Q&A for How to Hold a Baby

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How do I hand a newborn over to someone while supporting the baby's head?

Community Answer

Keep your hand under the baby's head and and slowly remove your other hand whilst the person you're handing it over rests her hand in their same way you had done seconds ago. Once one hand is firmly on their baby, then she should put her hand on top of yours where it's placed on the baby's head and then gradually remove your hand.

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Question

How do I carry a 9-month-old baby up and down the stairs?

Community Answer

Use the method where he is straddled on your hip. Then wrap your arm around to his back.

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Question

How do I hold a baby if it is fussy and I am a kid?

Community Answer

Do your best to comfort them. If you can't then they probably don't want to be held.

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Question

How should I hold a baby if I am not very strong?

Community Answer

Sit down to hold the baby and let your arm rest on something while you cradle the baby in your arm. You can also rest the baby on your chest and support it under its bottom.

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Question

My baby cousin loves to crawl away and I have to babysit, how do I keep her from wiggling away while I'm walking with her?

Community Answer

The best way to do this is to swaddle her. To swaddle a baby, you need to have a medium sized blanket. Lay the blanket down on a flat surface and fold one of the edges down. Lay the baby down on this fold with her head on the outside of the fold. Put her right arm down and place the right corner of the blanket across her body. Tuck the remainder of this part of the blanket under her body. Then you will fold the bottom corner up on top of the baby. Put the left arm on top of the blanket and fold the left corner of the blanket over and around the baby. Be sure that the blanket is snug if the goal is to keep her still.

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Question

Would this method work for a 2 year old baby, or should I do something differently?

Community Answer

Well, for an older baby, you don't really need to support the head and the majority of time, they don't like to be cradled.

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Question

How do I hold a big baby? My little cousin is big and I can only sit him on my lap.

Community Answer

There are no special methods for holding a large baby. If your little cousin is too big for you to safely hold him, just sit with him on your lap for now.

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Question

What if the baby won't stop squirming?

Community Answer

You're supposed to be able to hold the baby, so that he/she is safe even when he/she is squirming.

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Question

I'm a guy, does this still work?

Community Answer

Gender has nothing to do with the way you hold or handle a baby. Remember to support the head.

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Question

I need to hold a baby Jesus doll in my school play. Can you help me know how to hold him properly?

Community Answer

Use a cradle hold to show the baby but still have support of the baby's head. The article has other suggestions that will help you.

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Question

What is the best way to receive a baby from someone else?

Community Answer

Cup your arms like a cradle and hold them out. Whoever has the baby can then gently set the baby into your arms. If the baby is a little bit older, you could pick them up by grabbing their armpits and lifting them up to you.

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Question

What should I do if I drop the baby?

Community Answer

Pick the baby up and make sure that they aren't injured. (Look for signs of bruising, bleeding, or swelling.) If they are injured, take them to the hospital. If not, then just calm them down and try to avoid doing it again in the future.

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Question

What do I do if the baby starts crying, and I don't have good control over holding the baby?

Vivian Branderdahm

Community Answer

Try to shift your position or the baby's. It may not even be a position problem. The baby could need something.

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Question

When the baby is two weeks old is it a good idea to hip hold the baby with the one-arm technique?

Community Answer

No, it's not a good idea to hold a two-week-old baby like that because they need to have support in their neck, and if you hold them like that you might hurt them.

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Question

How can I hold a 2-month-old baby?

Community Answer

You can hold any age child as long as you and the mother feel comfortable with it. You should never pick up a child you do not feel safe carrying. If he is very heavy, your best bet would be the hip hold, pushing your hip outward to support the baby's bottom more.

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Question

How should I hold twins?

Community Answer

Hold one in one arm and one in the other. If you cannot manage this, just hold them one at a time.

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Question

How should I hold a toddler when it is having a crying moment?

Community Answer

Try sitting them on your knee. Then, start bouncing your knees and sing to them. This should start making them laugh and they should forget about why they were crying.

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Question

How do I hold a baby with one hand?

Jada Laye

Community Answer

It's not safe to hold a baby in one hand unless you have it on your hip and you are holding the baby up with one hand. Even then, if you don't have a good grip, you could drop the baby.

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Question

Is it not better to hold the baby horizontally than vertically, to protect its back?

Community Answer

It doesn't really matter, as long as the baby's head and neck are supported.

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Question

How do you cradle a baby?

Community Answer

For a newborn, use one hand supporting their head and the other on their body. For an older baby, put their head on your shoulder, one hand around them and one hand on their bum.

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Question

How can I hand a newborn to someone while they're sitting down?

Community Answer

Have the baby in cradle position and then have the person bend down to get ready to pick up the baby in cradle position.

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Question

I have trouble holding a one-year-old, she keeps moving and I am scared I will drop her. What do I do?

Community Answer

Just make sure to support her head and hold her tightly. Try cradling her too. This will relax the baby and it may stop moving. Make sure you're remaining calm and relaxed too.

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Question

if a baby falls backward over your arm, can it do harm?

Community Answer

If the head isn't supported, it can alarm them. Try to put them back in the proper position as quickly as possible. It can certainly harm the baby if there is a heavy jerk or the baby falls onto the floor.

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Question

What is the best breastfeeding hold?

Community Answer

First, sit upright and support yourself well with pillows. Second, hold your baby behind its neck and shoulder ( not the head ) so the baby's chest is touching yours. Then, gently brush your nipple from your baby's nose to its lips and this will encourage to open its mouth wide.

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Question

If I am 13 and haven't held a baby at all, what should I remember the most?

Community Answer

Just be gentle because they're fragile. Don't pick them up from their armpits, it hurts them.

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