How to Hold a Baby

Throughout your pregnancy, you might've dreamed about holding your baby for the first time. Now that your little one has arrived, you may be curious about how to hold a baby in a way that keeps them safe and secure.

There are various ways to hold a newborn depending on the situation. For example, how you hold your baby when picking them up from the crib, bottle- or breastfeeding, bathing, burping, or comforting will need to be slightly different.

Read on to find out how to hold a baby safely and comfortably each time.

How to Properly Hold a Newborn Baby

All new parents feel a bit nervous when it comes to holding a newborn baby for the first time—that's totally normal. There are a few things to keep in mind when holding your baby, and we'll break them down for you depending on the situation. The most important step when carrying a baby or holding your newborn is to support their head and neck. Your baby won't develop head control until they're about 4 months old, so it's your job to ensure that their head doesn't flop from side to side or snap from front to back.

Picking Up Your Baby

Before picking up your baby from their crib, it's important to know how to hold a newborn. Be sure to support their head and neck, taking extra care around the fontanelles (the soft spots).

When picking up your baby, slide one hand under their head and neck, and place your other hand under their bottom. Bend your knees so you don't strain your back.

Now that you have a good grip on your baby, scoop them up and bring them close to your chest while you straighten out your legs.

Most cribs have an adjustable mattress height, which means you don't have to bend over quite so much during the newborn phase. As your baby grows and becomes more mobile, you'll need to lower the mattress to ensure they can't climb out.

Lying Position Hold

To hold a baby in a lying position, cradle their head with one hand while resting their head against your chest.

Use your other arm to support their neck while placing their head in the crook of your elbow. Support their bottom with your other hand.

This position is great for making eye contact with your baby and smiling and talking to them, which can aid in their development and enhance their emotional security. Interacting with your baby like this can also help with bonding.

Upright Position Hold

To hold your baby in an upright position, support their head and neck with one hand while resting them on your chest and shoulder. Support your baby's bottom with your other hand.

How to Hold Your Baby During Skin-to-Skin Contact

Skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, is a bonding practice you can begin right after your baby is born (and continue throughout infancy). Skin-to-skin contact involves placing your nearly naked baby (except for perhaps a diaper and a beanie) on your bare chest with their chest touching yours. Drape a blanket or a gown over your baby's back to keep them warm. Skin-to-skin contact not only helps you and your little one bond but also helps regulate your baby's temperature, breathing, and heartbeat. For new parents, the benefits of skin-to-skin contact can include feeling more confident as a parent. And nursing parents may experience an increase in breast milk supply.

How to Hold a Baby With Colic

Colic is when an otherwise healthy baby cries inconsolably for more than three hours, more than three days a week, for three weeks or more.

It can be tough to know what to do if your baby has colic, especially when nothing seems to work. So, how can you hold your baby when they have colic? One method you can try is holding them close to your body while taking slow and calm breaths. This may help soothe them.

Rocking your baby in your arms may also help, as can holding them close to you in a baby carrier. Read more about how to soothe and treat a colicky baby here.

How to Hold a Baby While Bottle-Feeding

When bottle-feeding, whether it's with formula or breast milk, here's how to hold your baby: cradle your baby in a semi-upright position (to help with swallowing) while supporting their head in the crook of your elbow and their body along your inner forearm.

Avoid feeding your baby when they're lying completely flat, as this can create a choking risk. Also, don't let them fall asleep with a bottle, which can lead to ear infections and tooth decay.

When bottle-feeding your little one, it may be most comfortable for you to sit in an armchair or glider, or to use pillows to help prop up your arms.

How to Hold Your Baby While Breastfeeding

Here are four breastfeeding positions you can try with your little one when you're learning how to hold a baby during feeding:

1. Cradle hold. This is the most traditional hold and the one most breastfeeding parents try first. Cradle your baby with the arm that's on the same side as the breast your baby will be nursing from. Rest their head in the crook of your elbow, facing your breast, with their body turned inward toward you. Make sure to support your baby's head.

