When should you take your newborn out

When Can Newborns Go Outside? Safety and More

Hello, fresh air and sunshine! Exiting the hospital with your new baby can be a magical moment. Unfortunately, it may also leave you with a sense of panic as you realize that your little one is now entering into the real world.

You may have heard from a friend or family member that newborns shouldn’t be outside for the first couple of months of their lives. Is this true? Should you really keep your baby inside for the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth?

If your anxiety is rising just thinking about this, don’t worry!

We understand that being a new parent can be overwhelming, so we’ve gone through the research to help answer all your questions about taking your newborn out and about for the first time.

Most pediatric health experts agree that babies can head outside right away, as long as you use basic safety precautions. (More on those to come, so keep calm and read on!)

Generally speaking, there’s no need to stay inside with your little one for the first 1 or 2 months of baby’s life if you both feel up to getting out. In fact, some fresh air and sunshine can benefit you both, thanks to vitamin D and mood-boosting benefits.

One exception to keep in mind, though, is that some doctors prefer you wait a bit before taking your little one into crowded spaces where they may be exposed to high levels of germs — especially during COVID-19 surges.

It is true that your newborn’s immune system is still developing and may struggle to fight off infections.

There are precautions you can take, though — like hand washing and physical distancing — to minimize the chance of your little one developing an illness.

For most infants, taking typical safety precautions while outside is sufficient to keep them safe.

In rare cases where your child has a health condition that makes their immune system particularly susceptible to germs, your doctor may advise you to take extra precautions. These can include staying at home during periods of specific concern.

If you’re ready to take your little one outside, you’ll want to make sure to follow appropriate safety measures. These include:

Dress them in weather-appropriate clothing

Double-check baby’s outfit to make sure it’s weather appropriate. You’ll probably also want to have a spare outfit or blanket packed, in case of an emergency change or if extra layers are needed.

A general rule of thumb is to dress your baby for the weather and then add one extra layer. You’ll want to check to make sure they’re comfortable throughout the outing as well.

Have a sun-protection plan

A little sunshine can be nice, but baby skin burns easier, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s covered with clothing and a sun hat or hidden in the shade.

Because infants are at a greater risk of sunscreen side effects, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping infants in the shade and out of direct sunlight. However, in a pinch it may be OK to apply small amounts of sunscreen to exposed skin. Just consult with your pediatrician first if your baby is younger than 6 months old.

Avoid crowds

Crowded places like malls, airplanes, or pools mean that there’s more chances for germs to spread.

Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts encourage parents to avoid these places with their newborns.

If possible, it’s also best to avoid places like the grocery store and indoor restaurants where ventilation may be poor and you might have trouble physical distancing from other people.

Wash your hands — and make sure others do, too

Ensure that anyone who touches your baby has washed their hands. No one showing any symptoms of illness should come in contact with your newborn.

You may even wish to teach young siblings to touch only baby’s toes or back and not their hands or face. This may help reduce the risk of spreading germs.

Limit visitors

It might be hard to say no when well-meaning family and friends want to visit baby, but it’s good to limit who is allowed around your newborn.

Again, because of COVID-19, many experts are suggesting restricting visitors around you and your newborn until the pandemic improves.

Use a baby carrier

Babies can be irresistible! But wearing baby in a baby carrier rather than using a stroller can keep your little one close and help prevent other people from touching (or kissing!) them.

There are some times when you’ll want to think twice before loading baby into their car seat or stroller. You may wish to stay inside your home if:

Extreme weather conditions are occurring. Mail carriers may brave wind, snow, sleet, and hail, but your newborn should avoid extreme temperatures and being outside in bad air quality whenever possible.
Your child has a medical condition. If your newborn has special medical needs that leave them particularly susceptible to germs, you’ll want to consult with their doctor before taking them out and about.
It’s peak sunlight hours. The middle of the day can be an especially hard time to find shade and protect your baby’s skin. For this reason, you may wish to avoid excessive time outside when the sun is at its strongest.

If you do need to go outside with baby for any reason, especially in warmer weather and for longer periods of time, be sure to bring plenty of breast milk or formula to keep them hydrated.

Most doctors agree that there’s no need to wait until your baby is 1 or 2 months old to take them out and about. However, you also shouldn’t feel pressure to do it before you’re ready.

