Baby

3 Things You Must Keep In Mind When Holding A Newborn Baby

Editorial Team

Newborns are so fragile, which is why they must be handled with care.

While most mothers often learn how to hold their newborns in the hospital when they are born, others learn how to hold their new babies from their mothers or mother in laws.

To help you out, we have outlined the 3 things you must keep in mind when holding a newborn baby.

No 1: Wash your hands

Newborns haven’t built up an immune system, so they’re defenceless to many diseases. This is why it's important for anyone carrying a new baby to make sure their hands are clean. The most common way of spreading an infectious disease is by touch. This is why you should always wash your hands before picking up a baby.

No 2: Be comfortable

When about to hold a baby, make sure that you are comfortable to provide that same comfort to the child. One of the best ways to this is to be seated in a chair. It is also important that you are also confident before you hold a baby, especially if you don’t have much experience carrying babies.

No 3: Provide sufficient support

Make sure that you always support a baby’s head and the back of his neck before lifting the baby up. When picking up your baby, slide one hand under his head, with your other hand under his bottom. Make sure your baby’s head is resting on your chest. Slide your hand up from his bottom to support his neck. Then gently move your baby’s head to the crook of your elbow, still supporting his neck. Place your other hand under his bottom. Newborns are head-heavy and don’t have much neck strength yet, so use the crook of your elbow to support their head.

You can also rest the baby on your chest and shoulder, supporting his head and neck with your hand. Place your other hand under his bottom. This way baby can hear your heartbeat and see over your shoulder.

You should know that it is very important for you to support the head and neck of a newborn baby. This is because if you allow the head to fall backward for even a relatively short period of time, it cuts of the supply of oxygen through their windpipe so that they can suffocate.

You also want to be sure to never let a child hold a baby unattended.