Why do babies really need to be carried?

Young parents who are not used to handling a baby often wonder: “How to pick up and hold a newborn so as not to accidentally damage anything by clumsily picking him up.” Everything is simple - in a way that is comfortable for you, neatly and affectionately, but so that he does not have the slightest chance of falling and hitting himself. In this case, it is necessary to support the baby’s head, since the neck muscles are still very weak and the newborn cannot yet control the movements of the head.

How to pick up a baby correctly

When you pick up your baby, smile and talk to him. Try to keep your movements smooth. From a supine position: Place one hand under the baby's head, supporting his neck with your palm, and place the other hand under the back in the lumbar area.

From the tummy position: Place one hand under your baby's chest so that your thumb and index finger support his chin and neck. Use your other hand to support your tummy. Bend over the baby and slowly lift him towards you, supporting him with both hands and holding him close to your body. By leaning closer to your child, you will reduce the distance he has to travel in the air and the associated feeling of discomfort. Now you can hold your baby in your arms.

How to put your baby down again

If a child falls asleep in your arms and you need to put him in a crib, then you should, lightly pressing him to yourself, bend as low as possible towards the baby’s crib (stroller) and carefully lay him down. Do not immediately remove your hands - to avoid sudden transitions, let the child feel support. How to hold a baby correctly

For the correct and timely formation of the child’s musculoskeletal system, it is very important for a young mother to carry the baby correctly in her arms. In fact, the formation of the curves of the spine, the child’s muscular corset and the normal development of the hip joints depend on the correct wearing of the baby. There are many ways to carry a baby in your arms. Whatever technique you choose for carrying your baby, you should remember a few simple rules: When the baby is still very small and cannot hold his head, provide him with support for his neck and head. It is unacceptable to hold the child so that his head is thrown back. The baby's head should be supported until the neck muscles become stronger and he can hold it independently (approximately 2-3 months of age). Do not lift or lower your baby with quick, sudden movements. Never hold your baby with just one hand or when pulling the newborn by the hands, as the baby’s joints are still very weak and may not withstand such loads.

Proper carrying technique is not only about carrying your baby in a safe manner, but also making sure that your baby feels comfortable doing it. You can hold your baby in several positions - choosing the one that is more comfortable and natural for both of you. Below are several ways to carry on your hands:

“In a column” On the hip In front of the chest Classic way Face down Buddha pose “From the armpit” On the shoulder in a vertical position “in a column”. Many children like this way of wearing it - on the shoulder. To do this, you need to lift the child onto your shoulder with a smooth movement so that his body is in an upright position and his head is on your shoulder. Hold the neck and head with one hand, and support the baby's lower body with the other hand. It is important to support the body along the entire spine, distributing the load evenly... Hold it firmly so that it feels calm. This position helps with colic in the baby, when the tummy is pressed against your body, which will speed up the release of air bubbles. It is also recommended to hold the baby in an upright position after eating, resting his elbow on his shoulder until the baby burps.

On the hip . Supporting your baby under your chest, sit him on your hip, while tilting his torso slightly forward. There is no need to worry that you are seating your baby. There is no support for the spine in this situation. The weight of your torso is supported by your arm.

Face forward (In front of the chest). Hold your baby under your chest with one hand and press his back tightly against your chest. With your other hand, grab the child's thigh, bending his legs at the hip joints. The baby can watch what is happening around. It is necessary to remember that the weight of a child up to 6 months (until he confidently masters the skill of sitting) should not fall on your hand supporting the baby’s butt - this is harmful to his spine and can spoil his posture in the future. The classic way of carrying in your arms facing you. Suitable from the first days of life. The baby practically lies on your arm, the head is located on the elbow. With your other hand you support the back. Thus, the baby’s body has 3 supports: the back of the head, the shoulder blades, and the pelvic area.

On hands face down. You can place your baby on your forearm with his stomach. In this case, the baby's head lies on the crook of the elbow, and the arm hugs him, and the other hand passes between the baby's legs and supports the tummy. Buddha pose in front of the chest . Take his legs in one hand at the feet. If the legs are tense, shake them a little so that the legs become relaxed, bring both feet to the baby's tummy. The result is the so-called “Buddha” pose. This position is very useful for the development of the hip joints and for relieving tone in the legs. "From the armpit." Take your baby under your chest with one hand and place him on your side. In this position, part of the baby's weight falls not on the mother's arm, but on her thigh, which allows you to carry the baby for a long time. At the same time, the mother supports the entire body of the child; the tummy sags, relaxes, colic decreases. This position encourages the baby to raise his head to look around; the second hand remains free.

On the side, “gypsy style”. For the normal formation of the hip joints and the prevention of dysplasia, starting from 3 months of the child’s life (when the baby can already hold his head well), the mother can carry the baby facing her on the hip in the “frog” position. In addition, this position is very comfortable for the mother and perfectly trains the baby’s muscles and vestibular apparatus. Make sure the legs are at the same level. In the “on the hip” position, the child must be carried on both sides - on both the left and right hip - for approximately the same amount of time.

When a person is preparing to become a parent, he studies issues of feeding, hygiene, chooses a stroller and diapers... And when a baby is born, often his mother and father (especially those who have no experience communicating with such babies) fall into a stupor: how to hold him ?

And here everything is far from so simple: you need to know and follow several simple but strict rules.

How to hold a newborn. Basic principles

In general, you can be creative and use different positions when moving the child. Still, neither the baby nor you will be comfortable in the same position. But the main thing, according to our expert, pediatrician Maxim Karpenko (@doctor_karpenko) , is to follow the basic rules:

1. Use 2 points of support: head and torso/buttocks. You cannot move the child by the arm/leg, with fixation under the arms (armpits), you cannot use one support point (head/torso).