Newborn babies can seem so delicate, you might want to put them inside a bubble of protection (or at least never let them see sunlight).

The truth is some sun protection, weather-appropriate clothing, and distance from crowds will probably be enough to keep them safe.

If you have any questions about taking your newborn outside or if your infant has special medical circumstances to consider, you should never hesitate to speak with your child’s pediatrician.

When Can Newborns Go Outside? Safety and More

If your anxiety is rising just thinking about this, don’t worry!

We understand that being a new parent can be overwhelming, so we’ve gone through the research to help answer all your questions about taking your newborn out and about for the first time.

Most pediatric health experts agree that babies can head outside right away, as long as you use basic safety precautions. (More on those to come, so keep calm and read on!)

It is true that your newborn’s immune system is still developing and may struggle to fight off infections.

There are precautions you can take, though — like hand washing and physical distancing — to minimize the chance of your little one developing an illness.

For most infants, taking typical safety precautions while outside is sufficient to keep them safe.

If you’re ready to take your little one outside, you’ll want to make sure to follow appropriate safety measures. These include:

Dress them in weather-appropriate clothing

A general rule of thumb is to dress your baby for the weather and then add one extra layer. You’ll want to check to make sure they’re comfortable throughout the outing as well.

Have a sun-protection plan

A little sunshine can be nice, but baby skin burns easier, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s covered with clothing and a sun hat or hidden in the shade.

Avoid crowds

Crowded places like malls, airplanes, or pools mean that there’s more chances for germs to spread.

Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts encourage parents to avoid these places with their newborns.

If possible, it’s also best to avoid places like the grocery store and indoor restaurants where ventilation may be poor and you might have trouble physical distancing from other people.

Wash your hands — and make sure others do, too

Ensure that anyone who touches your baby has washed their hands. No one showing any symptoms of illness should come in contact with your newborn.

You may even wish to teach young siblings to touch only baby’s toes or back and not their hands or face. This may help reduce the risk of spreading germs.

Limit visitors

It might be hard to say no when well-meaning family and friends want to visit baby, but it’s good to limit who is allowed around your newborn.

Again, because of COVID-19, many experts are suggesting restricting visitors around you and your newborn until the pandemic improves.

Use a baby carrier

Babies can be irresistible! But wearing baby in a baby carrier rather than using a stroller can keep your little one close and help prevent other people from touching (or kissing!) them.

There are some times when you’ll want to think twice before loading baby into their car seat or stroller. You may wish to stay inside your home if:

Extreme weather conditions are occurring. Mail carriers may brave wind, snow, sleet, and hail, but your newborn should avoid extreme temperatures and being outside in bad air quality whenever possible.
Your child has a medical condition. If your newborn has special medical needs that leave them particularly susceptible to germs, you’ll want to consult with their doctor before taking them out and about.
It’s peak sunlight hours. The middle of the day can be an especially hard time to find shade and protect your baby’s skin. For this reason, you may wish to avoid excessive time outside when the sun is at its strongest.

If you do need to go outside with baby for any reason, especially in warmer weather and for longer periods of time, be sure to bring plenty of breast milk or formula to keep them hydrated.

Most doctors agree that there’s no need to wait until your baby is 1 or 2 months old to take them out and about. However, you also shouldn’t feel pressure to do it before you’re ready.

Newborn babies can seem so delicate, you might want to put them inside a bubble of protection (or at least never let them see sunlight).

The truth is some sun protection, weather-appropriate clothing, and distance from crowds will probably be enough to keep them safe.

If you have any questions about taking your newborn outside or if your infant has special medical circumstances to consider, you should never hesitate to speak with your child’s pediatrician.

medical examinations, examinations and vaccinations

Download fun checklist

The first year of life is the most difficult for the human body. It is very important not to miss possible developmental problems while they are still easy to fix, so you will often have to visit the clinic with a baby, even if he is absolutely healthy. Examination by a pediatrician, for example, is mandatory every month for a year, not counting acute diseases, and besides him, there are also specialized doctors, ultrasound, tests ...

Every parent understands that a newborn needs medical support and tries to give him the best, but the first year is almost always accompanied by two main fears:

so many examinations are needed that we will definitely forget something;
so many surveys are needed that we will definitely go bankrupt.

