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Holding a baby for the first time is a memorable moment. Every parent, relative, sibling, and friend look forward to the opportunity to take the baby in their arms. But unfortunately, sometimes, they don’t know how to hold the baby properly. As a baby’s body is fragile, improper holding or grabbing can cause minor injuries or even make it fall from the hands.
However, with proper practice, holding a baby becomes easier with time. One can quickly avoid body structure complications with good support for each body part. But do you know that holding a baby keeping those standard methods in mind can still not be enough support for a baby’s body?
In this post, we will discuss some typical and traditional ways of holding a baby that is not that safe at all. So, let’s begin.
1. Holding The Baby Facing Away
A baby wants to feel their parent’s skin all the time to feel secure and loved. But when you have them facing away from you, the baby not only gets into an awkward position but there’s little support for their head and back. With hanging legs and hands, you might be able to pull off the lion king’s epic Simba moment, but this will only make your baby struggle to find balance and comfort. So, it’s always wiser to hold your baby facing you by giving them full support with your hands.
2. Holding Them Without Supporting Their Back
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Many parents lift their babies by grabbing their heads and hips in the air without thinking about their fragile backs. Unfortunately, this position can cause the baby’s spine to get under pressure over time. Also, sometimes holding your baby just by their buttocks can increase the chances of them getting hurt from falling. So always remember to support their back for better body structure development.
3. Placing Your Hands On Their Chest
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Firstly, the baby won’t get proper support for its neck and back in this position. It will also cause breathing problems as your hands pressure the chest. Soon, you’ll see your baby struggle for support and might twist its body, which can lead to sudden falls. So instead, place a hand below their back and the other behind their neck to give it proper support.
4. Using The Baby Carrier Correctly
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With time, there have been incredible advancements in the baby care industry. One such tool to keep a baby in place is a baby carrier. Having the ease of moving freely and comfortably with a baby carrier is a boon to young parents. But if your baby is not settled in properly inside a baby carrier, it can cause many internal injuries, even chronic ones. Also, keep your baby’s legs supported by the carrier; otherwise, they’ll keep dangling. And this position might injure the baby’s hip joints and cause dislocation.
5. Pulling Their Hand
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How often have you seen people forcefully pull their kid’s hand? Yes, it’s a standard method of making the kid understand public discipline, but this behavior can cause other medical problems. Yes, pulling the hands of a kid under 5 years old can dislocate their elbow joint. Instead, you should use different parental ways to discipline your child rather than applying pressure on their fragile bones.
6. Holding Them In The Same Position
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You should never keep your child in the same position for long periods and should focus on shifting the sides. Doing this will help them regain control of their muscles and result in proper and balanced body growth. In addition, changing sides will make your child grow muscles on both sides and won’t lead to issues like neck strain.
7. Placing Them Against Your Chest
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Babies should be placed above the shoulder, aside from breastfeeding, rather than in a chest-to-chest position. If the baby is held against the shoulder, it will result in breathing problems. But, if it’s placed above the shoulder, it will give them a more comfortable position to put their head in and help them in burping. Also, you’d be able to easily provide them with better neck and back support with your hands.
8. Holding In An Unaligned Body Position
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Awkward baby positions can occur when you try hard to get hold of your baby in an uncomfortable situation. It’s essential to ensure your baby’s body parts are correctly aligned. Otherwise, it can cause unwanted strain on your spine and neck. Avoid swinging your baby at all costs.
You should always carry your baby with the right amount of support. Holding them just by their limbs or without giving them neck support can lead to severe injuries. Hopefully, these common ways of carrying the baby made you clear about the risks it brings with them. But with time and pleasing experience, you could hold your baby easily out of any position. So, in the comment section below, let us know your safest and most innovative way of handling a newborn.
