Stop! Don’t Lift Your Baby by Their Arms
It's crucial to avoid picking up your baby by their hands or arms. This practice can lead to a common injury called nursemaid's elbow, where the elbow joint partially dislocates. ER doctors frequently cite nursemaid's elbow as one of the most common injuries in babies and toddlers, as their joints and ligaments are still developing making them more susceptible to injury. Here’s how to handle your baby safely:
How to Safely Pick Up Your Baby:
Support the Head and Neck: Always support your baby’s head and neck with one hand until baby develops enough neck strength to support their head with confidence.
Lift from the Torso: Place your other hand under their bottom or back to lift them gently. Don’t lift from their armpits until baby’s core muscles are more developed.
Support Baby Against Your Own Body: Cradle your baby close to your torso, chest, or shoulder for added support and security.
Supporting Your Baby While Learning to Walk:
Get Down to Their Level: When helping your baby learn to walk, hold their hands but bend down such that their arms are level with their torso instead of raised over their head.
Use a Walking Aid: Consider using a baby walker or push toy designed to help babies develop walking skills safely. Some parents even use a hula hoop so they don’t have to stoop over to baby’s level.
@honeycombapp_ We asked an ER doctor what the top reasons for baby emergency room visits was and he told us about nursemaid's elbow. It can be so tempting to swing baby around by the arms but since baby's ligaments and joints aren't fully developed til age 5+, baby's elbow can easily get pulled and dislocated! Dads especially love to do this, so send to dads take note! #newmom #firsttimemom #firsttimeparent #newparents #newdad #newmomtips #honeycombparentadvice #newborntips #babytips ♬ William Tell Overture - Kazukicki KAWAI
More New Parent Tips
Now that you know how to hold your baby and help them learn to walk safetly, check out these other how-to guides to make parenting a little easier:
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