2. Do not pass the baby from hand to hand while hanging - only by laying him out on a hard surface (example: mom laid the baby on his back, dad came up and took the baby in his arms).

3. Feed the baby in a position at an angle of 45 degrees.

4. It is recommended to carry the baby in a column after feeding.

5. Do not make sudden movements.

“Passing a child from hand to hand while hanging is strictly prohibited, as there is a high risk of dropping the child (the mother has already given the child away, but the father has not yet started receiving), notes Dr. Karpenko .
“And even if you are “careful” and “careful,” you can’t do that: the phone, doorbell, intercom will ring, and the person will turn around thoughtlessly and get distracted, and a second is enough to fall.

Mom and tame child in everyday life

In the first couple of months, the mother faces an important task - to recover from childbirth herself and help the child adapt to new living conditions. It is very good when you have helpers around the house; do not refuse the help of friends and relatives.

Household appliances are the best helpers for a young mother. Try to minimize all household chores and relax more with your child. It is ideal when the mother sleeps with the newborn.

There is also a “Club of Successful Mothers”. In it you will find a powerful source of support and inspiration. Sometimes you are even amazed at how many problems can be solved with the help of simple truths. And how simple, easy and joyful motherhood can be.

Slings are the most faithful friends of those mothers who have nowhere to wait for help or who have older children. If you haven’t mastered the sling yet, believe me, you can do a lot of things with a baby in one hand! Tested by personal experience! The main thing is to master the skill of correctly positioning the child in your arms. It's all very simple.

Here are some of the most common postures for carrying a child in your arms:

Author of photos: Elena Mikhalkova, instructor

For an older child, a lounge chair or car seat is suitable. These gadgets are not used for long - the child grows quickly. Buy or not - focus on your budget! A crawling baby can be lowered to the floor, providing him with a safe space. Such activities allow the child to keep his mother in sight, which significantly reduces his anxiety. The mother will be able to respond to the baby’s signals in time.

When the baby is lying in her crib, and the mother is carried away with housework, it is very easy to forget and come to your senses only when the baby starts crying or her chest becomes full and hurts.

Frozen semi-finished products, jacket potatoes, cereals brewed with boiling water (buckwheat, rolled oats...), whole vegetables instead of salad will come to the rescue... A little imagination and the family’s meals will become tasty, varied and easy for the mother.

The ideal option for early development for a child is to participate in household chores with his mother. The temperature difference will be demonstrated by the refrigerator, the clinking of cutlery, the smells of processed food, the purr of water - a lot of new information! Can't compare with the monotonous mobile above the crib. In addition, mom is nearby and you can calmly explore the world around you. At the beginning, vision is not very developed, but gradually the eyes mature and the baby, from the height of the mother, has a great view.

True, you will have to give up frying - splashes of hot oil can get on the child. Although, this will only improve the family’s diet. You can replace frying with baking or use stewing.

A little about safety precautions with a tame child:

• The child's face should always be visible
• Monitor your baby's breathing
• Provide support for the shoulder blades and neck (do not hold your head)
• Never hold a child's head and body in different hands! The ligaments of the cervical vertebrae have not yet become stronger, there is a high risk of their displacement
• Children who cannot sit independently should not be placed on the arm or held under the butt so as not to load the spine
• Temporarily avoid hot food or drink (to avoid burning your baby)
• Watch your posture, follow the biomechanics of lifting weights
• Remember the changed body dimensions (you are now with a child)
• Change hands more often (transfer the child to the other hand at least once every 2 hours)
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Grown-up children are very curious - control hot, sharp, heavy objects at the level of the child’s arms and legs
• Demand to give up your seat on transport

All these wisdoms are actually simple and natural. But you will get unimaginable mobility!

A child sleeps in his mother's arms in the European Parliament

The tame child himself, having sat in his mother’s arms to his heart’s content, goes off to explore the world with great pleasure. Therefore, you should not be afraid to accustom your child to your hands - when he grows up and runs away, you won’t catch him!

How to hold a baby under 6 months

Newborns are too vulnerable. And until about 3 months, children still cannot confidently hold their head up. Therefore, special rules apply to such children.

— The head of a newborn baby is the heaviest part of his body. Due to the fact that the neck muscles are not yet developed, a child up to 6 months should be moved using 2 points of support: the head and torso or the head and buttocks, says our expert. — If a child under 6 months is lifted only by the torso or by the arms (armpits), the cervical spine can be injured, since the neck muscles are not yet able to hold it: under its weight, the head will rush downwards, which will lead to hyperextension of the cervical spine. If a child is moved by one limb, the shoulder/hip joint can be injured, since the ligamentous apparatus of the child’s joint is not yet ready to withstand such loads.

Mental development of a newborn

A newborn mostly only eats and sleeps. In the second and even more so the third month, the child’s life includes periods of wakefulness that become increasingly longer. The baby does not yet know how to sit, but his desire to contemplate the world around him is very great, and the baby tells you about this with persistent “requests” to take him in your arms.

The mental development of a newborn child is accompanied by the following very important processes:

* social adaptation - therefore, for full, harmonious development, the baby needs communication with people);

* imprinting - imprinting in the baby’s memory impressions and images perceived in the first minutes after birth of the most important objects;

* emotional development: a small child especially needs positive emotions;

* they stimulate the development of his psyche, while negative ones, on the contrary, inhibit him;

* intellectual development: the child’s enormous need for new impressions should be satisfied; insatiability in obtaining new impressions (only overwork can stop this process);

* the need to obtain increasingly complex information;

There is a very simple way that satisfies almost all these requirements: TAKE YOUR BABY IN YOUR HANDS MORE OFTEN.

How to hold a baby: options

The rule that when handling a baby you need to use 2 points of support does not oblige you to always hold the baby upright. There are different methods, and you can choose the one that is most convenient for you, or in which the baby calms down, and alternate them.

