The parents of first baby (especially father) are quite nervous and feel inept and clumsy to pick and hold the baby. The baby should be effectively clothed and covered with a bed sheet before being picked up. Hold the baby over your left arm by supporting his head over the elbow. When holding the baby against shoulders, you must support his head because head is wobbly at this stage due to poor control of muscles of the neck. Many babies are tremulous and are easily startled by loud sound or bright light.

You must hold the baby snugly or firmly against your bosom. Some parents use a carry cot while visiting the doctor or doing shopping. It is more physiological and comforting to your baby to be held next to

your body and literally close to your heart. The baby is more comfortable by your closeness and by the smell and vibrations of your body.

Whether you’re a first-time parent holding your baby, or a proud relative snuggling the newest addition to your extended family, it’s essential to learn how to hold an infant properly. There are a variety of correct ways to hold your baby, from the snuggle hold to the face-to-face hold, depending on how you want to interact with your baby. Just remember that it’s important to be calm and confident before you pick up your baby, so he or she is relaxed before you make a connection.

Holding the baby

1 : Doing the Snuggle Hold

Be calm and confident before picking up the baby. Babies can often sense if you’re uncomfortable or upset. Relax. Though it’s important to be as careful as possible, babies aren’t as fragile as you think.

2: Support the baby’s head with one arm and support his bottom with the other

A newborn baby’s head is by far the heaviest part of his or her body, and a baby’s head and neck needs careful support. Usually you will hold the head gently with one hand. Use your right arm to

??scoop up the baby’s bottom. Do this while supporting the head with your other hand.

3 : Make chest-to-chest contact Bring the baby close to your chest, so that he or she can rest his or her head against your chest. Babies are instinctively comforted by hearing your heartbeat. Your right hand and arm should be supporting most of the baby’s body weight, while your left hand supports and protects the head and neck.

 

• Just make sure that your baby’s head is facing to one side so that he or she can always breathe

 

4: Enjoy bonding with the baby Holding a baby can be incredibly soothing for both you and the baby. This is a great time to sing to the baby, read to the baby, and entertain the baby until it’s time for the next feeding, diaper change, or nap. You will need to switch hands from time to time. When you do this, remember to always keep

one hand under the baby’s head as you switch hands.

 

• Listen to your baby. Each baby has his or her own preferences for how he or she wants to be held. If your baby is crying or being fussy, try switching to a different holding position.

 

 

5: Mastering Other Holding Techniques Do the cradle hold. This is perhaps the most common way to hold your baby and a great way to g

aze into the new baby’s eyes; it’s also the most natural and easiest way to hold your baby. It’s easiest to hold your baby this way when the baby is swaddled. Here’s what you should do:

• To cradle hold your baby, first lay your baby down and pick it up by sliding one hand under the neck and head, and the other under the bottom and hips.
• Spread your fingers as much as you can as you lift her to your chest so you can support the baby as much as possible.
  

  

• Gently slide the hand supporting her head and neck along her back, so that her head and neck slide along your forearm, making their way into the crook of your arm and elbow.
• Keep your other hand where it was, cupping your baby’s hips and bottom.
• Bring the baby close to your body and gently rock her back and forth, if you like.

 

6 : Do the face-to-face hold. This is a great hold for interacting with your baby. Here’s what you have to do to get it right:

• Place one hand behind your baby’s head and neck.
  

  

• Put the other hand under her bottom.
• Hold the baby out in front of you, just below your chest.
• Have fun smiling and making faces at your cute baby.

 

7 : Do the belly hold This hold is perfect for calming your baby down when it is being fussy. Here’s what you have to do to master this hold:

• Drape your baby’s head and chest over your forearm.
• Make sure that the baby’s head is turned outward, resting near the crook of your arm.
• Pat or rub your baby’s back with your other hand.
  

  

• Check your baby’s head and neck to ensure that they are supported at all times.

8: Do the football hold This hold is great for feeding and can also be used whether

you’re standing or sitting. Here’s how you do it:

• Place a hand under your baby’s head and neck and rest the baby’s back on the inside of the same forearm of the hand you’re using to hold its head. You can use the other hand as a placeholder under the baby’s head as you get adjusted, as long as you make sure that the head and neck are supported at all times.
• Have the baby curl around the side of your body, with its legs extended behind you.
  

  

• Draw the baby close to your chest or your waist.
• Use your free hand to feed the baby or give its head extra support.

 

9 : Do the “hello world” hold This is a great hold if you have a curious baby and want to let it see what is going on around it. Here’s all you have to do:

• Let your baby’s back rest against your chest so that his head is supported.
  

  

• Place one arm under his bottom.
• Place the other arm across his chest.
• Make sure that the baby’s head remains supported by your chest.
• If you’re sitting down, then you can place the baby on your lap and don’t need to put a hand under his bottom.

 

10 : Hold your baby on your hip when he can support his own head Once your baby has gotten a bit older, somewhere in the 4-6 month mark, he or she should be able to steadily support his or her own head. Once your baby has done this, here’s how you can hold it on your hip:

• Rest the baby’s side against your hip. Rest the baby’s right side against your left hip, for example, so the baby can see outward.
• Use the arm on the side of the resting hip to support the baby’s back and bottom.
• Use your other hand for extra support under the baby’s legs or to feed your baby or perform other tasks.

 

ref : http://www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Baby