Handling Your New Baby
1. Picking Up a Newborn:
To calm and reassure your baby, as well as yourself, make eye contact and talk soothingly to her before you pick her up. If you snatch your baby suddenly, you will startle her lower back and bottom. From the apposite side, slide your other hand under to support her neck and head. Take the weight of her head and body, and gently lift her into a cradling position.
Tips : The need for your support.
Until your baby is about eight weeks old, she cannot control her head or muscle, so you must take the weight of her head and body
2. Putting Your Baby Down Safely
Put your baby down using your whole arm to support her spine, neck, and head. Once the mat is taking her weight, you can slide your nearest hand gently from under her bottom. Use this hand to help lift her head a little so you can slide out the hand still supporting her head, and lower her head down gently on the mat.
Tips : Protect her head from flopping
From a cradling position make sure your have one, with the palm open, taking the weight of her head.
3. Cradling a Baby the Natural Way
From the picking-up position, carefully transfer your baby’s head to the crook of your slightly inclined arm (whichever you are comfortable with) or your shoulder. Your wrist and hand encircle her back while your other arm lends extra support to her bottom and legs. Cradling this way means your baby can look and listen to you.
Tips : Shoulder/bottom hold
Hold her head to your shoulder, with one hand supporting her bottom
Classic Cradle Hold
Rest her head in the crook of your elbow, the other arm support the rest of her.
Baby Face Down
A baby may like being held with her chin and cheek resting on your forearm.
4. Shoulder Hugging
When a baby can support her head she will enjoy this close hug, with her head nestling by your head. Her arms cling on to your clothes or your neck, while you support her bottom and legs with both arms.
Tips : Calming Hug
This is an ideal soothing hold after play, it is also good for burping a baby.
5. Hold From the Hip
By the time she is about three months old your baby can cling onto your while sitting astride your hip. This is a great hold when you are moving around, getting her milk or clothes ready. She feels close and safe, and has a good view.
Tips : Self Supporting
Your baby knees grip your hips while your arm supports her back and bottom. This also gives you the use of a free hand.
10:28 am on February 28th, 2009
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