feet, you'll need to provide some assistance. Naturally, this involves picking up and holding the baby.
Some parents might be tempted to hold the baby by the forearms or wrist and lift. This is not recommended and can be dangerous, as it can cause a condition known as nursemaid’s elbow, or subluxation of the radial head. It happens when baby’s ligaments get loose, slip, and then get trapped between the joints. This is the second most common serious elbow injury in children after supracondylar fractures. It's most common in children between 2-5 years of age and comes with lateral elbow pain, a well as pain and tenderness in that area.
In other instances, lifting your baby by the arms might cause his or her head to loll forward or backward, owing to the momentum of the force with which you lifted. This can also be dangerous, since the neck muscles and ligaments aren’t strong enough to adequately support the weight of the head at this early age.
So, what's the right way to lift? You should ensure that you support the head whenever you lift your baby, until he or she is able to support the weight independently. To lift your baby up when he or she is lying down, place one hand under the head and the other under the bum, and then lift up towards your chest.
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It's not uncommon for parents of newborns to be emotional and always want to hold the baby. In the previous section, we explained how to lift a baby. Here are some steps you should follow to ensure that you hold him or her properly.
Wash your hands before you hold your baby. The same applies to your partner, family, and friends who want to help you out with carrying the baby.
Though it might seem rude to demand that everyone wash their hands, it’s a necessary first step. Your little one’s immune system is still weak and developing. If he or she comes into contact with germs, the body may have a hard time fighting off the infection.
If having people wash their hands with soap seems a bit too much every time, it's a good idea to have hand sanitizer nearby so they can quickly disinfect before they pick up the baby.
When it comes to holding your newborn, you might feel anxious because of his or her size and fragility. This anxiety can affect the way you pick up and hold the baby, making it awkward and uncomfortable — and when this happens, you are more likely to drop him or her. You need to get comfortable with the idea of picking up and holding onto a new baby. Once you get comfortable, holding him or her will come naturally.
Earlier, we talked about the inability of your newborn baby to support the weight of his or her own head. This is because the head makes up about a third of the body weight and the neck muscles aren’t developed enough to support and control that.
You should, therefore, always provide support for the baby’s head so that it doesn’t loll off in a dangerous position. It's also important to note of the position of the fontanelle, a soft spot at the top of the baby’s head. Protect it from bumping into hard and solid objects.
The position you choose to hold your baby in will likely depend on what's comfortable and what you want to do while holding him or her. Common positions include:
If you’re going to walk around the house or even outdoors with the baby, the shoulder hold is usually best. In this position, you hold the baby against you with his or her head on your shoulder and your hand supporting the neck and head.
The cradle hold is an ideal position for breastfeeding. Place the baby face up, with the head resting in the crook of the arm along which the baby is lying. The other arm can then offer extra support or position the breast.
The belly hold is like the reverse of the cradle. Here, the baby lies on your arm at a slight upward angle facing the ground. This position is useful if you’re trying to burp a gassy baby.
The lap hold is for downtime when you want to look at your baby. Sit upright in a chair and place the baby on your lap, his or her head towards your knees and facing up. Baby should lie on your arms, with your hands supporting the head and neck.
Of course, there comes a time when you need to put down your baby so that you can do other tasks or perhaps lay down for a nap. Keep in mind the same guidelines that you had when lifting him or her up:
When you’re picking up your little one, there are some key tips you need to follow to ensure that the baby is safe:
The new addition to your family might seem very fragile, but rest assured: she’s hardy enough for you to pick up and hold. Do so the right way and everything will be fine!
