How to carry a baby in a column

Why keep your newborn upright?

There are several factors that explain the need to hold the baby upright:

• promoting the digestive process;
• assistance in regurgitation of excess air;
• fixation of a spine that is not fully formed;
• replacement for motion sickness.

It is known that the digestive system of a newly born child is far from perfect, so all the food entering it cannot be completely absorbed. Because of this, air bubbles accumulate in the child’s stomach and intestines, leading to painful sensations. This phenomenon is called colic. Another reason for their appearance is incorrect feeding technique. If you hold your baby correctly after feeding, you can save him from unwanted discomfort.

It is especially important to carry your baby upright in the first days after birth. Both mother and baby have not yet fully mastered feeding and have not fully adapted to each other. The individual characteristics of a newborn are not yet clear; it has not been revealed how and how much he digests food, or whether he regurgitates after eating.

It is also worth paying attention to carrying the baby in a column when artificial feeding. In this case, the child often receives more formula than he actually needs. Another beneficial aspect of this method occurs when bottle feeding. If the nipple is chosen incorrectly and the hole in it is too large, then the formula comes out too quickly, and the baby has to swallow it faster. This can lead to disruption of the digestive process and the formation of colic.

Another need for this position is burping the baby. It can occur due to overeating or air intake during breastfeeding or through a pacifier. If a child regurgitates food in large quantities, this can lead to insufficient weight gain. In this case, carrying the baby in a column can reduce the likelihood of regurgitation and normalize weight gain.

In a newborn, the formation of various organs and bones has not yet been completed, and the muscles have not yet had time to strengthen. In this regard, holding the baby upright with his back fixed straight is even useful - it turns out to be a kind of prevention of curvature.

Some children cannot fall asleep in a horizontal position, and therefore become capricious. In this case, parents have to rock the baby to sleep. But what to do if the child doesn’t like motion sickness? In this case, carrying it in a column helps, since in this position the child falls asleep without perceiving it as an attempt to lull him to sleep.

Physiological features of breastfeeding

A nursing mother puts the baby to the breast at his request; in this case, it is not possible to overfeed. During feeding, air can enter the baby's ventricle only during the first few feedings, until the young mother learns to breastfeed correctly. Frequently putting the baby to the breast simply will not leave time to hold the baby in a column.

Breast milk does not stay in the baby’s stomach for a long time; it is quickly absorbed by the intestines. A well-fed baby will not eat “extra.” Most likely, he will fall asleep happy, calm and fed right on his mother’s chest. This happens in most cases, since breast milk contains components with a slight sedative effect. There is absolutely no need to worry about this. The mother should be much more concerned that the baby does not fall asleep after feeding, looks restless or anxious, and cannot relax.

If you imagine how a mother, after breastfeeding, stands her sleeping baby upright and waits for him to burp, then the sight looks, to put it mildly, stupid. It is much more natural for mother and baby to relax together. Or, while the baby is asleep, the mother can go about her household chores, and not follow the strange recommendations of holding the baby upright.

A baby sleeping soundly, if disturbed, will wake up and be capricious; in the process of crying, regurgitation may occur in large quantities, and the child will again feel hungry. Mom will also be faced with a dilemma: should she feed again or rock her to sleep again? Why create all these problems for yourself and the child if the baby ate well, sleeps well and everyone around is happy.

Famous children's doctor Komarovsky E.O. recommends keeping only those babies who do not digest food well, spit up frequently and a lot, and do not gain weight well. For all other infants in the first months of life, regurgitation is only beneficial, as it removes excess breast milk from the body. A child at this age cannot regulate the amount of food he eats and often overeats. If such a baby is placed in a column, then the excess food will not be able to “go out” and will cause discomfort in the stomach and intestines.

The doctor repeatedly draws the attention of young mothers to the fact that there is no need to hold the baby upright after feeding. You shouldn’t torment yourself with this question and disturb your sleeping child. There is also no need to worry about excess air in the baby’s stomach, which could have entered during feeding. It will not cause any harm to the baby during sleep. After waking up, take your baby in your arms and the excess air will come out on its own.

