How to hold baby upright after feeding

10 tips for handling and holding a newborn | Your Pregnancy Matters

Apprehension about handling a newborn is normal. But babies are not as fragile as they look.

Holding a newborn is often one of the greatest joys of new parenthood. It can also incite immense fear.

From their tiny fingers to their teetering heads, newborns look fragile, and many new parents are worried they’ll harm their baby by holding them in the wrong position. I understand their concern, but newborns are sturdier than many new parents realize.

While you must handle a newborn with care – and never shake the baby – you’re not going to hurt them during feedings or diaper changes if you use gentle, supportive movements.

Before you take your new baby home from UT Southwestern, our neonatal nurses and your doctor will demonstrate the best techniques for picking up, carrying, comforting, and laying down your newborn. You’ll get lots of practice before you’re on your own.

What’s most important is supporting the head and neck, no matter the position. From your first time holding the baby to the first few months at home, here are 10 do’s and don’ts for handling your newborn.

Related reading: 7 strange-but-normal things to expect with a newborn

After feeding, try to keep your newborn upright for about 30 minutes so gravity can help them digest their food.

Safe newborn handling and holding tips

1. Hold the baby like a football

While it might sound silly at first, you’ll find that holding your baby like a football – with their back on your forearms and their head nestled in the crook of one of your arms – is among the safest and most sustainable ways to hold a newborn. Angle the baby so their stomach is turned toward yours. This position is comfortable for the baby and gives you a more secure hold of your newborn, especially while sitting down.

2. Mind the baby’s soft spots

Newborns have two soft spots on their heads: the posterior fontanel in the back and the anterior fontanel on top. The bones in these areas of the skull have not completely fused together, which make it possible for the baby’s head to squeeze through the birth canal. It also leaves room for the brain to grow.

The soft spot in the back will close within a couple months; the spot on top can take two years to fully close. Touching these soft spots is fine, just don’t press down or let anything hit or fall on your baby’s head, as no bones are fully protecting the brain early in life.

3. Keep your baby upright after feeding

Upright positioning is necessary for burping your baby after eating, and sometimes they like sleeping upright against your chest while you stand or sit.

Instead of laying your baby down flat after feeding, keep them upright for about 30 minutes so gravity can help them digest their food. Otherwise, they’re more likely to spit up. With their stomach facing your chest, place their head near your shoulder with one arm supporting their bottom and the other hand supporting the back of their head and neck.

4. Wash your hands before touching a baby

Hand hygiene is very important when handling your baby, especially during the first two months. During this time, your baby hasn’t been vaccinated against diseases that can be spread through germs on unwashed hands.

Newborns have weak immune systems; it takes time for them to build strength against germs that likely would have no effect on you or your loved ones. So, be extra diligent about keeping your hands clean, and don’t feel bad asking visitors to do the same.

5. Keep the umbilical stump clean and dry

A little clump of tissue will stay attached to your baby’s belly button after we cut the umbilical cord during delivery. We’ll put a small clamp on it to keep it dry until you leave the hospital. It looks a little odd, but it will come off in its own time – usually within two to three weeks.

The best thing to do with the umbilical stump is to leave it alone. It can become infected if it gets dirty, so keep it clean and dry. Only clothes should cover it; don’t cover it with a bandage or the baby’s diaper. If it gets soiled, wipe it with water and soap that’s free of fragrances and dyes. If you see redness or discharge around the stump, it could be infected and require treatment right away.

Related reading: Should I have visitors in the hospital while my baby is being born?

Avoid these unsafe motions and positions

6. Don’t lift your newborn by or under their arms

Your baby’s head and neck muscles are very weak for the first few months. If you pick them up by or under their arms, you risk injuring their arms or shoulders. Worse, their head will dangle and could flop around, potentially causing a brain injury.

Instead, place one hand behind their head and neck and the other hand under their bottom. Gently scoop the baby up toward your chest. For more stability – and to protect your back – bend your knees as you shift forward and lift with your legs.

7. Don’t bounce a fussy newborn

New parents might try to soothe their newborn by positioning the baby upright against their shoulder and bouncing up and down. Though we’ve see this move frequently in movies and TV sitcoms, it’s not a great way to calm a fussy baby.

The up-and-down motion can be jarring and make the baby fussier, which may increase your anxiety, which can stress the baby more – it’s a vicious cycle. Instead, assume the football hold and gently sway them back and forth in a rocking motion while walking or standing. The flowing movement comforts babies by mimicking their experience in the womb.

Rather than holding the baby out in front of you, have the other person come close, facing you.

8. Don’t extend the baby forward to someone else

If you’ll have a lot of friends and family visiting or helping out after you give birth, you’ll quickly get used to others wanting to hold the baby. Protecting the head and neck is the priority when passing your newborn to someone else.

Rather than holding the baby out in front of you, have the other person come close, facing you. Then, they should place one hand beneath the baby’s head and the other beneath the bottom before you release your grip.

9. Don’t sit or lie down to hold the baby if you are tired

Fatigue and parenthood go hand in hand – especially in the beginning. But if you’re sleepy and seated, the risk of dropping your baby increases. When you’re still in the hospital, alert the nursing staff that you’re becoming drowsy. We can help you put the baby in the bassinet or take the baby to the nursery while you rest.

At home, place your baby in their designated sleeping area as soon as you feel tired. Losing grip can happen in matter of seconds if you doze off, so it’s best to be cautious.

10. Don’t kiss your newborn if you have (or recently had) a cold sore

The urge to kiss your baby’s chubby cheeks and nose will be strong, but if you have a cold sore, resisting that urge might save your baby’s life. Cold sores, also called oral herpes, are caused by the HSV-1 virus, which can cause brain damage or death in newborns – their immune systems are not strong enough to fight the virus.

An HSV-1 outbreak starts forming even before a cold sore appears. So, if you feel the familiar tingling that typically comes before a cold sore forms, or if you had a cold sore recently, refrain from kissing the baby until the outbreak has fully cleared. Firmly remind anyone else who will be handling your baby to follow the same guidelines.

Related reading: How to protect your baby from herpes infection

You’ll get better with practice

Apprehension about handling a newborn is normal. But the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll feel. And our neonatal team will make sure you get lots of practice before you’re on your own.

I also recommend that parents check out the book “Happiest Baby on the Block” by Harvey Karp. It has excellent advice on how to soothe a fussy baby and feel more comfortable holding a newborn. The more relaxed you feel, the more comfortable your baby will be.

To visit with a pediatrician about holding or soothing your newborn, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.

Holding Your Baby Upright After Feeding? Stop! It Doesn't Help

Spit happens! Even people who have not spent much time with babies know that spit up comes with the territory. But did you know that more than 2/3 of babies spit up regularly? More often than not, spit up is nothing to worry about. There are some tried-and-true methods out there that help reduce the frequency of spit up in babies. There are also some very common misconceptions. And, contrary to popular belief, holding your baby upright after a feeding doesn’t help. In this blog we will discuss:

why babies spit up.
the difference between spit up and vomit.
when to worry about spit up.
why holding your baby upright after a feed is not necessary.
myths and truths to reducing spit up.

Why do babies spit up?

Spitting up is physiologically appropriate in babies. This is because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has not fully matured – and doesn’t until around 18 months of age. You can, however, expect to see a decrease in spit up as baby gains core control (ie when they begin sitting up). The floppiness of this sphincter is why you may notice your baby spitting up over an hour after they’ve finished feeding.

Your baby may also spit up if they have had too much to drink and their stomach is full. The excess fluid can put additional pressure on the LES, leading to spit up. You can compare that to feeling ‘uncomfortably full’ after a holiday meal. However, you don’t spit up your food because your LES is fully matured.

What is the difference between spit up and vomit?