2. Cross-cradle hold. It's similar to the cradle hold, except that you'll be holding your baby with the arm opposite the breast they will be nursing from. Support your baby's head with your hand, place their bottom in the crook of your elbow, and use your other arm to support your breast from below. Have your baby's body turned inward toward you. Try this position if your newborn is having trouble latching.

3. Football hold. As you'd imagine, this position has you tucking your baby under your arm as if they were a football. To do so, hold your baby to your side at the same level as your waist and support their back with your arm. Tilt their head up toward your breast. Try this position if you've had a C-section, if you have large breasts, or if you've given birth to twins and want to feed both babies at the same time.

4. Side-lying position. As you lie on your side, place your baby beside you, and lift your breast up so that they have easy access to your nipple. You'll find this position convenient for late-night feedings (just make sure you put your baby back in their crib once you're done feeding them). It's another good position to try if you've had a C-section.

Get the full list of recommended breastfeeding tips.

How to Hold a Baby When Burping

Here are three different ways how to hold a newborn for a burping session (use the one that’s most successful with your baby):

1. Hold your baby upright while you rest their head on your shoulder and support their head and back. Use your other hand to softly pat their back.

2. Sit your baby on your lap while you support their head, chin, and chest with one hand. Use your other hand to gently pat their back.

3. Lay your baby in your lap on their tummy while you support their head so that it's higher than their chest. Use your other hand to gently pat or rub their back.

How to Hold a Baby When Bathing

When bathing your baby, here's how to hold a newborn: make sure to support their head with one hand while you use your other hand to guide them into the baby bathtub.

Keep most of their body and face above the water, and always keep a hand on them. Don't leave your baby unattended for even a second.

Use your free hand to gently wash your baby’s body with warm water.

How to Hold a Baby When Feeding With Solid Foods

Make sure your baby is sitting upright when you feed them solid foods. This helps minimize the risk of choking, and it will also help prepare them for joining the family at the table when the time comes.

Support your baby in your lap or place them upright in an infant seat. You can also use a high chair beginning at around 6 months of age if they are able to sit well.

How Not to Hold and Handle a Newborn Baby

When holding your little one, focus on your baby and avoid trying to multitask, being especially careful not to do anything that could be potentially dangerous. For example, never handle hot drinks or cook while holding your baby.

By focusing on your baby and holding them securely, you also minimize the risk of tripping or accidentally dropping your baby.

Never shake your baby. If your little one is crying and you're feeling frustrated, place them on their back in their crib, and take some time out in another room for a few minutes. Re-enter the room when you're feeling calm and ready.

When it comes to friends and family holding your baby, make sure not to hand them your baby while they’re standing. The safest thing to do is ask them to sit down, and then gently place your baby in their arms, ready for cradling. Some other important tips to keep in mind:

• Ask that anyone who handles your baby wash their hands or use hand sanitizer first

• Make sure the person holding your baby supports your newborn’s head and neck at all times

• Your baby should never be shaken or roughhoused with, which includes being jiggled on the knee or thrown in the air.

Safety Tips for You as You Hold Your Baby

As you master holding your baby the right way, it's also important to pay attention to how you carry yourself while holding them. The weight of your baby can increase your risk of injury or muscle imbalances, which can lead to pain.

To avoid injury, aim to carry your baby close to and centered on your body. Avoid carrying your baby on your hip as this can cause shoulder, hip, and spine problems.

To properly carry and lift your baby, keep your:

• spine straight

• shoulders back

• core (abdominal muscles) engaged.

When picking your baby up from a lower spot like the crib or play mat:

• bend your knees to protect your back as you bend over

• straighten your legs as you stand back up.

The Bottom Line

Holding your baby isn't rocket science; however, there are some important guidelines to follow. The most important is always to support their head and neck and to keep your focus on them, avoiding distractions or multitasking with anything that could be dangerous.

Whether you're feeding your baby, burping them, or practicing skin-to-skin contact, the simple holds we've described help ensure both of you are comfortable and safe.

Holding your baby is a wonderful thing—these are the moments that will bond the two of you for a lifetime. Enjoy the cuddles!

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}