The best way to get rid of both at once is to choose an annual maintenance program for the baby. In this case, we will remind you of the necessary visits and vaccines, and for better control, below we provide a list of everything that your child needs in terms of medicine during the first year of life. As for the money side of the issue - the annual service is almost always more profitable than paying for each individual visit.

First, you immediately understand how much you will pay. Secondly, we provide new parents with special offers and various options for such programs that will allow you to save money.

The package includes not only preventive examinations, but also emergency calls to the doctor at home, so that you can be calm.

Below we provide you with a complete list of examinations and vaccines needed in the first year of life. This is very important information, be sure to check it as your baby grows up. Some studies can only be done at a certain age!

Reminder: medical care for a child from 0 to one year old

First week after birth

DOCTORS. Neonatologist examines the newborn in the maternity hospital and repeats the examination every day until discharge. After discharge, pediatricians must come to your home - district, from the state polyclinic, if information from the maternity hospital was transferred there, or family, if you have an annual contract. The main thing that doctors control at this stage is height, weight, basic reflexes, tone, they advise you on the regimen, hygiene, breastfeeding or formula selection, care for the umbilical wound and any other issues related to the health of your child.

VACCINATIONS. If the baby is healthy, full-term, and you sign a consent to his vaccination, in the first few hours after birth, he is immunized against viral hepatitis. This is very important, since newborns are practically defenseless against him.

At 3-5 days old, the newborn is also vaccinated with BCG against tuberculosis.

SURVEY. On the fourth day after the birth of full-term babies and on the seventh day after the birth of premature babies in the maternity hospital, neonatal screening, so-called "heel test" - screening with a blood sample taken from the heel of a newborn for the early detection of five serious diseases:

congenital hypothyroidism - a violation of the production of hormones by the thyroid gland, which is compensated by replacement therapy;

adrenogenital syndrome - a hereditarily caused violation of the synthesis of adrenal hormones; such a violation of the hormonal balance can lead to improper sexual development, short stature;

phenylketonuria - the inability of the body to break down phenylalanine, an amino acid that many proteins contain, as a result of which toxins affect the central nervous system up to the development of mental retardation; successfully treated with timely diagnosis;

galactosemia - a hereditary disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, in which the work of internal organs, primarily the central nervous system, is disrupted.

cystic fibrosis - an incurable disease of the external secretion glands, requiring special therapy for the patient.

If you have been discharged from the maternity hospital before the fourth day, be sure to contact the state polyclinic so that the screening is done free of charge after discharge. Screening results are reported to parents only if any of the tests are positive or questionable and need to be rechecked. If the blood was taken from the baby, but the results were not sent to you, then everything is in order.

The maternity hospital also performs audiological screening - checks the baby's hearing. The results of the audiological screening are attached to the discharge. If suddenly this study was not done in the maternity hospital, it must be done in the clinic when the baby is 1 month old.

1 month

DOCTORS. You will get to know your pediatrician much earlier than the baby is one month old. The next day after discharge from the hospital, he will come to your house to examine the newborn. However, the first visit to the pediatrician in the clinic usually occurs when the neonatal period (28 days) has already passed.

During the first year of a baby's life, the pediatrician should examine him every month. A standard examination includes weighing, measuring height, measuring the circumference of the head and chest, examining the throat, nose, genitals, palpation of the abdomen, listening with a phonendoscope. At the appointment, the pediatrician answers all your questions regarding the care of a new family member.

It is also obligatory to visit a pediatric neurologist (in the first year of life, in the absence of complications, you will have to visit a neurologist three times). The neurologist checks the fontanelles and how they overgrow, evaluates muscle tone, intracranial pressure. If parents are supporters of vaccination, in the early months of life, the pediatrician often requests the opinion of a neurologist in order to make the final decision on the readiness of the baby for vaccinations.

At the age of 1 month, the baby must necessarily be examined by an orthopedic surgeon (as well as a surgeon , but many doctors combine these specialties, then a visit to the orthopedic surgeon is enough). He checks muscle tone, the presence of an umbilical hernia, excludes congenital pathologies, such as torticollis, gives recommendations on the morning workout, which the mother does on her own with the baby at home. At this age, it is very important to determine if a child has hip dysplasia - an underdevelopment of the joint, which can lead to joint dislocation and even lameness. With a timely diagnosis and early treatment, dysplasia is well corrected and does not leave consequences.