This recommendation can be heard from many: from experienced mothers and grandmothers, from television shows and simply from friends who have children. There is a belief that placing the baby on his tummy helps develop the ability and strengthen the skill of holding the head. But pediatricians strongly do not advise putting the baby in this position until he learns to roll over on his side, back, tummy and back.

The position of the child “lying on his stomach” is often uncomfortable and alarming for him. This may cause anxiety, feelings of loneliness, or feelings of abandonment. The baby will diligently lift and hold his head, but he is not yet able to coordinate its movements. This position causes difficulty and tension in the muscles of the cervical and dorsal spine.

It is much more useful and effective to carry a child in your arms, giving him the opportunity to hold his head on his own for a few seconds. Such exercises can be started around the second or third week after birth. The baby is held in a vertical position, with his tummy facing him so that his chin rests on the adult’s shoulder. In this position, the baby can clearly see everything around him, he begins to raise his head and turn it in different directions, examining the world around him.

How to properly hold a newborn upright after feeding

When holding your baby upright, you must remember that in the first months his spine is still developing, and the muscles of his back and neck are strengthening. In this regard, the baby must be held carefully, following a simple algorithm:

• The child needs to be picked up facing you, while supporting not only his head, but also his legs.

• The child must be moved slowly from a horizontal to a vertical position; sudden movements can cause harm.

• The baby should be held close to you so that his head is placed on his chest or shoulder, and his body is in an upright position.

• When holding a child, it is necessary to support his back and head so as not to load the spine. In this case, it is better to hold the baby’s head and neck with one hand, and with the other to support the back in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.

When holding your baby upright, it is important to remember that his spine should be straight. It must not be allowed to become distorted.

Another point is supporting the head. She can't be allowed to tip over. This rule must be followed until the baby can hold his head up on his own - this indicates the successful formation and strengthening of the muscles.

Watch the video that shows the technique of holding a baby in an upright position:

How to hold a baby upright

• First, smoothly and calmly lift the baby, the head should be on the shoulder of the person holding it;
• Hold your head and neck with one hand, and the lower back with the other;
• Hold your newborn firmly and fully support the spine;
• The legs should not be bent unless the child bends them himself;
• Wait until the baby burps and return him to a horizontal position;
• It is not recommended to hold it in a column for more than ten minutes, since vertical loads are not beneficial for newborns;
• Pay close attention to the baby's position. The head should not tip back! The baby’s head and neck are supported for up to two to three months, until the muscles strengthen and become stronger;
• independently, you can take the baby under the shoulder blades. Then the load on the spine will be distributed evenly;
• Do not hold the baby too close to your body, as this may damage the chest or cause anxiety in the baby;
• You should never lift a baby with one hand, as he may fall;
• You cannot lift the baby by the hands, because the constitution of newborns is fragile and weak!;
• Do not lift or lower your baby suddenly.

How long should you keep your baby upright?

The length of time you need to hold your baby up depends on the individual. It usually only takes a few minutes for the baby to burp up any excess food or trapped air.

In some cases, you need to spend more time on this position. If the child does not burp, then you can speed up the process a little. To do this, you need to slightly rock the baby back and forth, slightly tilting him. To make the air leave the esophagus faster, you can also pat the child on the back a little - the movements should be light and rhythmic.

It is not recommended to carry a baby in a column for longer than 10-15 minutes.

What to do if a newborn burps after breastfeeding (video)

Until the child learns to move on his own, adults need to carry him. But this must be done carefully. Incorrect body position of a newborn will lead to serious problems:

• scoliosis;
• chest deformation;
• spinal injuries;
• incorrect formation of posture.

Correctly carrying a baby in your arms (holding) contributes to the formation of posture, balance, and the entire musculoskeletal system.

You need to carry a child in your arms often, especially for the first 6–7 months, until he learns to walk or crawl ().

