Top tips to hold newborn baby
Early days with your newborn are not only exciting but also overwhelming. Especially for new moms who worry about how to hold newborn baby. Mums should be encouraged to have a skin to skin contact with baby as soon as it is possible to do so. Parents go that extra mile to see that they are taking all the measures to take care and hold newborn baby in the most appropriate manner. Who would not want to know the right way to hold newborn baby?
So lets get started with the different methods to Hold Newborn Baby
Firstly wash or sanitize your hands before you hold your baby as your baby’s immune system has not yet developed.
While picking up a baby, place one hand under their head and the other under their bottom to raise them up to your chest level. Always ensure to provide support to the baby’s head while you are picking up or holding him or her.You need to hold your baby in a cradle form giving full support to neck & head. Baby’s neck muscles are not yet developed & hence cant hold up the neck. At the same time baby’s head is heavier than other parts of the body. So it is very important that you hold baby’s neck & give support to the head too. Your other hand should be supporting your baby’s bottom.
Table of Contents
1. Cradle hold
You can hold your baby in a cradle position by keeping your baby horizontal at your chest level and sliding your hand from their bottom up to support their neck. Gently nudge baby’s head into the crook of your elbow. While still cradling their head, move your hand from the supporting arm to their bottom.
2. Shoulder Hold
This hold allows your baby to listen to your soothing heartbeats. Lift your baby to your shoulder height with the baby’s body in a parallel position to you and allow your baby to rest his or her head on your shoulder. Support your baby’s head and neck with one hand and bottom with the other.or against your shoulder. Whichever position you choose also support neck & head with one hand & bottom with another hand.
3. Belly Hold
This one is best to calm down a fussy little baby. Lay your baby, stomach down, across your forearm with the head up toward your elbow. Make sure that the baby’s head is turned outward, resting near the crook of your arm. Their feet should land on either side of your hand, angled closer to the ground so the baby is at a slight angle. This position is helpful if baby is gassy and needs to be burped. Gently rub baby’s back to work out the gas.
4. Face to face hold
This position is perfect for interacting & bonding with your baby. In this position let the baby face you. Support your baby’s head & neck by one hand & bottom with the other hand.
5. Hello world hold
This position can be used when you have a very excited & active baby who wants to make contact with the world. In this position you hold the baby’s back to your chest & let the baby face the world. That way your baby’s head is supported. You keep your arm across his chest & the other hand on the bottom for support.
6. Football or a Clutch Hold
To achieve the football or a clutch hold, place a pillow next to you. You support your baby’s head in your hand using your palm and support his back along your arm beside you and nestle your baby’s side closely against your side. Your baby’s feet and legs should be tucked under your arm. This is a very convenient breastfeeding position for a mom who has undergone C-Section or Caesarean operation during childbirth.
Tip for Pillow
I used a Widgey Pillow for breastfeeding both my kids. You can get yours here :
Widgey 5-in-1 Feeding Pillow | Widgey Pillows
7. Lap Hold
In this position one has to keep their feet firm on the ground & place baby on the knee facing upwards. Use your hands under the baby’s head & neck for support and arms under your baby’s back for supporting baby’s body.
Hope these methods of holding your new born baby would have helped you decide which position is good for you. To be very frank, no one position is the best for your baby as your baby may have different mood swings to be held in different position at different times. You should also be ready to accept that challenge & hold your baby in a manner in which you can keep your baby happy.
Enjoy holding your precious world in your arms
Friends, if you find the above information useful, do share with your friends & family who might benefit from this information.
Also let me know about your experiences & what do you feel about my blog by commenting in the comments section. If you want to email me your feedback or want to just drop me a hello & a message feel free to email me at admin@momkidlife.com
All your comments, suggestions & messages are welcome ????????
Good to know! I don’t have kids (and not planning to have any), and I always find it awkward holding babies.
Well at least you now know how to hold babies ????
Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it.
Good list! It’s great that you included pictures to show how to do each one properly. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your lovely words.
We actually had this in our obgyne class and it’s wonderful that you have shared this. It’s important that mommies should know the proper handling of babies 🙂
Thank you so much for your feedback. Really appreciate it ????
This is such a great post, and it can be so nerve-wracking when you hold a friend’s baby 🙂 thank you for sharing, I’ll keep this in mind x
Yes True. Babies are so delicate that it can really even be scary sometimes to hold a baby. I am glad you liked the tips.
Great tips! I don’t have any children (or plan on it any time soon) but I never really knew how to safely hold babies, so this will be super helpful! Thanks for sharing x
That’s fantastic. The whole idea is to help people learn to hold babies in a safe manner. I am glad you found these parenting tips helpful.
This is so sweet. It’s been a long time since I held a baby. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome. Thanks for your feedback.
I’m not a mom but I did babysit my little nephew and little brother before haha. It is overwhelming.
That’s fantastic Fransic. Thank you for reading & posting your feedback.
Shoulder hold was always one of my kids favourite positions, but yep we worked our way through all of these and it’s definitely good to have more options in your repetoire than just the standard cradle hold!
I also preferred the shoulder hold. Thanks for your feedback.
My favorite is the shoulder hold, but all are great for different reasons. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I am glad you liked the post. Thanks for your feedback.
Seeing this post and the images of all of these holds just reminds me of when my little one was brand new. Oh how I miss those days. I held a lot of babies before I had my own, so it felt natural to me. I think something like this would have helped dad though, because in general men are a little more wary about handling babies.
~Cassie | letsgrowmom.com
You are so correct in mentioning that these kinds of posts also help dads to understand how to hold their newborns. Thank you so much for your feedback.
This was very informative! I love the picture examples that you gave. I’m having a baby soon and I didn’t breast feed the first time. The football hold is something I need to get more comfortable with. Thanks for the information!
Congratulations. Thank you so much for your feedback
Really helpful – thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sarah
This post will be helpful especially for people who are expecting and have no experience in holding a baby. I have younger siblings as well as a nephew and niece so I am experience holding babies. I can’t wait to hold my own baby hopefully one day. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl