How long does it take for a newborn to be held upright?

When a newborn is just born, her developmental characteristics are that her head is relatively large and heavy. At this time, the child's muscles are still relatively weak, so you must be careful when holding the baby. If you don't hold the baby properly, it may cause damage to the baby's cervical spine. This kind of harm is relatively large. The child's good development cannot wait until the baby is about three months old, when his bones are better developed, and then he can be held upright.

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. Holding the baby horizontally: Let the baby lie horizontally on your forearm, support his back with your palm, pinch the outer buttocks and thighs with your fingers, and place the baby's head and neck in the crook of your arm, with the chest and abdomen close to the mother's chest and upper abdomen. The mother can also use toys to tease the child or do other things with her other hand. 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.

3. Holding the baby upright: The baby lies on the mother's shoulder, and the mother holds the baby upright with the chest and abdomen pressed against the mother's chest. One arm goes around the back and grabs the baby's upper limbs 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 see the people around him with his head against the mother's shoulder. This also exercises the muscles of the head and neck, and trains the movement of holding the baby 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.