Spit up and vomit are not the same. The distinction between the two has nothing to do with the volume of fluid that is ejected. Spit up tends to leave your baby’s mouth at a slower speed; it may even dribble out. This can happen when you’re burping your baby. Vomiting is a forceful event. The liquid projects out from the mouth and may travel several inches.

When should I worry?

Every baby is different. Keep in mind, it may appear that your baby has spit up an ‘entire feed’ but the amount of spit up usually looks like more than it actually is.

Typically if your baby is continuing to gain weight and doesn’t seem bothered by spitting up, it is not a reason to worry. These babies are often dubbed “happy spitters” and the spitting up is more of a “laundry problem” than a medical one.

If you feel your baby is spitting up excessively, I definitely recommend calling their pediatrician. Other scenarios which may be a cause for concern include:

when it occurs after every feeding.
if your baby is not gaining weight.
if the spit up looks like anything other than milk/formula (undigested or partially digested). This includes spit up that is green, yellow, bloody, or looks like coffee grounds.
a baby who cries for more than 3 hours daily and is irritable.
if spitting up begins after your baby turns 6 months old.

Why isn’t holding your baby upright after a feeding necessary?

I realize this idea may be different than what you’ve heard in the past, but hear me out. It takes approximately 2 hours for your baby’s stomach to empty. While holding your baby upright for 30 minutes after a feeding may allow for some of the feed to leave the stomach, the majority of the feed remains in their stomach after that time. When you lay your baby down, their immature LES could still open, causing them to spit up.

So unless you are holding your baby upright until their stomach is completely empty, the chance of them spitting up still remains. Now if you were to hold them up until their stomach emptied, you would bring yourself to the time of their next feeding. This strategy would be grossly inefficient. It would result in you getting no rest, or your baby getting into the habit of having to be held or worn at all times.

You may wonder about propping your baby up to reduce spit up. It is unsafe for a baby’s sleep surface to be elevated (that means those crib wedges are not a safe option). Products like nursing pillows, baby loungers, and bouncy seats put your baby at risk for positional asphyxiation. And they don’t diminish the incidence of spit up!

Myths and Truths to Reduce Spit Up

Many pediatricians will, wrongfully, recommend switching to formula because it is “heavier” than breastmilk. The heaviness only means it takes longer to digest than breastmilk, not that it will be less likely to come back up. And adding rice or oatmeal cereal to the bottle will not help reduce spit up either (but it can create a choking hazard!).

The best ways to help reduce spit up in your baby include:

avoiding overfeeding.
burp your baby, well, during and after feeding. Trapped air in the stomach can increase the incidence of spit up.
avoid rigorous activity soon after a feed.
if you’re bottle feeding your baby, opt for a slower flow nipple. This helps baby to recognize when they are full before they become overly full.

Other Blogs You May Like

What is the Best Bottle?
Does Breast Milk Cause Cavities?
Pass the Bottle, Please!

The information contained in this blog is the opinion of Rebecca Tucci, certified doula and lactation counselor. It is not meant to take the place of consultation with your child’s healthcare provider. The above information cannot diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

when bathing, during and after feeding

When you become a mother, you probably thought about how to hold a newborn in your arms so as not to harm your little one.

Read about it in our material.

How to properly hold a newborn baby

Proper daily routine, regular walks and good nutrition are undoubtedly very important for your child to grow up healthy.

However, it happens that one careless movement can harm the little man. Since your baby is still very small, mom needs to handle her with extra care.

Let's talk about the main points on how to properly hold a newborn baby:

When picking up, try not to make sudden movements;
Do not lift too quickly and rapidly, as this can frighten the little one and even cause injury;
The pediatrician does not recommend taking the little man with one hand - only with both;
Do not take the baby out of the stroller or crib by the handles - this is not safe for his health and can lead to dislocation of the ligaments;
Place both hands under your baby's head, neck, back and butt and begin to lift gently.
You also need to lower yourself into the crib smoothly: just lean forward so that this process goes through without sudden and unsafe movements for the baby.