- The child can be placed on the arm with his stomach down or on his back. But in this case, the baby should lie motionless on his hand, and not roll on it like a roller, emphasizes Dr. Karpenko. — It is worth noting that it is necessary to lay it on the stomach strictly before eating: if the baby is fed and immediately placed with his stomach down, profuse regurgitation will occur.

In the same way - belly down - you can place the baby on your shoulder.

— Dads often like to play with their children in this position. This is acceptable, but this pose can also be used before meals, otherwise dad will be covered in vomit all over his back. Therefore, this position is unacceptable when carrying a child “in a column” after eating, explains the pediatrician.

Young mothers and fathers often do not know how to properly handle a newborn. But the ability to properly carry a baby in your arms is of great importance, since the baby is not yet strong and needs very careful handling.

Of course, you can ask experienced grandparents for help, but they will not always be nearby. And their experience may be long forgotten, because their children have already grown up. Let's figure out what you need to focus on when carrying a child in your arms.

Why does a child sleep only in his arms?

From all of the above it is clear that the highest degree of comfort for the baby is achievable only in the arms of the mother. We adults also prefer a comfortable sleeping environment.

The child instinctively realizes that he is defenseless and needs the care of his mother. This is evidenced by his physiological reactions to separation - a decrease in heart rate, breathing, body temperature, and an increase in the level of stress hormones.

We are all different and react differently to stress or discomfort. Children are also different, and many (almost all) need close contact with their mother for a restful sleep. In addition, frequent awakenings at night and the need for parental closeness during sleep are normal, even among older children.

One more thing, small children prefer to sleep with the breast in their mouth. This way they receive the most nutritious fat milk in small portions, even if the baby does not seem to be suckling. This promotes better weight gain and significantly reduces the intensity of colic.

Little children sleep quite a lot. Mom is simply not able to spend so much time in bed, and her mother is nearby and mother’s milk is a vital need for a sleeping baby. So it turns out that the child sleeps comfortably in the mother’s arms while she is busy with her business.

How to wear a baby correctly

Before you pick up a baby, you need to remember that up to 3-4 months he has weak neck muscles. Place one palm under your butt, the other under the back of your head and slowly lift it towards your chest. To properly hold your baby, you need to remember some rules:

• the baby’s neck muscles are not yet sufficiently developed, so it is imperative to support him under the head;
• arms and legs should not hang down;
• be sure to support the baby's back if you hold him in a column;
• you cannot lift the baby by the limbs, his joints are not yet strong, so they are easy to damage;
• try to carry the baby on different arms;
• Be sure to hold your baby in different ways; there are several generally accepted methods for this.

How to properly place a baby on a surface

When picking up a baby, do not make any sudden movements. Everything should happen smoothly and measuredly. It is also important to correctly place the infant on the surface, following the recommendations:

• regardless of the position in which the baby was carried before putting him in the crib, on the sofa, changing table, move to the “cradle” position;
• holding the little one with both hands, bend down as close to the surface as possible and freeze for several minutes in this position;
• lay the baby down and wait for him to calm down;
• only then they gently take one hand out from under it (the one that was holding the legs), then the second one from under the head.

If you plan to move the baby from your arms to the surface to lay him on his tummy, then first turn him over slightly, holding his forearm and shoulder with one hand. The second brush is brought under the armpit from the opposite side.

Common ways to carry a newborn in your arms

There are many different positions for carrying babies:

1. The most common way to carry a baby in your arms is the classic one. This method is suitable for rocking, feeding and calming a baby. It is necessary to place the baby's head in the crook of the elbow and use it to press the newborn to the chest. The second is to support your back and butt.
2. After eating, the baby must be carried in an upright position so that air bubbles that entered the stomach with food can come out freely. To do this, you need to learn how to hold your child in a column:
   place the newborn's head on your shoulder;
3. support the head and back with one hand;
4. With your other palm, press the baby’s butt towards you.

Carrying the baby in a column will help relieve intestinal colic, since the baby's tummy will be warmed by the mother's belly.

Proper holding of a baby in a column is taught in the maternity hospital, since this is a very important skill.

• So that the baby can comfortably look at the world around him, you need to carry him in your arms in front of your chest. This is another way to hold a newborn upright, but in this case, unlike carrying in a column, the baby is turned to face away from you. With one palm, clasp the side of the baby so that the palm is under the armpit and the thumb is on the shoulder. With your other hand, press your lower limbs towards your stomach.
• To relax the legs, hold the baby in the same way as in the previous case, but bend the legs at the knees and press the feet against the newborn's tummy.

Existing positions for carrying a child

What to do if the tonsils are enlarged in a child under one year old

There are several positions in which moms and dads carry the little one. Some poses have a functional purpose, others are created for ease of movement.

Basic positions

Tiger pose on a branch

The positions described are basic, but parents can interpret them to suit themselves. This will allow you to choose the most comfortable wearing position for both adults and infants.

How to properly hold children while washing

When washing a newborn's bottom, it would be correct to place it on your left hand if you are “right-handed.” Place the baby face up with the head resting on the crook of your elbow and hold the baby's hips with your palm. In this position, the right hand remains free, and it is necessary to wash the baby with it.

When washing, keep in mind that wet skin is slippery. To avoid dropping your newborn, hold your baby as tightly as possible. After water procedures, take it in a column, carefully shake off the water and place the baby on a towel.

It is more convenient to wash older babies with their face down. Support your baby with your left hand under your armpit, with your thumb on your shoulder. Place your head in the crook of your elbow.

How to properly hold children when bathing

Before bathing your baby, wrap the baby in a diaper. Place the baby in the bath with the head resting on the left arm. In this case, the palm should be under the shoulder, which is located further from you. The butt is carefully placed on the bottom of the container with water. Then the right hand remains free to wash the body with it.

