As a new parent it’s difficult for you to realize that
this little, defenseless and the most adorable being is
not only very sensitive but also is most perceptive.

You may feel that holding the baby is a challenge – but it
is not.

As a first time parent you need to know, to learn how to
pick the baby up so it would feel secure in your arms. If
you are nervous or upset for whatever reason and then are
not sure how to pick-up the baby from the crib, you are
going to have the unhappiest little wiggly being in your
arms.

Before you pick the baby up you would have to speak softly
to the child, to let the newborn know you are close by.

Then pick the baby up with a firm grip and make the child
feel secure by gently pressing the little bundle against
your body, which also would give the baby the feeling of
comfort.

When you are picking the newborn up you are positioning
one of your hands under his neck, cradling the head and
placing it in the crook of your arm supporting the body
with your arm.

You can also place the baby against your chest, facing
you, always keeping one hand on the back of baby’s head
and the other hand against the child’s body.

While babies look fragile, in reality they are not, but
the neck is very vulnerable place to get injured – so, at
all times for the first few weeks place one of your hands
under the baby’s head when picking the newborn up or
pacing it down.

If you are tense or upset and don’t calm down your voice
and yourself before you are picking the newborn up, the
child will sense this and the child will arch its back and
would not want to be hold by you at this moment.

Learn Your Child’s Likes and Dislikes

There are different ways to hold your newborn. The most
traditional way is the one described above. The other way
is holding it against your chest with baby’s head against
your shoulder (watch the head! Hold your hand against the
neck!)

Another way, the most entertaining way for the child, is
holding the baby with its back against your body so the
child’s face is not obstructed and he/she can see the
surroundings, see what is going on.

Should you hold the baby for a while it’s a good idea to
change holding positions so that the baby does not get
bored or part of the tender body may get numb and
therefore sore.

You need to hold, touch and talk to the newborn often for
not only to form a bond between the two of you but to make
the baby feel safe and secure, leading to the child’s
physical and emotional security, which is very important
for good health and happiness of your baby not only for
the immediate future, but for the rest of child’s life.

Touching and talking

This is your first baby – everything about the child is
new to you and so is the world to your child. So, you both
are discovering each other, learning to be with each other
and enjoying each other.

Keep your mind on your baby and hold him/her close to your
body when you are holding your newborn; make the child
feel comfortable safe and secure, cuddle the baby, make
the child feel loved, wanted and secure  – those are the
prime requirements from you at this time while you both
are getting to know one-an-other as well as learning to
enjoy each other.

I noticed lately that there are a few “holding devises” on
the market, but I am not familiar with them.  They give me
the impression that they may be comfortable for the older
children but not for the newborn. But as I said before, I
am not familiar with them.

It does not take long for a grown up person to suffocate
without air – you can imagine how fragile a newborn child
is and how quickly an accident can happen. It’s always
better to be sure and familiar with the devise how to
handle before involving the newborn.

Good Luck and God Bless.
Olga O’Mara

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