Don't pick up a baby under their arms. It makes a baby's arms unavailable for self-comfort or support, and it can interfere with their breathing because their ribs are held.
Don't lift your newborn by or under their arms
Your baby's head and neck muscles are very weak for the first few months. If you pick them up by or under their arms, you risk injuring their arms or shoulders. Worse, their head will dangle and could flop around, potentially causing a brain injury.
Once they're able to hold up their head and sit with support or on their own (anywhere between 4 and 7 months), you can start picking them up by tucking your hands under their arms and lifting. Be careful when you're picking up and putting down your baby to avoid accidentally hurting them.
Lifting or grabbing a young child by the arms can result in a common injury called nursemaid's elbow, or pulled elbow, that causes elbow pain.
As the child gets older, the ligaments start to tighten and this type of injury rarely occurs after the age of 5 years. Here are some guidelines for parents and care givers on how to prevent a pulled elbow: Never pick a child up by pulling on one arm or wrist.
Reaching out to pick them up can strain your back. Never lift a child from their armpits, which can be painful for them and you. Avoid lifting up a child by their forearms or hands, as this can cause an injury known as “nursemaid's elbow.”
Always support your baby's head and neck. To pick up your baby, slide one hand under their head and neck and the other hand under their bottom. Bend your knees to protect your back. Once you've got a good hold, scoop up your baby and bring them close to your chest as you straighten your legs again.
Contrary to popular myth, it's impossible for parents to hold or respond to a baby too much, child development experts say. Infants need constant attention to give them the foundation to grow emotionally, physically and intellectually.
The shoulder hold is another natural hold for a baby. Lean your baby up on a shoulder and with the arm of the same side, wrap it around his bottom. Use the other arm to hold against his back and/or to support his neck. Babies sleep well in this position, too.
If the head of a baby is not well-controlled and you are forcing the baby to sit, the baby can be injured because the head will be flopping and can cause injuries. “Again, the muscles there are not strong enough and the brain will not respond to what you are doing. It is dangerous to start sitting a baby at two months.
A baby's head is big and heavy compared to the rest of its body. Their head flops when it's not supported – that's because their neck muscles aren't strong enough to hold it up yet. Shaking makes the head move backwards and forwards very quickly, with a lot of force.
Can I kiss a newborn baby on the head? Yes. You can kiss a newborn on the head, and the cases of any infection caused by a kiss are rare. However, staying away from the baby is better if you have a cold, cough, or any contagious disease or infection.
When Do Babies Stop Wearing Mittens. Some experts recommend that babies should only wear mittens in the first 2 weeks of their life. Most pediatrician agrees that babies should stop wearing mittens when you can start trimming their nails (around 1-2 months of age).
If you do hold the baby…
Wash your hands first. Always hold the head and keep safety in mind. Use both hands and arms. Never hold a hot drink.
Additional tips. A baby's normal temperature range: Under the arm is 97.5 to 99.3 degrees Fahrenheit or 36.5 to 37.4 degrees Celsius. Rectal is 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit or less, or 37.9 degrees Celsius or less.
The key message here is that it is ok to put a baby to sleep without burping. For many babies, parents find they don't notice an improvement in sleep if they purposefully relieve gas before putting their baby down to bed. However, some babies do tend to sleep better by burping their baby before falling asleep.
So, developmentally, babies don't need to sit until they are just about to creep/crawl. Sitting early may interfere with this natural progression of skills, each of which plays an important role in later learning and development. For example, sitting early generally results in less tummy time for a baby.
While carrying baby up on your shoulder does not fit the definition of tummy time (and should not be considered a replacement for tummy time), it's a great first step in helping baby ease into working on head control, in the context of the bigger picture.
It's OK to let your baby cry if the baby doesn't seem sick and you've tried everything to soothe your baby. You can try to leave your baby alone in a safe place, such as a crib, for about 10 to 15 minutes. Many babies need to cry before they can fall asleep. And they'll nod off faster if you leave them to cry.
The Bottom Line
As long as your baby's essential needs are being met and you actively engage them in a loving way, how much or how little you hold them is entirely up to you. If you want to hold them, do. If you want to put them down, even if they cry, that's fine as well.
A 2017 study confirms what many parents already instinctively know: You should pick up babies every time they cry. The research from the University of Notre Dame found that it was impossible to spoil an infant by holding or cuddling him, according to an article at News.co.au.
You may notice your baby or newborn arching their back when tired, hungry, uncomfortable, or upset. Other reasons include your little one having gas or reflux, or wanting to show off new back muscle skills.
Yes, you should burp your baby even after a dream feed, which is a late-night feeding you wake your little one up for before you head to bed.