Your hair should be washed last. Tilt it back slightly so that the fontanel remains above the water. Use your right hand to lightly spray your hair and wash it thoroughly with soap.

After bathing, lift the baby up and transfer him to a dry diaper. At the same time, hold it well so that it does not fall out of your hands along the way. It is important not to forget, when carrying a child, be sure to talk to him or sing a song. The baby must realize that he is in the arms of a loved one, then he will not be afraid. Do not make sudden movements when carrying your baby, and do not press your fingers too hard on the skin . The baby's skin is still tender and sensitive.

When a young father picks up his first child from the hospital, he is scared and his hands are shaking. Now both dad and mom know and can do a little, including how to hold a child in their arms correctly.

Photo, video: pxhere.com, Channel Five

According to St. Petersburg pediatrician Lusine Chebotareva, parents should realize that their child is not porcelain, you can’t break him by moving him from one side to the other. Young mothers and fathers need to be collected, confident and decisive. But you shouldn’t neglect simple rules either - the baby’s bones are still soft, the muscles are weak, and if the adult’s actions are abrupt and careless, this can end badly.

And now more about how to properly hold a baby in your arms. Let's start with the fact that there are only five basic positions that are comfortable and safe for a child:

Basic pose - how to hold a newborn baby

This position is also called the “cradle” - you place the baby on the platform formed by your arm and stomach, the baby’s head is in the crook of your elbow. Use your other hand to hold the child at his side.

When feeding, slightly lean the baby on top of you if he is breastfed. If he eats from a bottle, sit down and hold the container with his lunch with your free hand.

It is important to remember that you, the parents, should be comfortable and comfortable holding the child. Yes, now he is small and light, weighing only four kilograms, but six months will pass, the baby will get heavier, and you are unlikely to gain any strength. Adjust the position of your arms and torso, try changing angles, experiment, find your pose, advises Lusine Chebotareva.

How to hold a newborn baby after feeding

This is one of the mandatory positions - immediately after feeding the baby, it is necessary to “stand it up” to give him the opportunity to get rid of excess food - milk or formula that does not fit into it.

Lift your baby by the torso and press him to your chest so that he looks behind you. And be sure to hold his head, because the neck muscles of your son or daughter are still very weak. Hold the baby for a few minutes. Or to a characteristic sound that cannot be confused with anything.

How to hold a newborn baby for cleaning

Washing a baby is one of the main difficulties for a mother, because a baby, who is heavier and more active every day, is not easy to hold with one hand. For reference: the second hand, free, opens and tests the water, guides it, lathers it, cleans it...

To make your task easier, simply hold your heir correctly - place him on the bend of your elbow, grabbing your right leg if you are right-handed, and your left leg if you are left-handed. This way, the child won’t go anywhere, and you will spend no more than two minutes washing.

How to keep your newborn baby facing the world

According to the observations of Lusine Chebotareva, the pre-toilet position is the favorite position of dads. This is exactly how they like to carry their children around the house or apartment - facing the world. But this way of holding a child also has an important functional purpose.

By holding your son or daughter in this way - pressing his back to your stomach, grabbing him under your feet, raising your knees - you help her or him empty the intestines. Hence the name - planting position. The signal for you when you can start putting the baby out is the noise from the diaper and the smell that has already become familiar - take it, press it, pick it up, help.

How to hold a newborn baby with colic

This position is a helper for when your screamer has a stomach ache. It’s unlikely that anyone will argue that colic bothers both the child and the parents, because if the baby doesn’t sleep, neither do mom and dad. And not only potions and candles, but also the “tiger on a branch” position can help you during this difficult period.

To help the gases escape from the intestines, place the baby with his stomach on your arm - so that his shoulder lies almost at the bend of your elbow, and you can hold him with your palm between your legs from below. If you do everything correctly, you will hear characteristic sounds...

Over time, while the child grows, every mother and father finds the most comfortable positions for him and for themselves - in a reverse column, along the legs, on one arm... There are several dozen of them in total, but not all are safe for the baby. In any case, you can and even need to try, but carefully so as not to dislocate, stretch or break anything.

Recently, there has been an increase in controversy over whether it is necessary to carry a child in your arms, and how often this should be done.

Many parents are afraid of unnecessarily spoiling the baby. Our answer is unequivocal - of course, it is necessary. Only by holding the baby in your arms can you provide the baby with the much-needed tactile contact with his mother. Also, moving in the mother's arms, the baby has more opportunities to explore the space around him. However, this does not mean that you need to carry your beloved child in your arms day and night. It is important to consider several factors here.

Firstly, the character and temperament of the child himself. For sensitive, restless babies, frequent carrying is vital. This is the only way the baby calms down and feels safe. There are more independent and calm children. It is enough for them simply to have their mother in close proximity to them. Such children, of course, also need to be held. But this can not be done so often.

Secondly, it is necessary to take into account the fact that continuously “rolling” in the arms of the mother, the baby will not physically be able to develop the skills he needs, such as crawling, etc. Whatever one may say, even the biggest lover of mother’s hands will have to be let down to the floor at least sometimes. And the older the baby gets, the more time he should spend on the floor on his own, subject to the obligatory condition that the child is ready and strives for independence.

Currently, more and more specialists responsible for the health of children argue that the child still needs to be “carried to term”, “nursed” for some time after his birth.

This time is individual for each baby, but in general, experts allocate a minimum of three months for “gestation,” designating it as the fourth trimester of pregnancy. A child comes into this world without completely separating from his mother; during these additional three months, the baby adapts to new circumstances, to a new way of life, to a new world.

However, since you still need to carry the baby, it would be useful to find out how to do it correctly. To avoid all sorts of spinal curvatures and other unpleasant problems.