Important to remember! For a newborn, skin-to-skin contact with the mother is very important. Being held in his arms, he not only moves in space, but feels maternal care and affection. Thus, psychological and emotional contact is maintained. Children, even at an older age, need their mother's touch. Psychologists believe that a mother should touch her baby at least 100 times a day (pat him on the head, hold his hand, etc.).

There are many ways to carry a baby in your arms, the most optimal is “column”. In this position, the child is comfortable and the spine is not injured.

Why carry your baby upright?

1. During feeding, air could get in with the milk, so the baby may. Immediately after feeding, it is taken in a column.
2. If the baby is bothered. In the column position, the tummy warms up and gases pass more easily.
3. In this position, it is convenient for the baby to explore his surroundings.
4. Proper wearing in a column has a positive effect on the development of the musculoskeletal system.
5. You can support the child with one hand. The second will remain free for household chores.

The baby is carried in a column when he:

• ate;
• wants to look around;
• he is bothered by stomach cramps.

The right support

Initially, the baby is held with both hands. Later, when mother and child get used to this position, it will be possible to support with one hand, following certain rules:

1. The child must be supported by the body in the chest area.
2. Make sure that the baby's arms and legs do not hang outstretched. The child must be grouped.
3. There is no need to support the baby's head; he has been holding it on his own since birth.
4. You cannot support your head and body with different hands. As a result of unsynchronized movement, the cervical vertebrae can be damaged.
5. The child should be carried with his stomach facing him. This pose helps improve digestion and maintains psycho-emotional contact.

The child is carried in a column depending on his needs. If you take the baby in your arms so that he burps after eating, then you do not need to hold him in this position for a long time (before picking up the baby in your arms in this case, do not forget to put an oilcloth on your shoulder). You should not carry your baby for more than 10 minutes, even if he has not burped. It's better to put him on his back and talk to him or play.

If the stomach bothers him, or the baby needs to “travel,” then he will have to wear it for a long time. As much as he needs until his stomach stops hurting or until he gets some weight.

It is important to know!

In order not to harm the baby when carrying him in a column, you need to support the head and torso with one hand. It should run diagonally along the child's back. The other hand supports the newborn's legs until the mother learns to hold him with one hand. When holding the baby, you should pay attention so that he does not sit on the other hand.

You can carry your baby in your arms in different positions. One of the most useful and comfortable is the column pose. How to hold a baby upright?

• You need to slowly lift it and move it from a horizontal position to a vertical one;
• It is important to keep your baby's head on your shoulder, touching it;
• There is no need to support the baby by the neck and head all the time, since he puts his head on your shoulder;
• The second hand should be at the level of the child’s shoulder blades and back, supporting his fragile spine.

With this posture, the baby experiences a comfortable feeling of calm and warmth.

On the one hand, this position has gained popularity because it really works, on the other hand, many mothers who do not use it constantly have not noticed any special changes in their baby’s behavior.

Interesting!

Bottle-fed babies burp more often than breastfed babies.

Yes, indeed, when you hold the baby in this position, he may burp if he ate too quickly. But more often, the child, being in an upright position, does not burp, since he does not have the habit of eating a lot at once and avidly.

And despite the fact that they were taken to the nursery from 3 months, no one took into account the individual characteristics of the baby when feeding, but each child needs his own portion and if he drinks too much or drinks too quickly, the baby will actually spit up.

Possible errors when performing the pose

There are several possible mistakes when carrying a baby vertically:

• Head tilting. The child's neck muscles have not yet strengthened, so the head can easily fall back or to the side if proper fixation is not ensured. Incorrect positioning can damage the cervical vertebrae.

• Lifting by the hand or elbow. This can lead not only to throwing back the unfixed head, but also to popping out of the joint, spraining and even fracture. The bones and joints of a newborn are weak and very fragile, and damage at this age can cause problems for life.

• Abrupt movement of the child from a horizontal position to a vertical position or strong rocking. This can lead to a concussion and even hemorrhage.