A newborn baby seems so fragile that many parents, and more especially parents, are afraid of holding him in their arms.
It is common for them not to know how to handle such a small and delicate baby, they are afraid of harming them or that they could slip into their hands. Therefore, special care must be taken when doing so.
The instinct will know how to give us a good hand when the time comes, but anyway it is important to keep in mind some recommendations on how to catch a newborn baby in arms:
Take it always holding your back and head. His neck is not yet able to hold his head nor will it be approximately for the first three months.
With one hand you must hold the back and with the other the head so that it does not tilt or go forward or backward. They are so small that even with the same hand that you hold the back you can also hold the head by placing the palm of your hand on the top of the baby's back and holding his fingers with his head. With the other hand you hold it by the culete and bring it closer to your body.
Once you have taken it, rest the baby's entire body on one of your arms by placing the head in the bend of the elbow while still holding it under the back with the other hand. When you have acquired practice you can hold it with one arm.
Try to always bring it closer to your body, you will feel safer and clothed.
It is important to act gently but at the same time gently. We want the baby to feel safe in our arms and we must convey safety.
Do not take it with dirty or cold hands or allow others to do so.
Before lifting it from the crib or taking it from the arms of another person, first approach it by speaking with soft words and caressing it.
When you go to bed, lean over the crib as much as possible without detaching it from your body until the last moment and still holding your back and head. First you have to support the culete, then the rest of the body and finally the head. Do not take your hand off your head until you are completely lying down.
One technique used to provide security to newborns is babywrapping, that is, wrapping the baby in a blanket to remind him of the sensation he had in the womb. Being wrapped, it is easier catch the baby in arms.
