You can't spoil a baby. Contrary to popular myth, it's impossible for parents to hold or respond to a baby too much, child development experts say. Infants need constant attention to give them the foundation to grow emotionally, physically and intellectually.
This bond also makes your child feel safe in your arms, which is key to your little one's mental development. After realizing that, I'm sure you're still wondering, “Can you hold a newborn too much?” The direct answer is no, but it's still important to allow your baby to use their muscles on their own.
A 2017 study confirms what many parents already instinctively know: You should pick up babies every time they cry. The research from the University of Notre Dame found that it was impossible to spoil an infant by holding or cuddling him, according to an article at News.co.au.
The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least 1 to 2 hours each day.
Don't lift your newborn by or under their arms
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.
A stiff neck means your child can't touch the chin to the chest. To test for a stiff neck, lay your child down. Then lift his head until the chin touches the chest. If he fights you, place a toy or coin on the belly.
Babies are fragile, so be gentle and supportive. A baby's head is big and heavy compared to the rest of its body. Their head flops when it's not supported – that's because their neck muscles aren't strong enough to hold it up yet. Shaking makes the head move backwards and forwards very quickly, with a lot of force.
They're uncomfortable. In the early weeks it can be hard for a new parent to assess if there is an underlying root cause as to why your baby refuses to be put down. I've found babies who are uncomfortable seek the comfort of being held and sleeping on someone.
Babies have the right to be protected from injury and infection, to breathe normally, to be warm and to be fed. All newborns should have access to essential newborn care, which is the critical care for all babies in the first days after birth.
There is a thick and durable membrane just under your baby's scalp that protects her brain, so gently touching the fontanelles won't hurt her. To help ensure your baby's head is protected, it's a good idea to remind friends, family members, and caregivers to be careful and gentle with your baby's head.
The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back so always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side.
Many parents worry that their baby will be injured if the soft spot is touched or brushed over. The fontanel is covered by a thick, tough membrane which protects the brain. There is absolutely no danger of damaging your baby with normal handling. Don't be afraid to touch, brush over, or wash over the soft spot.
You can stop supporting your baby's head once they gain sufficient neck strength (usually around 3 or 4 months); ask your pediatrician if you're unsure. By this point, they're on their way to reaching other important developmental milestones, such as sitting up, rolling over, cruising, and crawling!
Shaken baby syndrome does not result from gentle bouncing, playful swinging or tossing the child in the air, or jogging with the child. It also is very unlikely to occur from accidents such as falling off chairs or down stairs, or accidentally being dropped from a caregiver's arms.
Mild injuries may include a lump, minor bleeding, or mild concussion. Moderate or severe injuries include concussions and head injuries. Call your doctor or seek emergency care if they have symptoms such as loss of consciousness, vomiting, are hard to wake up, or have a change in behavior.
Yes. You can kiss a newborn on the head, and the cases of any infection caused by a kiss are rare. However, staying away from the baby is better if you have a cold, cough, or any contagious disease or infection.
New parents may worry that their newborn will have stomach problems if she doesn't burp after feeding. But pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says not to worry: the air in your baby will find a way out.
It is best to hold the baby on demand up to the age of 12 months old. Babies up to this age are still developing emotionally and may require parent's attention often. However, you may also try identifying the possible need of the baby.
And with the bedtime fading technique, you put your baby to bed a little later each night, shifting bedtime back by 10 to 15 minutes, until your little one is tired enough to fall asleep on their own, even with a bit of crying. Once you hit that sweet spot, you label it as your baby's official bedtime!
However, infant healthcare professionals, safety experts and most car manufacturers recommend that babies should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours at a time and they should be taken out frequently. If your trip involves driving for long periods of time, you should stop for regular breaks.
Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. The baby, who is typically naked except for a diaper, is placed in an upright position against a parent's bare chest. Both mothers and fathers can do kangaroo care.
Babies have very weak neck muscles that cannot fully support their proportionately large heads. Severe shaking causes the baby's head to move violently back and forth, resulting in serious and sometimes fatal brain injury.