Ophthalmologist examines the baby's eyes to exclude congenital diseases - cataracts, pathology of the retina and optic nerve, and also checks the patency of the nasolacrimal canals - it is known that newborns do not start crying tears immediately after birth, but at first they cry without tears. In some cases, probing of the nasolacrimal canals is required.

For an absolutely healthy, full-term ward, the ophthalmologist can schedule the next visit when the child is six months old. For premature babies, the doctor forms a different, more frequent schedule of visits, especially in the first six months.

VACCINATIONS. When the baby is one month old, according to the National Immunization Schedule, he should be given the second vaccination against viral hepatitis B.

SURVEYS. At the age of 1 month, the baby is given ultrasound examinations (as a rule, in fact this happens between 1 and 2 months, based on the prescriptions of doctors who examine him when he reaches 1 month). The standard set of studies is:

neurosonography, or ultrasound of the brain. At this age, it is done through the fontanel and allows you to see the structure of the brain and blood flow. NSG allows to exclude congenital malformations of the brain;

Ultrasound of the hip joints, the main purpose of which is to exclude (or confirm) hip dysplasia;

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. As in previous cases, the main purpose of this study is to exclude congenital pathologies;

Ultrasound of the urinary system;

Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiography).

Often, a baby is prescribed a general blood test and a general urinalysis, especially if he had (or still has) manifestations of physiological neonatal jaundice. KLA and OAM will also be taken before each vaccination to make sure that the child does not have an acute viral disease, and vaccination is not contraindicated for him.

2 months

DOCTORS. Pediatrician during the monthly check-up not only performs a standard set of procedures - measures the baby, weighs it, examines it, listens to the heartbeat, answers parents' questions and gives them recommendations, but also evaluates the results of tests and ultrasound that you did during this month. Based on them, he can give you additional recommendations.

VACCINATIONS. According to the National Calendar, at the age of two months, the child should receive the first dose of pneumococcal vaccines.

2 months is the time to definitely decide whether you will vaccinate baby against rotavirus infection, because the first dose of the vaccine must be administered before 12 weeks. The vaccine is called Rotatek, is given by mouth (no injections) and is given in three doses spaced 4 to 12 weeks apart, but all three doses must be taken no later than 32 weeks. Rotatek is not included in the National calendar. However, the prevention of rotavirus is a very useful thing, since children get sick repeatedly and often severely - with vomiting, diarrhea and fever, easily infecting adult family members. If you are vacationing in the Black Sea in the summer, you should think very seriously about vaccination - getting infected with rotavirus there is as easy as shelling pears.

3 months

DOCTORS. See an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist again at three months . At this time, the innate reflex of resting on the legs begins to fade - it is gradually replaced by a newly acquired one, necessary in order to stand and walk in the future. The doctor checks how the baby holds the head, what condition his muscles are in, whether there is an umbilical or inguinal hernia, gives recommendations on developing gymnastics, and may recommend a massage course.

Last on the list of doctors to visit is, of course, pediatrician. Usually a visit to him is planned when all the specialist doctors have already passed, as he summarizes all the conclusions given by the specialized doctors, developing final recommendations.

VACCINATIONS. According to the National calendar, pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus (DTP) vaccinations are given at three months, as well as vaccinations against poliomyelitis and against Haemophilus influenzae. The latter is included in the National calendar marked “for risk groups”, however, pediatricians recommend doing it if possible. In domestic pharmacology, respectively, we are talking about three injections.

Since the domestic DPT is quite reactogenic, the French Pentaxim vaccine is popular among parents. Unlike DTP, it does not contain whole killed pertussis cells, but isolated pertussis toxoid, which reduces the risk of a reaction in the post-vaccination period. Pentaxim is a five-component vaccine, it develops immunity against all five of the listed diseases, that is, it is not necessary to vaccinate separately against polio and against hemophilic infection along with it. Another popular analogue of DTP is the Belgian Infanrix Hexa, it is six-component: it also contains a component that protects against hepatitis B. If for some reason you missed hepatitis B vaccination at 1 or 2 months (for example, you received a temporary medical exemption), this is the best option .

