How to hold your new baby

Most of us instinctively want to hold and cuddle our babies, but some new parents are nervous about it, feeling that babies must be very fragile.

Your baby will enjoy being held close to you, but won’t like being moved from one position to another very suddenly, so keep movements smooth and gentle.

• When you pick up your new baby, keep the head and neck supported – babies can’t control the heavy weight of their head on their own yet.
• Keep the head supported while you hold them, too, whether it’s close against you or upright, with their head on your shoulder.
• Hold your baby securely – if you feel confident, they will, too. As they grow, you will find that they becomes stronger and can hold their own head up for short periods of time. At this stage they may be happy being held over your shoulder where they can see the world, but also rest their head if they get tired.
• If your baby likes to be held a lot, find a sling that is comfortable and easy to use. That way, your baby stays close, while your hands are free to get on with other things.

Warning! You must never shake a baby

A newborn baby’s head is quite heavy and the back and neck muscles are not strong enough to hold the head up unaided. Shaking moves the head back and forward very quickly and with great force. This can tear tiny blood vessels in the baby’s brain, possibly leading to fits, brain damage or even death.

Don’t play games of swinging through the air until they are a toddler. Your baby will hate it and it could hurt them very badly.