How to hold your newborn baby
Your baby will thrive on physical contact with you and let's face it, she can't move far on her own steam yet! It's easy to feel nervous about handling your baby at first.
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They're so small and seem so fragile. But she'll feel safer and more relaxed if you hold her with confidence. They're more robust than you imagine -you'll soon get the hang of it!
- Try to move slowly and smoothly when lifting and holding. Remember she's used to the security and comfort of the womb - jerky movements or a lack of support will make her feel nervous.
- Always support her head. She's not yet strong enough to do this for herself, and it will wobble uncomfortably without a helping hand from you. If you're picking her up from the security of a cot or basket, slide one hand under her bottom and one under her head, with your forearm giving extra support to her spine, before lifting her slowly and carefully towards you. It's a good idea to talk to her before you lift, so she doesn't feel panic-stricken when plucked suddenly from her comfy, stable position on the mattress.
- Another way to lift her from a lying-down position is by putting a hand under each of her arms. You can then support her neck and head with your fingers before bringing your arm and elbow round to hold her in the normal way.
- Reverse these actions when putting her down!
- The traditional way to hold a newborn is cradled in the crook of your elbow, close to your body, head supported by your upper arm. When they're tiny you can do this with just one hand, or you can use the other for extra security.
- You can also hold her upright against your chest, one hand on her bottom, one giving her head support. Lots of babies seem to prefer being held this way - especially once they're a bit older and are strong enough to hold their own heads up, giving themselves a lovely view of the world from the safety of your shoulder.
- Hold and cuddle your baby as much as you want to, or she needs you to. It's a myth that this will 'spoil' your baby. She'll soon grow more independent...and once she's toddling, you might be hard pushed to get a hug from her at all!
- Some babies are particularly keen on physical contact and protest loudly when not being held. If your baby is this way inclined, a sling is a good way to giving her the cuddle she needs, leaving your hands free to get on with other stuff.
Learn more about what to expect from your newborn baby here.
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