If you started immunizing your child against rotavirus infection in time, at 3 months he needs to receive a second dose.

4 months

DOCTORS. Monthly check-up time with pediatrician. Usually, since this is a rather calm visit, it is at this visit that, in addition to the mandatory procedures, parents' plans for the introduction of complementary foods are discussed. For formula-fed and mixed-fed babies, pediatricians recommend starting complementary foods at four and a half months of age. For babies, this period comes later, sometimes after 8 months. Much depends on how the baby gains weight. Usually thin children are recommended hypoallergenic cereals, denser - vegetables.

VACCINATIONS. At 4 months, the baby should receive the third and final dose of rotavirus vaccine. (Possibly later: the interval between doses can be from 4 to 10 weeks. It is only critical that the first dose be administered no later than 12 weeks, and the third no later than 8 months.)

During the same period, a second vaccination against pneumococcal infection should be given. There are two different methods of immunizing children under one year of age: 3 times (at 2 months, 3 months and 6 months) and 2+1. If the first dose of pneumococcal vaccine was administered after 6 months, then 2 doses are given up to 12 months and once after 1 year.

5 months

DOCTORS. Mandatory monthly visit to pediatrician. In addition to the already familiar procedures, the pediatrician will evaluate the baby's new skills - whether he leans on his hands, whether he rolls over. If you have already started introducing solid foods, your pediatrician will ask questions about your baby's reaction to the new food.

VACCINATIONS. National calendar official recommendation for second vaccination against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus, as well as for vaccinations against polio and against hemophilic infection - 4.5 months, but in practice they are much more often done exactly at 5 months, since parents prefer to combine vaccination with a routine examination by a pediatrician.

6 months

DOCTORS. Six months is an important milestone. And again, the time comes for a quarterly visit to a neurologist. At the appointment, he will look at how the baby is developing, the state of muscle tone and the size of the fontanel. is moving.

In half a year it is necessary to see an orthopedic surgeon again . By this age, many babies begin to roll over and crawl, and some even sit up. The orthopedist will evaluate the development of the muscular corset.

The Ophthalmologist will perform a standard set of examinations to ensure that your baby's vision is developing normally.

The semi-annual examination ends with a mandatory visit to pediatrician. 6 months - the time when the baby's body is preparing for the eruption of the first teeth, and the gums can greatly disturb him. This can cause sleep disturbance, restless behavior and even refusal to eat, before the appearance of the first tooth, the child may have a fever, runny nose. The pediatrician will give you recommendations on how to make this difficult process as easy as possible.

VACCINATIONS. At six months, the third and final dose of is given for pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae vaccines. The third hepatitis B vaccination is also given at six months.

A week before and another week after a routine vaccination, it is recommended to suspend the introduction of new foods into the diet. If your baby is already trying complementary foods, pause for the duration of the vaccination (you do not need to cancel already introduced products).

7 months

DOCTORS. As usual, visit the pediatrician once a month. The older the young patient becomes, the more difficult these visits can be: the baby already clearly distinguishes "his" adults (whom he sees every day) from "strangers", strangers, including doctors. At the same time, his interest in the world around him is growing, so bright pictures on the walls, new toys in the clinic, smiling doctors and nurses are very important for a calm visit to the clinic.

8 months

DOCTORS. By eight months, the child can already stand, holding on to a support. His games with toys become meaningful. He develops an interest in food - he wants to try the food that his parents eat. He is interested in other children, especially if they are older. Putting it on the scales at pediatrician, most likely will no longer work - from now on we weigh ourselves while sitting!

9 months

DOCTORS. Nine months is a new critical stage in a child's development. He is preparing to take the first steps, which means that his ability to master the world around him will change dramatically. At 9 months pediatrician assesses how the baby interacts with people and objects, whether he has babble, what syllables he speaks. Important information will be how easily he falls asleep, what kind of sleep he has developed, how the baby behaves during the day.

If the child is completely healthy, an additional visit to the neurologist and orthopedic surgeon at 9he doesn't need months. However, the pediatrician can appoint an additional consultation with these specialists if something raises questions in him.

VACCINATIONS. 9 months is the age at which the first meningococcal vaccine can be given. It is not included in the National calendar, that is, it cannot be done at the expense of the state budget at the expense of the state budget. However, modern pediatricians strongly recommend doing it. Meningococcal infection, unfortunately, has a high mortality rate, and develops in a matter of hours, and often they do not even have time to diagnose it, much less take the patient to the hospital before the changes are irreversible. On the territory of Russia there is no certified vaccine against meningococcal type B infection (in Europe it is - this is the Bexsero vaccine), but you can protect children from meningitis types A, C, Y and W-135 - the Menactra vaccine is available in our country. It is administered in two doses: at nine months and a year.

10 months

DOCTORS. At ten months, you need to undergo a monthly preventive examination by a pediatrician , to re-evaluate the general health of the baby.

11 months

DOCTORS. Of the doctors at 11 months, you will only have to visit a pediatrician who has already become a good friend . There are no surprises - the procedure is familiar to you. If the baby has already begun to walk, the pediatrician will definitely look at how he does it and give his recommendations, but you will receive a detailed conclusion from the orthopedist in a month.

12 months

DOCTORS. Neurologist. At the age of one, he already asks questions about how many words and syllables the baby speaks, evaluates the formation of a pointing gesture, simple communication skills. Parents may think it's too early for questions about speech, but most children already speak at least one word by this age.

It is also necessary to undergo a quarterly examination by orthopedist every year. Many children begin to walk by this age, and weight bearing on developing feet can cause varus or valgus deformity, so this visit is particularly important.

At twelve months, the child should be examined by an ophthalmologist . If a one-month-old baby could not yet properly focus his eyes on an object, a one-year-old baby is already happy to follow the toy, and this makes it possible to early diagnose certain visual pathologies, such as strabismus. In a year, a number of pathologies of the retina and lens are also excluded.

It's time to visit otorhinolaryngologist. His area of responsibility is ear-nose-throat. You will have a routine checkup.

A year is a good reason to visit pediatric dentist for the first time. By this time, most children have several teeth and the dentist will be able to assess how the bite is formed and give useful advice on daily hygiene. They are especially relevant if the baby is still eating at night (breast milk, formula, in general, anything but water).

And, of course, pediatrician. After a year, you will only visit once every three months.

VACCINATIONS. vaccinations against measles, rubella and mumps (mumps) are given per year: Belgian Priorix is considered the best, but a domestic analogue is often also made. She will protect the child almost to school, since revaccination is done only at 6 years old.

If you decide to vaccinate your son or daughter against meningococcal disease, a year is the time for a second dose of Menactra.

Not included in the National Calendar, but recommended by pediatricians varicella vaccine - Varilrix. Although chickenpox is not considered by many parents to be a serious illness, it can proceed in very different ways and, unfortunately, lead to complications. Varilrix can be done from 12 months. Simultaneous administration of Varilrix with Priorix (in different limbs) is acceptable, this does not reduce the effectiveness of immunization and does not increase the likelihood of a reaction in the post-vaccination period. However, if they were not made at the same time, at least 30 days must pass between Priorix and Varilrix.

SURVEY. At 12 months, it is necessary to do a test for the Mantoux reaction - including those children who were vaccinated against tuberculosis in the maternity hospital. The test allows you to determine whether the child is immune to tuberculosis and whether he needs revaccination. Since the Mantoux reaction is evaluated on the third day after the test, a visit to the pediatrician for evaluation is usually combined with Priorix.

Also, it is recommended to do ECG per year, especially if an additional chord of the left ventricle was previously detected, systolytic murmurs, etc. were heard.

If at 1 month the child was not done ultrasound of the urinary system (sometimes only ultrasound of the abdominal organs is limited), then it must be done at 1 year.

In addition to a general blood test and a general urinalysis, , a general stool test, , and an additional blood test for glucose must be done a year.

Well, that's all! Happy first year to you!
The first year of a child's life is the most difficult for parents. You have to master a huge amount of information, hear and read a lot of different opinions and make your own decisions about how you will take care of the health of your baby. Our doctors are always ready to help you with this - with any questions, at any time.
We wish you good health!

To call a pediatrician at home and receive comprehensive consultations, contact the specialists of our clinic at the numbers listed on the website. Experienced staff will help you and your baby cope with the symptoms of the disease and talk about how to provide the child with effective and safe treatment.