From birth, while the baby still cannot hold his head, it is most comfortable to carry the baby when his head is in the crook of your elbow, and the whole body is supported by the other hand. In other words, in the “chest to chest” pose.

If something is clearly bothering the baby, he is upset and crying loudly, press the baby's tummy to your stomach. And if the baby eats mother’s milk, you can feed him a little more, then the baby will definitely calm down.

Babies prone to frequent and painful colic can be carried in this position: hold the baby under the tummy with one hand, and between the legs with the other. The so-called "airplane". The discomfort in the tummy will become significantly less. The pose is also suitable for babies who are not enthusiastic about the process of laying on their tummy. Riding on mom's arms in this position, the little “unwilling” will soon begin to lay down on the mat without a scandal.

A very common position for carrying babies is on the shoulder. Gently place the baby's head on your shoulder. With one hand we firmly press the baby’s body to ourselves, with the other we support the butt. From this position it is good to gradually move on to the “on the hip” position, which is very comfortable and loved by many mothers of slightly older toddlers. Starting around 3 months, we begin to teach the baby to clasp his arms and legs around you. We place the little one on the shoulder and spread the legs. We hold one leg bent at the knees with the elbow of one hand, and the other with the elbow of the other hand. After training your baby in this way for several months, you can begin to slowly sit him on your hip. The position is very comfortable, especially for inquisitive kids who don’t want to ride with their heads buried in their mother’s shoulder. And they want to study the world around them while sitting on their arms.

Curious babies are often carried with their backs to their mother. With one hand they clasp the torso under the chest, with the other they hold one leg bent at the knee. The main thing here is to hold the baby not strictly vertically, but more diagonally. And don’t forget to change your position more often. Although you shouldn’t get too carried away with this pose. It is better to use the so-called “Buddha” pose, when the baby is facing the outside world and leans his back on the mother, but is in a semi-lying position. Mom supports the little one with her hand under his bent legs. The pose is especially suitable for children who cannot yet sit on their own. In general, try to change positions and postures as often as possible when carrying your baby in your arms. Neither you nor the baby should be overtired.

Very soon your little one will begin to actively move independently, and will no longer be so enthusiastic about sitting calmly in your arms. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to once again hold the baby in your arms now.

Do you need to go somewhere or go with a small child? A baby in a stroller is not always mobile - a four-wheeled “tank” is difficult to lift up the stairs, it is not easy to transport it into narrow places, and sometimes it is not possible to enter the store at all. Carrying a baby in your arms is also not always convenient. AiF reviewed and compared all existing alternatives to the stroller.

What happens during tactile contact when a child is carried in your arms

In addition to the benefits recommended by the World Health Organization, such as:

• warming a newborn (even a warmly dressed baby cools down before 3 months - thermoregulation is not yet developed)
• access to the mother's breast as needed gives the child better conditions for weight gain and physical development
• By warming the baby's belly, the mother promotes better digestion of the baby and relieves infant colic

Carrying in your arms gives your baby a feeling of security and comfort. Creates conditions for gentle adaptation after childbirth - close proximity to the mother with her warmth, smell, voice, heartbeat and other familiar living conditions is maintained.

There is a method of nursing premature and low birth weight babies - the “Kangaroo Method”, when the child has skin-to-skin contact with the mother 24 hours a day. It is created on the basis of the powerful positive influence of such contact on the child, which significantly stimulates the physical and mental development of the baby. These effects are true for absolutely all children.

When a child is in the mother's arms, there is a close dialogue between the bodies of mother and child . Yes, yes, exactly dialogue. This is the very first dialogue that a baby is capable of. When a mother holds a child, she adjusts her hands to the baby’s body, and he reciprocates. Imagine a tactile dialogue between two lovers - fleeting touches, light or close hugs... It is especially acute at first, then, perhaps, it becomes a habit. So it is with a child.

He still does not know how to speak or express himself with gestures, but at the level of bodily tone he is already communicating with you. When everything is good, he is relaxed, when there is discomfort or pain, he is tense, when he is scared, he clings tighter to his mother, and so on. It reads the same signals from the mother’s body.

Thus, when the mother is carrying the child, she tells him detailed information about what is happening tactilely and vocally. Continues to develop the vestibular apparatus by swaying while walking, and also massages his body. Warms, gives breasts as needed.

Frequent or constant contact helps to form and strengthen the attachment between mother and child . The saying “out of sight, out of mind” is more than true for a baby - when mom is not around, it means she is not there at all, and this is very scary!

For a tired young mother, it is so tempting to take a break from the baby and, from time to time, such rest is vital for her, but after 5 minutes she is already bored and worried about how her baby is doing.

Speaking of fear. It has been proven that frequent stress, in particular the hormones that are produced during a stressful situation, have a destructive effect on the structure of the human brain and his immunity. It’s like having a little sweet is good, but with too much, various diseases develop. Constantly staying in a crib and ignoring crying is chronic stress for a child . In addition, this style of parenting negatively affects the child’s attachment to his mother.

Sling

A baby sling is a rag sling that secures a baby to an adult’s body.

What are there: a sling-scarf (several meters long), a sling-pocket, a sling with rings.

Permissible age of the child : from birth - in the horizontal “cradle” position. From 1 month - vertically, spreading the legs “frog”, only in the “facing oneself” position. After 3 months - behind. Can be used up to

PROS : the baby has completely free hands; the child’s weight is distributed evenly, which is more convenient for the parent; The sling is easy to put into your bag; easy to wash and dry quickly; Constant wearing in a sling is indicated for children born prematurely (“kangaroo method” for nursing).

CONS : using a baby sling requires training; Colored scarves are not very popular among men who prefer carrying backpacks.

