How many months can a baby be held upright?

When a baby is born amid the family's anticipation, it will bring a lot of joy to the family. Everyone likes to hold the baby and look at it. They all love the baby. Babies, in particular, are not fully developed physically, so there are many things to pay attention to when holding a baby. If the method of holding a baby is incorrect, it will have some impact on the baby's growth, and sometimes the consequences are quite serious. The baby can only be held upright after three months.

The characteristics of infant growth and development are a large and heavy head, more gelatin in the bones, underdeveloped muscles, and weak muscle strength. Therefore, a one-month-old baby can only lift his head slightly for a moment, and the head can begin to stand upright at three months. Because the neck and back muscles are not yet fully developed, babies aged 1 to 3 months cannot support the weight of their heads for a long time. Therefore, the posture for holding a baby of 1 to 3 months is very particular, and the key is to support the baby's head.

For babies aged 1 to 2 months, it is mainly best to hold them flat, but they can also be held diagonally at a smaller angle. When holding the baby flat, let the baby lie flat in the adult's arms; when holding the baby diagonally, let the child lie diagonally in the adult's arms. Whether the baby is held flat or at an angle, the adult's forearm should support the baby's head. The other arm supports the baby's hips and waist. For babies who are prone to spitting up, they should be held at an angle. This can prevent spitting up or reduce the degree of spitting up.

Three-month-old babies are mainly held in an oblique or upright position. When holding the child obliquely, the angle at which the child tilts upward can be slightly larger. There are two postures to choose from when holding a child upright. One upright holding position is that the baby sits on one of the adult's forearms with his back facing the adult, and the adult's other hand holds the baby's chest so that the baby's head and back are against the adult's chest; another upright holding position is that the baby sits on one of the adult's forearms with his face facing the adult, and the adult's other hand supports the baby's head, neck and back so that the baby's chest is close to the adult's chest and shoulders.

When holding a baby, you must pay attention to protecting the baby and holding the baby comfortably and making the baby feel safe. Lifting and putting down should be slow and gentle.

1. Horizontal hold:

You can let the baby lie horizontally on your forearm, support his back with your palm, pinch the outer buttocks and thighs with your fingers, rest the baby's head and neck in the crook of your arm, and the near side of the chest and abdomen close to the mother's chest and upper abdomen. The mother can use her other hand to tease the child with toys or do other things. When the baby is a little older, you should hold the baby horizontally with both hands, with one arm supporting the baby's head and the back of the neck, the palms holding the baby's outer shoulders and arms from the back, and the other hand supporting the baby's hips and legs from below. This way, the baby will not easily slip when held horizontally. You sit on a chair and can place the baby on his back on your thighs, support the baby's head, neck and upper back from both sides with your hands, and let the baby's feet rest on your abdomen. You can also place the baby horizontally on the mother's thighs and support the baby up and down with both hands.

Babies like to look at people around them from an early age. They appear particularly happy and active when they are held upright while sitting. The head, neck and upper body of the baby in horizontal holding can be gradually raised to make the baby slowly accustomed to keeping the upper body upright. When the baby's head can be upright, the mother can hold the baby in a sitting position, with the baby's buttocks and lower limbs placed on the mother's thighs while the baby sits upright. The baby's face turns to one side. Put one arm around the baby's neck and hold the outer armpit, and press the other side of the baby's shoulder against the mother's chest. Holding the baby in a sitting position can not only allow the baby to look around, but also the mother and baby can look at each other, talk and tease each other. Another sitting hold is for the baby to lean against the mother's chest with his face and hands facing forward, and the mother puts one hand around the baby from the armpits across the chest. Reach your other hand under the baby's thigh on the same side to the other side and hold the other side's buttocks and thigh.

3. Hold vertically:

The baby lies on the mother's shoulder, and the mother holds the baby upright with his chest and abdomen pressed against the mother's chest. One arm goes around the back and grabs the baby's upper limb on the opposite side. If the baby's head cannot stand upright yet, the mother can support the baby's head and neck with her palm. The mother uses her other hand to support the baby's hips and legs from behind, supporting the mother's whole body weight and holding the baby tightly. In this way, the baby can look back with his head against the mother's shoulder and see the people around him. This also exercises the muscles of the head and neck and trains the movement of holding the head upright. When placing the baby from the holding position onto the bed or table, the mother's movements should be gentle and slow. The mother's arms can stay there for a while after putting the baby down. When the baby feels that he is not shaking, safe and comfortable, the mother can slowly withdraw both hands one after another.