- Always support the head and neck. Newborns can't hold their heads up for the first few months.
- Close and confident beats careful and stiff. Babies settle when they feel held firmly.
- Skin-to-skin isn't just for mom. It calms babies and helps you bond, too.
Picking baby up
Slide one hand under the head and neck and the other under the bottom. Bring baby to your chest before you stand or turn. Move slowly, talk to your baby, and you'll both relax.
Four holds worth knowing
- Cradle. Head in the crook of your elbow, your forearm along the back, your other hand under the bottom. The classic.
- Shoulder. Baby upright against your chest, head resting on your shoulder, one hand under the bottom and one on the back and head. Great for burping and walking.
- Football. Baby along your forearm at your side, head in your hand. Handy when you need a free hand.
- Tummy-down (the "tiger in the tree"). Baby face down along your forearm, chin near your elbow, your hand between the legs. Many fussy babies love it. Awake and watched only, and always back to sleep on the back.
Skin-to-skin
Take your shirt off, put baby in just a diaper on your bare chest, and cover you both with a blanket. It steadies baby's breathing, heart rate, and temperature, and it gives mom a break that she knows is in good hands. Stay awake while you do it.
Burping
Hold baby upright on your shoulder, or sit baby on your lap leaning slightly forward, supporting the chin with your hand (fingers on the jaw, not the throat). Pat or rub the back gently for a minute or two. No burp? That's fine. Try again in a few minutes.
The car seat
Harness straps snug at or below the shoulders, chest clip at armpit level, and no bulky coats under the straps. Rear-facing, in the back seat. Many fire stations and hospitals will check your installation for free.
One rule that's never negotiable
Never shake a baby. If the crying is getting to you, put baby down on their back in the crib, step out of the room, and take a few minutes. A crying baby in a safe crib is okay. Then come back, or tag in mom or someone else.