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For yourself: Komarovsky Recommendations to keep children upright are given because keeping the child in an upright position after feeding moderately reduces the likelihood of regurgitation. It is not surprising that this method is very useful for children who, due to regurgitation, do not gain weight well. All other children do not need to be in an upright position after eating. Moreover, regurgitation is often useful, since children are prone to overeating, but again, they tend to remove excess food through regurgitation. Holding it in a column means increasing the likelihood that excess food will remain inside the child. Therefore, I would like to draw your attention once again: in the absence of regurgitation and (or) the absence of problems with weight gain, there is no need to hold the baby upright immediately after eating.

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Comments

- Nonsense. Everything is fine with us and we keep everything smooth, the child does not suffer and he is calm

— I don’t hold it after every feeding, but I think it’s necessary. the air really stays and then we fart a lot(((

— @shastlivay, post for myself. I don’t impose my opinion, but I consider it acceptable for myself

— If we don’t keep it straight for several feedings, then we suffer from colic

“I didn’t hold it up and the baby started vomiting like a fountain after eating.” Now I keep it straight and she feels fine. Everything is individual, I think)

“I didn’t hold the first one at all!” And the second one really demands it! The post is relevant, thanks for the information!

- For me, it’s boring right after eating for a minute or two and after 5-10 again, otherwise vomiting may occur

— @shastlivay, naturally, your opinion is the only correct one. If you are confident in something and have some experience, it is not at all necessary that another point of view is nonsense, it is quite possible that it is your nonsense. It needs to be simpler.

— @juliaka, you need to be a simpler girl, and understand statements correctly and not be clever here

— @shastlivay, strange. But it seemed to me that you were allowing yourself to make categorical statements. Hmm, maybe it seemed

— Komarovsky is a showman, not a doctor. You definitely need to keep it upright, at least I can see from my child - she suffers terribly if she doesn’t let the air out and will never fall asleep

— @tigrashka, Katya, of course we can’t show it yet (4 days in total), but this “column” absolutely terrifies me. I held it twice, two times after it it was just hell: we didn’t spit up right away, although I walked for 10-15 minutes. As soon as she wakes up, then I put her down - she vomits everything like a fountain, hiccups begin, a terrible scream. It may be a coincidence that she overeated these times, but I don’t want to repeat it just yet.

— @vitaminca, is it better if you don’t hold it?

- @tigrashka, yes. sleeps like an angel for 2.5-3.5 hours. He spits up rarely and only a little.

— @vitaminca, that means everything is ok and no air is being captured. I just hate Komarovsky

— @tigrashka, I don’t really like him either. But his advice is “reasonable.”

— @tigrashka, I completely agree about this doctor in quotes

— @juliaka, yes it seemed to you

— And I love Komarovsky; 90% of his words correspond to my views on education. He is like a modern Spock @shastlivay @tigrashka and if anything, any words of this “showman” are based on the conclusions of the WHO (which you can easily check by bothering to open their website) and common sense. And not the brains of mother hens

- Yes, I’m happy for you @juliaka

— Where did you see mother hens@juliaka

— @juliaka, and I, being the daughter of a pediatrician, trust my doctor and my inner voice, Komarovsky and especially Spock, who could not raise his children and they refused to communicate with him, are definitely not authorities for me. I agree that some of Komarovsky’s advice is useful, but he did not discover America, and blindly following his advice in everything is at least stupid. Here is the book “The Diary” by Komarovsky - a great thing

— @shastlivay, yes, it seemed to you

— @tigrashka, I use the advice of these pediatricians, because I don’t have any personal advice. But in addition to their recommendations, I use common sense and knowledge of my child. The combination of these factors helps me raise healthy children with a strong psyche and the basics of respect for elders. You are lucky with your relatives, but I have no other authorities on raising children. And I don’t remember a single piece of his advice that would have done any harm, so I have no reason not to trust him.

— @juliaka, it seems to me that every mother knows what will be the best for her baby) some like Komarovsky’s advice, some don’t, it’s all nonsense, as long as the child feels good)

— @tigrashka, here I completely agree with you ☺️

— @tigrashka @shastlivay @juliaka, I have some respect for Komarovsky because of his call to mothers to “Think, and then do.” In principle, he does not shine with anything original; almost all he broadcasts are the basics of pediatrics, chewed up for the prolactin brain of mothers.