How to hold your baby correctly

Bagdasaryan Kristina Genrihovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ultrasound doctor

Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

So, how to take the child from the supine position. Grasp his chest with both hands - thumbs in front, and the rest hold the back. If the baby is not yet able to hold his head, support it with your index fingers. Gently lift your baby up. Do not forget, your face turned to the child should always express the kindest feelings. Talk to the baby, tell him what you are doing, the voice should not be very loud, gentle.

Those who take a small child in their arms are divided into two categories: relatives who live with him under the same roof, and visitors. You should not allow a visitor to the child who has not taken off his outerwear, hat, street shoes, has not washed his hands with soap, has not freed his hands from rings, rings, watches, bracelets. The baby can be frightened by sharp extraneous odors, for example, the smell of tobacco, alcohol, perfume.
Sick people should not be allowed near the child - coughing, sneezing, as well as complaining of indigestion, suffering from skin diseases.

Even if loving relatives have come a long way on trains and planes to visit the baby, be persistent and keep the guests “in quarantine” for several days - will the infection picked up on the road show up? They may be offended, but the child will remain healthy! In order to more reliably protect the psyche and immune system of the child, it is useful in his first six months of life to limit the circle of people admitted to him. These are the rules, and no one - neither the formidable mother-in-law, nor the neighbor, nor the beloved boss - deserves an exception.
Some parents take the baby in their arms with unthinkable precautions, others, on the contrary, snatch it from the crib so famously. All these are extremes. So how should it be?

do not make sudden movements when holding the baby

never take it with one hand - only with both

do not raise or lower the baby quickly, rapidly

do not take it out of the crib by pulling on the handles

The position of the baby in the arms of the mother (or another adult), first of all, depends on his age, as well as on whether he will sleep or be awake. Up to 2-2.5 months (and sometimes longer), the baby’s head must be supported, so in a horizontal position (face up), arrange the baby on your arm so that the back of his head lies on your elbow, the back rests on your forearm, and your hands should support the buttocks and hips of the baby. You can put the baby on your forearm and stomach. In this case, the baby's head should be in the crook of the elbow, and your hands will close on the baby's stomach, and one hand will pass between the legs of the little one. If you want to hold the child in an upright position, for example, in order for him to burp excess air, then support his head and back: put one of your palms on the back of the baby’s head, with your forearm firmly press his body to you. With the other hand, fix the buttocks of the crumbs. In no case do not sit the child on your arm until he has confidently mastered the skill of sitting, which happens on average at the age of 6 months. From 2.5-3 months, you can already carry the baby, turning him away from you, holding him with one hand at chest level, with the other at hip level.

Depending on the age of the child, there are 6 ways to hold him in your arms.

Hanging. This method is good for babies up to 3 months old, when they still have trouble holding their head. With one hand support the neck and back of the baby's head, with the other - the buttocks, while his torso may be slightly bent, and his face turned towards you. This situation opens up scope for the much-needed emotional contact with the mother and other loved ones for a small child. Do not forget that in order to avoid the development of one-sidedness, the baby's head must be supported either with the left or with the right hand - periodically changing them.

On the arm. Ideal for babies aged 3-6 months, although you can keep your baby this way almost from birth. He rests his head on your shoulder, you hold his feet with your hand, and your arms with your forearm. With your other hand, you support the baby under the buttocks. At the same time, the child's legs should be bent at the knee and hip joints and bred. Don't forget to alternate hands.

In front of bust . Starting from 6 months, this way of holding the baby provides him with the same position as in the position on the back. The baby leans back against your chest, his legs are bent and divorced, the soles are in contact. Hold the baby's shins with your thumbs, the feet with the index, middle and ring fingers, and the buttocks with the little fingers. This position is useful for the development of the child: as well as on the back, he can play with his legs, improving movements, mastering his body and gaining an idea of \u200b\u200bspace.

In front of the stomach . In children from 7 months old, this method allows you to reproduce crawling in a plastunsky way - a motor skill that they just need to master at this age. With one hand, take the child under the chest, and pass the other between the legs, supporting the stomach. Don't forget to switch hands.

