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.
Limiting exposure to busy places early on helps reduce the spread of germs in your susceptible newborn. Generally, we advise avoiding crowded places like malls, airplanes or theme parks until your newborn has had more time for their immune system to develop.
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.
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. It also encourages moving a baby through space in an upright (rather than horizontal) position.
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.
One of the most important things you can do is to make sure that anyone who handles your baby, including you, has washed their hands first. People who have infections, for example, colds, flu or cold sores (herpes simplex), should not come in contact with your baby.
Can I carry my newborn baby on my back? Yes, newborns can indeed be carried safely and comfortably. They will need frequent feeding and changing, but many will settle happily to sleep in a back carry. The safest way to do this is usually with a soft and floppy woven wrap.
Is it bad for babies to stand too early? It's a myth that encouraging your baby to pull herself up to stand can make her bowlegged. It's also perfectly fine to hold your baby in a standing position. (In fact, that can be a good thing, since it helps strengthen your baby's leg muscles.)
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.
What happens if a sleeping baby doesn't burp? If you're concerned about what happens if your baby won't burp after feeding, try not to worry. He'll likely be just fine and will end up passing the gas from the other end.
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.
The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least 1 to 2 hours each day.
Don't worry if you touch those soft spots (called fontanelles) on his head — they're well protected by a sturdy membrane. And don't fret if your newborn's noggin flops back and forth a little bit while you're trying to perfect your move — it won't hurt him.
put your baby down as soon as they've been fed and changed. not change your baby unless they need it. not play with your baby.
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.
Although, not every parent has support from a partner and some are alone with their baby from the first day home from the hospital. Whatever your situation, you are more than capable of caring for your baby on your own.
Health care providers should encourage parents to do the following to reduce the risk of SIDS: Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep—for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.
You can start using a baby carrier from day one.
Some parents think they can't use a baby carrier until their baby is 6 weeks old or older, or they choose to wait until then. But you can take a baby carrier with you to the hospital and use it the day your baby is born, as long as they weigh at least seven (7) pounds.
The 5 S's for soothing a baby are swaddle, side position, shush, swing and suck. All of these, taken together, mimic the experience that babies have in the womb. Because of that, they're effective for calming many babies.
The quick answer: When you're comfortable! There simply isn't a general, one-size-fits-all rule on when to welcome visitors after baby arrives (let alone who gets first dibs on newborn snuggles!).
The mother may not want visitors when she is not looking or feeling her best, as may be the case after childbirth. The mother may desire privacy as she tries to establish breastfeeding. The parents may not want an audience as they get used to handling and changing their newborn.