How to Hold a Newborn Baby

Holding Your Newborn Baby

If you are a first time parent learning the basics about your newborn baby can be quite challenging. Things likes holding the newborn baby, changing a diaper and daily care can seem overwhelming. These same goes for someone taking care of a newborn for the first time. One of the many things people worry about is holding the newborn baby correctly.

Remember to Relax when holding your newborn baby

Babies can sense when you are upset or nervous and that in turn can make them upset. If you pick them up and are of unsure of yourself the baby make cry and arch its back making doling him difficult to do. Babies also can get frightened if they are picked up suddenly or they think they are falling. You can help with this by speaking softly to the newborn baby while picking him, get a firm grip on the baby and quickly make him secure.

Holding Your Newborn Baby Securely

Once you have picked up the newborn gently cradle its head. Baby newborns cannot support there own head. You can do this by placing your hand under the baby's head or cradling the baby with it's head in the crook of your arm with your arm supporting the body. You can also lay the baby against your chest with one hand on his back and the other on the back of the head.

Learn What Your newborn Baby Likes

Babies, even newborns, are like adults. Newborn babies have their likes and dislikes. This is true when being held in your arms as well. Some babies like to lay curled up against your chest with their head on your shoulder. Others like to lay in someone's arm in the typical manner we think of when holding a baby while others are not content unless they are being held with their back against your chest so they can face out and see what is going on.

Enjoy Your Baby

Learning what works for you and your newborn baby takes time. Feeling confident when holding your baby will come if you relax. While you do need to protect and watch out for your baby they are not quite as fragile as you might think. And remember, this is all new to your baby as well. Practice makes perfect here, just like anything else you do, but practicing holding your baby is much more pleasant than many other tasks you have to do over and over!