Let's take a closer look at how to properly hold a newborn's head. Place your offspring on your arm so that the back of your head is on your elbow, your back is on your forearm, and your hands gently support the baby's bottom.

It is necessary to fix the head and spine for up to two and a half months, until the baby gets stronger.

And now let's take a closer look at how to properly hold a newborn baby in your arms, depending on the position you choose:

Cradle

You can take this position literally from the first days of your baby's life. In this case, one hand fixes the baby's back and buttocks, and the head rests on the elbow of the other hand.

Kneeling

In this position, your baby's back and butt are on your knees. Parents only need to support the neck and head of the little man.

Tummy

You can arrange a little one in this way when he is two weeks old. To do this, put the little man with his stomach down on a half-bent arm so that his chin is next to the elbow. The second hand should support the tummy.

When it comes to holding a newborn boy or girl, there is no particular preference. Choose the position that is comfortable for you and your baby likes. The only “but” concerns swimming, but we will talk about this later.

In order not to injure the psyche and immune system of the little man, try not to allow too many people in the first six months of his life.

Also avoid people who:

Sneeze, cough, suffer from skin diseases or indigestion.
Actively use perfumes and smoke tobacco products with a pronounced smell.
We have just returned from the street and have not yet had time to wash our hands, take off our hats, street shoes and outerwear.
Wear a lot of rings or bracelets that can inadvertently injure your baby's delicate skin.
Just returned from a long business trip or plane/train trip.

Even if your relatives were in a hurry to get to know the baby, be persistent and wait a few days of quarantine. This way you can make sure that they did not bring the infection and your baby will remain healthy.

Additional care for immunity is the right choice of baby clothes for newborns.

We recommend purchasing items from Komsomol knitwear for the angel. This is a high-quality natural fabric that does not cause irritation, redness or allergies, maintains proper heat transfer, absorbs excess moisture, and also passes air well. What you need for the health of a little man!

A large selection of comfortable, practical and modern models of children's knitwear can be found on the website of TM Demi - the leading Ukrainian manufacturer of new clothes for babies.

DemiBaby works with the best patterns and sews with the seams outward so nothing will irritate baby's sensitive skin.

We are sure: in such things your baby will grow up healthy!

How to hold a newborn while feeding

Many mothers feed their baby in the cradle position. In addition, there are many other convenient positions for this.

Let's look at how to properly hold a newborn while feeding:

Cradle for beginners

Bring your baby to your chest so that his tummy touches yours. Put the little one on the hand opposite the breast that your baby is currently sucking.

Armpit position

Suitable for mothers with large breasts or those who have had a caesarean section. The fact is that in this position the weight of the little man does not fall on the stomach of his mother.

Bend your elbow and hold the toddler in front of you at waist level, supporting his head with an open hand. In this position, the baby seems to be peeking out of your armpit.

Side

The best option if the mother is tired, wants to sleep or comes to her senses after a caesarean section. Lie on your side and place the baby close to his chest, holding his head and back.

If the baby is formula-fed, the mother needs to know how to properly hold the bottle while feeding the newborn. For these purposes, the cradle and cradle poses for beginners are quite suitable. Remember to make sure that the baby's head is above the level of his stomach.

How to properly hold a newborn after feeding

Many parents do not know how to properly hold a newborn after feeding. And this position is very important, because it is in it that your child can burp air or excess food.

We tell you how to properly hold a newborn in a column:

Put the little man's chin on your shoulder;
Hold with one hand his head and spine at the back of his head and neck;
With your other hand, hold the baby's buttocks and back against you. In this case, you do not need to put the baby with your ass on your hand. This pose is suitable for older children. Now your child is still too young, so you can provoke an extra load on his spine.

How to hold a newborn while bathing

Bathing is another procedure during which you need to be attentive to your little one.

What you need to know about holding your newborn while bathing:

We lower the baby entirely into the water so that only his face looks out of the water.
We support the angel behind the head: the little finger fixes the neck, and the remaining fingers are located under the back of the head.
You do not need to hold the torso, the main thing is to control that both the stomach and the chest are under water.

