How to Hold an Infant

If you aren’t experienced with children, you might not be familiar with the best way to hold an infant. When cradling the baby, try keeping the infant horizontal and supporting them with both arms. If you’d like to try something else, you can always opt for the football hold, which supports the infant with one arm. You can also go for the shoulder support, which allows the baby to hear your heartbeat. Whichever method you choose, always remember to keep the infant’s head and neck supported at all times.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cradling the Baby

  1. Reach your arms down while the infant is still lying in a cradle or other confined area. Slide one hand under the baby’s neck, which provides additional support to the head area. Keep your hand secured beneath the this spot, as the infant is unable to independently support their own head. [1] [2]

    Did you know? Infants can’t control their neck until they’re at least 3 months old. [3]

  2. Provide support to the baby’s lower half by lifting up their bottom with your opposite hand. Use a careful scooping motion as you do this, so the baby stays comfortable. [4]
    • Never rush your movements when handling an infant.
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  3. Bring both arms upward in a slow motion, pausing once the infant is at mid-chest level. Keep your movements careful and methodical, so you don’t upset the baby as you hold them. [5]
    • Mid-chest level is a comfortable place to balance the baby without straining your arms.
    • Pay attention to the infant’s mannerisms. If they seem upset while you’re lifting them up, then it might not be the best time to hold them.
  4. Adjust the arm that’s holding the lower half of the infant, positioning it to be a vertical support beneath the baby’s back. [6] For extra security, keep the infant snug against your chest. Check that the baby’s bottom is resting against your arm. [7]
    • Pretend that this arm is a hammock or cradle for the baby.
  5. Position the baby so their neck is completely cradled and supported by center of your elbow. At this point, make sure that both of your arms are overlapping. If the baby seems uncomfortable, adjust either arm accordingly. [8]
    • If you choose to walk around with the baby, keep your arms locked in a rigid position to support the infant.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Trying the Football Hold

  1. Scoop the baby into your arms, keeping their neck and lower head supported as you lift them up. Bring the child up slowly, keeping your motions steady as you bring the child to mid-chest level. [9]
  2. Keep the baby balanced, using your arm as a prop. While keeping your arm beneath the infant, adjust your arm so the child stays flat on your forearm. Ideally, try to keep the infant cradled in your arm and elbow, similar to an athlete carrying a football. [10]
    • The infant’s head will be propped along the corner of your elbow.
    • This position is especially useful for new mothers, as it keeps your baby’s head close the breast area.

    Tip: Angle the baby’s head toward your breast if you’re nursing the infant. [11]

  3. Keep the child supported as you prop them against your forearm. Make sure that their legs extend to the edge of your arm. As you hold the infant, try to keep your hand as a support beneath their bottom. [12]
    • Since you’ll be supporting the baby’s bottom, you don’t need to worry about holding their legs and feet.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Leaning the Newborn Against Your Shoulder

  1. Keep 1 hand snug against the back of the infant’s head and the base of their neck. Next, position your other hand along the infant’s bottom. Keep your hands rigid while you lift, as you’re providing the only source of support for the baby. [13]
    • Hold the baby in the same way that you’d carry a heavy grocery, like a sack of flour.
  2. Tilt the baby slowly, positioning the side of their head against the front of your shoulder. Allow your shoulder to be a cushion as you shift the infant’s weight towards you. Next, use your chest as a prop to hold up the rest of the baby. [14]
    • This method allows the baby to hear your heartbeat, which can be very comforting to the child.
  3. Continue keeping your hands and arms steady as you walk around with the baby. While this position makes it easier to travel with the infant, you don’t want to balance the baby in just 1 arm. If you have to do something else or carry another item, be sure to put the baby down carefully in a crib or safe area first. [15]
    • Never hold a hot beverage or other precarious item while carrying an infant. [16]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I hold a baby upright?
    Denise Stern
    Parenting Specialist
    Denise Stern is a Parenting Specialist and the CEO of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service. After her own postpartum challenges, Denise started Let Mommy Sleep in 2010 to lend an extra hand to families with newborns. The service started by hiring Baby Nurses and Newborn Caregivers to provide childcare and education to parents during night hours. To this day, Denise and her company specialize in providing nurturing care to newborns and evidence-based education to their parents. Denise was the US Chamber of Commerce Leading Woman-Owned Business in 2013, a Washington FAMILY Magazine Mother of the Year in 2016, and on the elite White House Summit for Working Families hosted by the President and First Lady Obama in 2014. Let Mommy Sleep is the only company in the US that has developed a postpartum care curriculum that has since won a local government contract. Denise continues to be a leader in the in-home newborn care industry by building and maintaining a team of newborn care experts, baby nurses (RN/LPN) and postpartum doulas across the US. She received a BA in Public Relations from North Carolina State University.
    Denise Stern
    Parenting Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Be sure to support their neck and head since they aren't strong enough to hold them up on their own.
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  • Question
    How do you hold a baby in your arms?
    Denise Stern
    Parenting Specialist
    Denise Stern is a Parenting Specialist and the CEO of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service. After her own postpartum challenges, Denise started Let Mommy Sleep in 2010 to lend an extra hand to families with newborns. The service started by hiring Baby Nurses and Newborn Caregivers to provide childcare and education to parents during night hours. To this day, Denise and her company specialize in providing nurturing care to newborns and evidence-based education to their parents. Denise was the US Chamber of Commerce Leading Woman-Owned Business in 2013, a Washington FAMILY Magazine Mother of the Year in 2016, and on the elite White House Summit for Working Families hosted by the President and First Lady Obama in 2014. Let Mommy Sleep is the only company in the US that has developed a postpartum care curriculum that has since won a local government contract. Denise continues to be a leader in the in-home newborn care industry by building and maintaining a team of newborn care experts, baby nurses (RN/LPN) and postpartum doulas across the US. She received a BA in Public Relations from North Carolina State University.
    Denise Stern
    Parenting Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Place one hand under the baby's head, then position your other arm vertically under the baby's back. This will support and cradle the baby.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ Denise Stern. Parenting Specialist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/health-daily-care/holding-newborns/how-to-hold-your-newborn
      3. ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/learn-how-to-hold-a-newborn-baby/
      4. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/health-daily-care/holding-newborns/how-to-hold-your-newborn
      5. ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/learn-how-to-hold-a-newborn-baby/
      6. ↑ Denise Stern. Parenting Specialist. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://www.parents.com/baby/care/
      8. ↑ https://www.parents.com/baby/care/
      9. ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/learn-how-to-hold-a-newborn-baby/
      1. ↑ https://www.parents.com/baby/care/
      2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/breast-feeding/sls-20076017?s=3
      3. ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/learn-how-to-hold-a-newborn-baby/
      4. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/health-daily-care/holding-newborns/how-to-hold-your-newborn
      5. ↑ https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/learn-how-to-hold-a-newborn-baby/
      6. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/health-daily-care/holding-newborns/how-to-hold-your-newborn
      7. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/health-daily-care/holding-newborns/how-to-hold-your-newborn

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