What to pay attention to when purchasing : slings are made from different fabrics. Soft knitwear is good for a newborn: it feels like hugging a child. But an older and heavier person will sag in it (after the baby becomes more comfortable purchasing a non-stretch sling). For wearing in summer, it is better to choose fabric with the addition of silk, in winter - wool or cashmere. 100% cotton slings are universal.

Price:

The most famous brands : Didymos, Hoppediz, Ellevile, etc.

History of denial

When the USSR entered the era of industrialization in the 1930s, many workers had to be found for factories and factories. Men were scarce after the Civil War, but there were many women in need of work.

Having created a system of child care from birth, the state sent millions of female workers to numerous construction projects of the century. Life dictated its own, and a mechanism for destroying the normal attachment of mother to child, and child to mother, naturally formed. You need to hold him less, and the problem of leaving the baby for long hours will be solved.

Subsequently, this mechanism of mother-child rejection was supplemented by the mass introduction of artificial feeding. Originating as an aid to help those women who had physiological problems with breast milk, formula gradually became almost more popular than breast milk. At the same time, rules were introduced on the time and methods of breastfeeding, gradually transferring this act of mutual communication, emotional and biological, into the field of medical procedures.

Carrycot

A traditional cradle in which the child lies, with one or two handles.

What are they : with a hard and soft bottom. Also included as carriers are stroller cradles and car seat bassinets (there is no point in buying a carrier separately if you have them).

Permissible age of a child : from birth to 1 year.

PROS : the child sleeps in a horizontal position. It is easy to put it on the balcony.

CONS : quite voluminous design; the parent's hands are busy; As the baby grows up, lying down becomes uninteresting.

What to look for when buying : does the cradle have safety belts: when the baby can sit down, they will not allow him to fall out. Choose a carrier made from waterproof fabrics, or with an insulated lining in winter.

Price:

The most famous brands : Emmaljunga, Geoby, etc.

Do we pick it up and spoil it?

Is it possible to spoil him by holding a baby often? If the child’s needs are not ignored, affection and tactile contact are not denied to him, this does not mean that he is being pampered and poorly raised. Love is not synonymous with bad parenting, especially if we are talking about a baby who is only a few weeks old. There is an opinion that it is impossible to spoil a child before 12 months - until this age, all his “whims” are justified by needs, so the adult must indulge the baby in everything. And only when the baby reaches one year old should parents treat his requests selectively - based on what caused them. From this age, the child can already be instilled with the concept that not only he, but also the people around him have needs.

Backpack

A design well known to tourists and schoolchildren. Only instead of textbooks in the backpack there is a child (he sits between the fabric back of the backpack and the adult carrying it).

What are there : ergonomic soft backpacks, anatomical backpacks with a hard back.

Permissible age of the child : from 3 months. In some models there are inserts for newborns, which allow you to carry a child in a backpack starting from Most models can be used up to

PROS : mobility - the parent has completely free hands; ease of use; versatility (the same backpack with a child can be worn by all family members).

MINUSES : it is most convenient to use a backpack only when the baby already feels confident in an upright position; the backpack is not as compact as a sling.

What to pay attention to when buying : the backpack must have a wide belt that is fixed on the parent’s hips, this is the only way to relieve excessive stress on the back. For the same reason, wide backpack straps (at least 5 cm) should cross or connect.

Before purchasing, you need to try on the backpack: the child in it should be pressed tightly against the parent, the baby’s legs should not become numb, there must be good support for the head (it should not dangle if the baby falls asleep). It’s good if all the straps and slings in the backpack are adjustable, so the kangaroo will last longer.

Price:

The most famous brands : Ergo, Connecta, Manduca, BabyBjorn, etc.

Should you carry a baby in your arms?

Should you carry a baby in your arms?

Often new parents have to hear from doctors or from their experienced mothers: “don’t accustom your child to holding hands!”, “Leave him in the crib alone more often, otherwise he will get used to holding hands, and then you will suffer!” Many young mothers and fathers are perplexed after such recommendations. On the one hand, specialists and caring relatives are right, because they have so much experience and knowledge, on the other hand, young parents so want to carry their sweet baby in their arms; calm down, hold him tighter if you cry. And if you have been waiting for a baby for a long time and really wanted it, then these desires acquire double power. What decision should you make? Is it worth carrying babies in your arms or should you teach them to be independent as early as possible? Let's try to approach this issue from a logical point of view and look at it from different angles.