Another important point concerns how to properly hold the newborn under the tap.

Generally, this posture is used when washing. And here it all depends on who you have. Girls and boys need to be washed differently. Therefore, now we will tell you how to properly hold a newborn when washing:

You can position the boy face down with his chest and tummy across your forearm with the fingers of your left hand resting on his shoulder.
When washing a girl, be sure to do it only in the direction from the genitals to the anus. This is important in order not to bring the infection into the vagina.
Don't forget to change your baby after bathing in baby clothes DemiBaby .

We are sure: now you know everything about how to properly hold your child, regardless of what you do!

How to help the baby when regulating

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9000 a very special time for a mother and her newborn baby. Together with the feeling of closeness and affection that feeding brings, understanding its nuances cannot but raise many questions, including the question of how to help an infant spit up. Regurgitation in a newborn is by no means always the result of a simple pat on his back.

In this article, we'll talk about the basics of helping a newborn spit up, as well as other questions you may have about spitting up.

Why do babies spit up?

Let's get this straight: Why do newborns need to burp in the first place? During feeding, children usually swallow extra air - this is called aerophagy. Spitting up helps prevent this air from entering the intestines, as well as vomiting, gas, and crankiness in the baby. To avoid the return of milk after feeding, you should give the baby the opportunity to burp more often.

How to help a newborn spit up?

During the first six months, the baby should be kept upright in a column for 10-15 minutes after each feed. This will help keep the milk in his stomach, but if the baby occasionally burps anyway, parents need not worry. While carrying your baby in an upright position, you can put a baby diaper or wipes on your shoulder to keep your clothes clean.

We have already seen why spitting up is important, now let's find out how to help your baby spit up. Parents should gently pat the baby on the back with a hand folded in a handful until he burps. Folding your hand into a handful is important because clapping with a flat palm may be too strong for an infant.

Every baby is different and there is no one right position for spitting up. To get started, you can try the following options:

Sitting position with the baby on the chest. In this position, the parent puts the baby's head with his chin on his shoulder and with one hand supports the baby under the back. With the other hand, you can gently pat the baby on the back. This method is most effective in a rocking chair or when the baby is gently rocking.
Holding the child upright on your legs. With one hand, parents can hold the baby by the back and head, supporting his chin and placing his palm on the baby’s chest, with the other hand, you can gently pat him on the back. At the same time, it is important to be careful: do not press the child on the throat, but only gently support his chin.
Holding a baby lying on his tummy in his lap. Make sure his head is above his chest and gently pat your baby on the back until he burps.

Here are some tips on how best to help your newborn spit up:

Let your baby spit up during feeding. If the baby is restless or has swallowed air, it is worth giving him the opportunity to burp during feeding, and not just after.
When bottle feeding, let the newborn burp after every 50-60 ml.
When breastfeeding, let the baby burp at every breast change.

It is important to let your baby spit up after eating, even if he spit up during feeding!

If your baby is gassy, spit up more often. Also, if he vomits frequently or suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), have him spit up after every 30 ml bottle-feeding or every five minutes while breastfeeding.

How long should a baby be held for it to burp? It's different for everyone, but generally keeping a newborn upright for 15 to 20 minutes after a feed helps the milk stay in the baby's stomach.

Minimize the amount of air you swallow. Gas production and regurgitation result from aerophagia during feeding. The baby will inevitably swallow air, but there are ways to prevent it from swallowing too much. Whether you bottle feed your baby or combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding, the Philips Avent anti-colic bottle with AirFree valve is designed so that the nipple is always filled with milk without excess air, even in a horizontal position, thus preventing the baby from swallowing excess air during feeding.

Reducing the amount of air your baby swallows can help reduce your baby's risk of colic, gas, and spitting up.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful time to strengthen the bond between parent and baby. Every mom and every baby is different, so learning to help your newborn burp properly can take time and practice.