Holding and Handling Infants

While many parents are reluctant to handle their newborn because they appear so fragile, they are in fact very resilient providing they are handled and supported in the correct manner. The following section will discuss how to properly hold and carry the baby. Once the simple techniques and principles are understood there is no reason to fear holding the baby.

Holding the baby

Carefully holding the baby will not hurt him. As the mother and other caregivers gain more experience and practice holding the baby, the mother will build a greater sense of comfort and ease doing so. The mother will become more confident in her holding abilities as time passes and she will even find herself responding to the baby's moods by holding him in different manners.

During the first several months of life, the baby will likely not have great control of his neck muscles, nor his head. Thus, when lifting the baby, the mother must always ensure that she is carefully supporting his head and neck with one hand, and lifting slowly.

If the baby is lying on his back, the mother should lift him by sliding one hand under his buttocks and lower back and the other under his neck and head from the other side of his body. Always be sure to lift slowly and gently, ensuring that the baby is well supported and his head does not fall backwards. To place the baby into a holding position, the mother must delicately transfer his head to the crook of her elbow and cradle him. Alternatively, the baby's head can be placed on the mother's shoulder and rested there - but should still be held in place with a delicate hand.

Holding the baby

If the baby is lying on his side, the mother should pick him up by sliding one hand under his neck and head, and the other under his bottom. The mother must then slowly and gently scoop the baby into her arms, again making sure that his head is secure.

If the mother is picking the baby up when he is laying on his stomach, she should begin by placing a hand under his chest with her forearm supporting his chin. The mother's other hand is then slid under the baby's hips. As the baby is lifted, the mother must carefully turn the baby towards her body while sliding the arm supporting his head forward until the baby's head is supported in the crook of her arm. The mother's other arm must continue to support the baby's bottom and legs.

If the mother is simply putting the baby down to sleep, she must simply support his head and neck with one hand and his bottom and legs with the other until the baby is on the surface which he is to lay on.

The mother will notice that there are certain positions that the baby does not like, or that there are others that he greatly prefers. Most likely there will be one position in which the baby feels most comfortable and is best used when he needs to be calmed.

Some babies like to be held face down. The mother can hold the baby in this manner by placing one arm between his legs, with her forearm supporting his stomach and torso. The other arm should be placed under his chest, allowing is chin and head to rest on the forearm.

Carrying the baby

As with being held, the baby will likely develop a preference for how he likes to be carried. Some infants will enjoy being carried in a manner that allows them to look forward and view their world. Others will prefer to be held closely and snuggly with their heads on their caregivers shoulders.

Infant carrying devices allow the baby to have direct contact with the mother's body. They are also useful because they allow the mother to have her arms free to do other activities. During the first three months of life, front and back carriers are particularly handy. They allow close contact to be maintained between parent and child, and they also help the baby get accustomed to being held in such positions.

Swaddling

During the first several months of life many infants will have a much easier time falling asleep if they are swaddled - wrapped snugly and securely in a blanket. To swaddle the baby, follow the instructions given below carefully:

1. Lay a baby blanket out flat.

2. Fold down one corner in towards the center of the blanket. Do not fold the corner all the way to the center of the blanket however. Fold the corner ½ to ¾ of the way to the center.

3. Lay the baby on the blanket with his head above the edge made by the fold.

4. Bring one of the corners of the blanket up and over the baby, pulling it taut. After crossing the corner of the blanket across the baby, tuck the end under his bottom.

5. Fold the bottom corner of the blanket up, making sure to leave enough room for the baby to more his legs.

6. Pull up the remaining corner of the blanket, making sure it is taut, bring it across the baby, and tuck it underneath of him. Be sure to have left one of the baby's arms free so that he can such his thumb and does not feel completely confined or immobile.

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