On the side. Suitable for babies from 10 months, when they are already sitting confidently. Take the child so that he wraps his legs around your side, and rests his back on your forearm. You should support the baby's knee with your hand, giving it a slightly bent position. One arm of the child is on your chest, the other is free. Please note: you need to wear a child in this position alternately from one side to the other.

And, finally, a universal and completely international way to carry children of any age. Holding the palm of your right hand under the breast of the baby, firmly press his back to your chest. With your left hand, grasp the child's right thigh, bending his legs at the hip joints. Please note: the weight of a child under 6 months should not fall on your hand supporting the baby's pelvis - this is harmful to his spine and can ruin his posture in the future.

The baby grows, his body weight increases, and it becomes difficult to carry the baby in his arms for a long time (especially after 3 months of age, when the weight of the child reaches an average of 7 kg). Here, assistive devices for carrying children, such as a baby sling and a kangaroo backpack, can help out for a while. A baby sling is a modern modification of a piece of fabric that provides close physical contact between mother and child. In addition, with it, if necessary, it is easier to breastfeed a child while on the street or in another public place. You can use a baby sling from birth to a year and a half. It all depends on the weight of the baby and your physical capabilities. It is also very important to find the optimal position for the child and for the mother, which would provide both with maximum comfort. The basic positions of the baby in a baby sling are horizontal, with support for the spine, and (for older children) raised vertical or sitting, when the baby is tightly pulled by the fabric. A kangaroo backpack can be used only after the baby learns to hold his head confidently and his back muscles get stronger. Preference should be given to backpacks with a rigid back. But, nevertheless, you should not get too carried away with a baby sling and a kangaroo backpack. Firstly, it is still more useful for the baby to lie on the hard mattress of the crib or stroller. Secondly, it is unlikely that the child will like to sleep while sitting in a backpack. And, thirdly, a long stay of a child in the same position, which causes an uneven load on different parts of the spine, can provoke a pathology of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep the baby in a baby sling and "kangaroo" for more than 40 minutes a day. When the child grows up a little, you can practice the pose when the baby sits on his mother's side, facing her. The advantages of this position: the mother has one hand free, and the child has an excellent view. If the mother, for health reasons, is not recommended to take the baby in her arms, then you can often put him on her stomach, put him on her knees.

And, finally, many parents are concerned about the question, is it possible, often taking the baby in her arms, to spoil him? If the needs of the child are not ignored, they are not denied affection and tactile contact, then this does not mean at all that he is spoiled and poorly educated. Love is not a synonym for bad parenting, especially if we are talking about a baby who is only a few weeks or months old. There is an opinion that it is impossible to spoil a child up to 12 months - until this age, all his "whims" are justified by needs, so an adult should indulge the baby in everything. And only when the baby reaches the year, parents should selectively treat his requests - based on what they are caused by. From this age, it is already possible to instill in the baby the concept that not only he, but also the people around him have needs.

Harsh parenting methods, according to which taking a child in your arms means pampering him, ignore the baby's natural need for the constant presence of the mother (or the one who cares for him). While promoting the principle of early formation of "independence", they have significant negative features. Firstly, a child who is deliberately separated from his mother does not develop a trusting, kind attitude towards the world, and this will certainly have a negative impact in his adult life. Secondly, the restriction of bodily contact between mother and baby does not contribute to the emergence of mutual feelings between them. It is not surprising that the child in such cases is perceived as a hindrance to the usual way of life and ordinary affairs. And the baby constantly needs communication and his crying is a call to everyone, and first of all to his mother. Indeed, even in those cases when, it would seem, there are no reasons for tears, the baby may burst into offended or angry crying - because he is not yet ready for loneliness, his biological connection with his mother is still too strong. Thirdly, it should be borne in mind that a strict attitude towards a child, when adults try not to show their feelings and emotions in relation to a child, is not a guarantee of a good upbringing of a child and his further success. Most often, a young mother has a lot of chores around the house. Therefore, if she often takes the baby in her arms, she will have to sacrifice some things. In addition, carrying a child in her arms is also physically not very easy. In general, if desired, there are many reasons for minimizing physical contact with a child. Here you need to prioritize and decide what is more important for you - the daily routine or the development of the child. If you want to properly take care of the child and at the same time not start life, look for helpers-allies with whom you can do everything.

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to the doctor - Bagdasaryan Kristina Genrihovna

Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

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