Natural beginning. In the animal world, the cubs of many mammals (for example, monkeys) “ride” their mother, clinging to her fur. And this happens until they grow up and learn to move on their own. Let's remember: what is a bag for carrying children called? "Kanguryatnik"! This means that the baby kangaroos are also with their mother all the time, in her pouch! People have created culture for centuries, but humanity is also part of nature. By the way, humanity belongs to mammals, which means that our cubs are designed by nature to “ride” on their mother until they learn to walk. Historical information. What brand do you think Adam and Eve had in their stroller? That’s right, strollers and cradles appeared much later, and Adam and Eve had to rely only on their own hands, I don’t think they were very upset about this. The need to be held by the mother is genetically inherent in the child. Our ancestors carried children in their arms for many thousands of years. Therefore, a modern baby expects the same from his mother. The baby needs to receive a certain set of sensations and experiences when interacting with his mother. If he does not receive this experience, then his development is hampered. The famous American psychotherapist and author of the book “How to Raise a Happy Child,” Jean Ledloff, writes about the “tame period” of child development that exists among Indian tribes that have preserved their ancient customs. The “manual period” lasts from the birth of the baby until he begins to crawl. In her book “How to Raise a Happy Child,” she describes how the Indians of the Yekuana tribe, lost deep in the jungle and who have preserved the primitive traditions of humanity to this day, raise their children. Ledloff was struck, among other things, by the fact that in ancient cultures children are not considered an annoying burden and the years of motherhood are not considered “lost” for a woman. Mother and child are simply happy to be close, while the babies develop well, and the mothers do not get tired, coming to their aid. The secret here is that the mother does not waste energy on forcing the child into some kind of device and leaving it there while she does something else. She simply takes him in her arms, or ties him to her with a piece of cloth and goes to take care of the house. And no one will blame her for “training her to use her hands”, that it is “so hard” - simply because all the women around her are doing exactly the same. Moreover, “heaviness” in this case is more than a relative concept. A newborn weighs 3-5 kilograms, which is not at all heavy for any woman. And if you wear it every day and for a long time, the baby’s weight still grows slowly, the mother’s body (including her back - after all, it’s for her that they usually worry the most) has time to rebuild. It turns out the best fitness with weights - you don’t even need to go to the gym! Tribes, Adam and Eve, you say - low level of culture! Yes it is. And today, human civilization has stepped far forward in its development and modern people have the highest level of culture. And also the highest level of neuroses among young children... Carrying children on oneself is common among almost all nations. Many women's national costumes even have special devices for carrying a child. Roots of need. To be held is a natural need for a newly born person. Where did this need come from? During the last months of pregnancy, the baby's body is closely compressed by the walls of the uterus. He feels warm and comfortable there. After birth, the child finds himself in a huge, unfamiliar, cold space. He is not comfortable and scared in a crib or stroller. If the mother is even a meter away, for him it is unimaginably far away. The baby's whole being longs for his mother to take him in her arms and hold him close. Her hugs, as well as the smell, heartbeat and breathing rhythm remind him of the comfort of intrauterine existence, and he becomes calm. It turns out that if we carry a newborn in our arms more often, we will help him adapt more easily to his new environment. Psychology of the issue. “If you get used to holding hands, then you won’t wean them off”, “If you carry them in your arms often, you will spoil the child” - these are the most common comments that you hear from the outside. They instill uncertainty and anxiety in a young mother who has decided to carry her baby until he learns to crawl. Let's try to figure out what psychological processes develop in a child in the first year of life and determine whether it is possible to spoil the baby. The child, who was hardly carried in his arms in infancy, is accustomed to the fact that help rarely comes to his calls for help. He begs to be taken out of the playpen and picked up, and he is transferred to a high chair “so that he doesn’t get used to being capricious.” And here he cries and begs again... It’s probably clear that in this situation it’s difficult to grow a self-confident person? A baby who has been carried in his mother’s arms for a sufficient amount of time gets used to the fact that his mother is always somewhere nearby, that he is not alone. This feeling is subconsciously reinforced and in the future it is as if invisible supporting wings remain behind the person’s back. He is not afraid of new things, because he feels the strength to do this new thing. American psychologist Erik Erikson in the 60s of the twentieth century created a theory of mental development of personality. He identified several age stages of an individual’s life path and identified the tasks that a person solves at each stage of age development. So, during the period of infancy (from 0 to 1 year), a person is faced with the task of forming basic trust in the world, overcoming the feeling of disunity and alienation. At the end of the age period, the child develops either basic trust in the world and others or mistrust. As a result of this, a negative acquisition of age can be a withdrawal from communication and activity. E. Erickson says that how the baby is cared for plays an important role in the formation of basic trust in the world: whether they pick him up, rock him, talk to him. Not only emotional, but also tactile sensations play a big role here. If we talk about personal development, then self-awareness occurs in a child in the interval from 2.5 to 3 years. During this period of time, the baby discovers the pronoun “I”. The beginning of the understanding that “mom and I are two different objects” begins in the baby at 6 months: the baby begins to push his mother away with his legs every time she changes him, hit his face with his hands, and some babies bite his chest. Of course, mom reacts to his actions and explains that he shouldn’t do this because it hurts her. This is how the child begins to understand that his mother may experience unpleasant feelings from his actions. However, he is not yet able to control his behavior. Volitional control over behavior is formed in a child during the first 6 years of life! At 2-2.5 years old, the child begins a period of stubbornness (this period is easier for girls, more difficult for boys). Stubbornness can manifest itself actively (actions “on the contrary”) and passively (refusal to act). The first signs of obstinacy in a child appear only at 9 months. (“I want!” - this or that object demands). At each age stage of development, a person is characterized by one or another leading activity, which is the main engine of development. So, in infants the leading activity is emotional-direct communication. The child wants to communicate for the sake of communicating. At 7 months, the child becomes interested in surrounding objects with renewed vigor and communication takes on a new shade: communication about the subject. 9 months are a key moment in the period of infancy: the child is ready for a change in leading activity (object-manipulative), ready for “separation from parents,” which is hampered only by one circumstance - the lack of walking skills. The first personal conflict arises: the baby already wants to go a lot, but still can’t. However, for those who have learned to crawl, it is much easier. So it turns out that all personal manifestations become especially relevant only from 9 months, and until this moment the child absorbs the surrounding reality and adapts to it. The “manual period” lasts up to 9 months and helps the child grow and develop according to age, acquire basic trust in the world, receive the necessary amount of tactile sensations and warmth, again according to age. So from a psychological point of view, if we carry a child in our arms, we are not pampering him, but developing him! Psychologists have noticed that children, whom mothers often carried in their arms during infancy, cried less, grew up calmer, became more independent and asked to be held less often at a later age. Conclusions: So, having analyzed the issue of carrying a child in your arms from different points of view, we can say the following. A small child will ask to be held, as this is inherent in him by nature and is a vital necessity in infancy. If we refuse to carry a baby in our arms, often leaving him alone with himself and toys, we deprive him of the leading activity of infancy: communication for the sake of communication, this slows down his psychological development and leads to the emergence of neurosis. When we carry a baby in our arms, we cannot spoil him, we can instill in him basic trust in the world, in adults, and therefore raise a sociable and optimistic baby. “Manual period” is simply necessary not only for the baby, but also for his mother. The mother begins to better understand and feel her child, feels tenderness towards him, and quickly gets used to her new social role as a mother. What to do? Let's carry babies in our arms! It's both useful and easy! We can carry a child using our hands: “cradle”, “pillar” support, carrying on one arm. The way you carry your baby on your hip in the “frog” position is very important. This method ensures normal development of the hip joint and uniform growth of the child’s legs. You can start carrying your baby in this position as early as three months. Here it is important to learn how to sit the baby correctly and hold him with your hands, since incorrectly carrying a child of this age can lead to the opposite results: joint injury and the development of such an orthopedic ailment as “congenital hip dislocation.” Today, many devices have been invented to make mom’s life easier. Among them are those that help carry babies: kangaroo bags and slings. "Kangaroos." It is better to choose those models in which the baby is pressed quite tightly against the mother - this makes him more comfortable and calmer. You can carry the baby in different ways - facing the mother's chest or with her back, as well as behind her mother's back. Some babies prefer a certain position, others change them depending on their mood and condition. Active explorers of the world want to sit exclusively with their backs to their mother’s chest, while the more timid ones are more comfortable seeing their own face in front of them. Sling - sling or patchwork holder. The most convenient and easy to use. It can be deformed into a cradle for a newborn, and into a “kangaroo” for a six-month-old baby, and into a “duffel bag” in which a fully conscious one and a half to two-year-old child sits. Choose the wearing method that is most comfortable and acceptable for you. What else should I do? Listen carefully and silently, without interrupting, to all the advice and comments of relatives (after all, they really care about us) and remain firm in your intention and approach to raising a child. And one more thing: whenever your baby cries, listen to yourself. If you want to take him in your arms, hold him close, kiss him, pat him on the head, don’t restrain yourself, feel free to do just that! This is exactly what he needs now. Be loving but firm parents. Because children feel our insecurities very strongly. Do not forget that there is no single correct and clear way to raise and raise children: in this matter, the proverb “how many people, so many opinions” works in full force. And since all children are different and each baby is individual, the rule still applies here: “how many children, so many ways.” Khalikova Maria, practical psychologist.

Taken from here https://babymama.com.ua/publ/27-1-0-329

EXPERT'S COMMENT

Mikhail Tagirov, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Ph.D.:

— If you want to carry a child on yourself, choose a sling or backpack that tightly presses the baby’s entire body (neck, shoulders, lower back, pelvis - all parts of the spine!) to the parent’s body: due to this attraction, the load on the spine is relieved. The child should not “hang” on the perineum; in such cases, excessive load is placed on the lower spine, deforming it. The “frog” leg spread is useful; it is available both in slings and in backpacks, when carrying children in front and on their sides. You can carry the child in this way without a break, then you need to take a break and give the baby the opportunity to spend at least 20 minutes “in the wild.” (even if you are traveling somewhere and the path takes breaks, breaks are necessary!). Among horizontal baby carriers, those with a hard bottom are preferable - it will protect the child’s spine from possible injuries if, say, the parents lower the cradle to the floor too abruptly.

Carrying and maternal health

Carrying a child in your arms is, of course, good, but how will this affect the health of the mother herself? Let's look at the most serious conditions first.

In the case of dangerous infectious diseases of the mother, contact with the child may in principle be contraindicated.

In case of a serious condition (after a complicated birth, caesarean section, abdominal surgery, trauma, etc.), with the permission of doctors, it is possible for mother and child to stay in bed together. Then, it is usually recommended to carry the baby in a sling, since the load is better distributed and it is easier for the mother to take the baby in her arms.

Varicose veins are unfortunately a common condition during pregnancy. Here you need to consult a phlebologist. For healthy women, this consultation will also not hurt - there is preventive compression stockings.

A sling on both shoulders will also help with disorders of the mother’s musculoskeletal system. In any case, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Mothers with health problems who do not want to carry a child in their arms one way or another need to consult a specialized doctor. The catch is that you will have to pick up a crib baby, drag the stroller, and bathe it in the bathtub. And this is a serious burden for an unprepared body.

Now a few words about the fact that carrying a child is hard. During pregnancy, the mother's weight increases significantly. Especially in recent weeks, a large belly is perceived as extremely difficult. The grown uterus puts pressure on the internal organs, interferes with free breathing, the volume of maternal blood is increased - the heart works for two, three, and sometimes four!

You can read about back and joint pain at the link provided.

After childbirth, a woman’s weight decreases, even if she holds the baby in her arms. Amniotic fluid, placenta, and part of the blood leave, and this is a very significant plumb line. It will be difficult to breathe while standing for some time - this is absolutely normal and will soon pass. Belly tying helps relieve this discomfort.

The baby is born and the mother feels better.

Mom + newborn weigh less than a pregnant woman! This means that the load on the mother has decreased, the muscles involved in the work have simply changed a little.

The child grows gradually, the mother has time to get used to the increasing load. For those who are still afraid, read the article about the norms of physical activity for healthy people. As for me, a tame child is an excellent assistant in the mother’s health.

Physical activity is the best way to stay slim and prevent a number of diseases, including osteoporosis. The weight of the child, affecting the mother’s musculoskeletal system, reflexively promotes better absorption of calcium, which is so important for a nursing mother.

And, of course, wearing it correctly, especially in a sling, simply transforms the mother’s posture. She becomes perfect. Add to these benefits the unimaginable happiness of feeling the baby so close to you, feeling the smell of a child, being able to kiss the top of your beloved head at any moment...

Florence, Italy 1649

Thus, with a reasonable approach to carrying a baby, mother and child receive a range of health and development benefits.