- According to him, this is a call in life, first think, and then do

— @vitaminca, there’s no need to be original. Most conclusions about the upbringing and health of mothers are made on the basis of rumors, speculation and interpreted information. Where is the truth and where is the lie is difficult to figure out. And he just dots the i’s. And the majority, I emphasize not all, but the majority of mothers do not like him only because his words contradict the very methods based on rumors, etc. How many people here will believe that it is good for a child to bathe before bed, on an empty stomach, for at least 20 minutes and at a temperature of, say, 29-30C? Yes, most people agree that this is a “mockery”! P why? Unbridled maternal instinct. I use instincts instead of brains! Or it is better to give the baby a safe laxative or glycine suppositories than to shove hard tubes into the baby’s poor asses, and in general make sure that the child is constipated or does not poop due to well-absorbed milk. But why think or be interested, it’s easier to stuff something into a child!

— @juliaka, first of all, not mothers but mothers, maybe you are a mother and a seta? In our country we have freedom of choice. and I think that it’s not stupid mothers who sit here and see what’s best for their child and not what’s best said by the guy on TV

— @shastlivay, the correct spelling is hen.

- @juliaka, good mother hen, the letter doesn’t change matters

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A newborn baby needs special care and attention. He is very vulnerable, so parents must be extremely careful with the baby. The child’s body adapts to the world around him, learns to perceive not only new faces, objects and sounds, but the work of internal organs and systems is completely rebuilt. First of all, this concerns digestion: for all nine months during pregnancy, the baby received nutrients through the placenta, but from the moment of birth the gastrointestinal tract begins to perform its direct function. To help the body adapt, doctors recommend an effective way - to properly hold the baby upright, or in a column, after each feeding.

Why experts recommend holding a baby upright: what are the benefits?

Air may enter the baby's stomach: the baby grasps the nipple incorrectly and is in a hurry to suck. This is often the cause of tummy problems in newborn babies and children in the first six months of life. Therefore, after feeding, you need to take the baby upright so that the air bubbles come out and the baby feels better.

This position helps to facilitate digestive processes in the body, which is just adapting to the perception of food.

Experts recommend keeping your baby upright immediately after feeding.

Another reason that this position of the baby after feeding helps to cope with is excess food: milk or adapted infant formula. The baby is not yet able to control the amount of food he needs. Often, to calm the baby, the mother gives breastfeeding constantly. In this way, the child not only satisfies the sucking reflex, but also overeats, and the stomach of recently born children is very small to accommodate the excess amount of food. And if mother’s milk is quickly absorbed through the walls of the intestines, practically without lingering in the stomach, then the mixture that the baby has eaten in excess remains and causes fermentation, gas formation and colic. But as soon as the baby is held upright, he may regurgitate excess fluid.

Many newborns calm down only in the arms of adults: tactile contact with the closest people is very important for a baby. The child clings to his parents, feels warmth and feels protected. As they grow older, children really love this position because... visibility improves, they can view the room, the street in a completely different way.

There are mothers who are afraid to carry their baby in a column, explaining this by the large load on the spine. But experts say that correctly carrying a baby in an upright position trains the muscles of the neck and back, and prepares the baby to hold his head independently.

At what months can you hold a baby upright?

During a round at the maternity hospital, neonatologists explain to young mothers that they need to hold the baby in their arms for a few minutes so that excess air is naturally released from the stomach, then return the baby to the cradle or cradle.

Experts emphasize that newborn children have a weak spine and a very fragile skeletal system. Therefore, being in a vertical position for a long time is contraindicated for them.

Children can be kept upright from birth

When the baby is a month old, you can hold him with his elbow on your shoulder to calm him down or show him the surrounding space. But do not forget that he does not yet know how to hold his head up on his own, so the baby should remain in an upright position for no more than 5–10 minutes. You can hold your baby upright for a longer period of time after four months, when the muscles of the neck and back are stronger.

How not to hold a newborn

Some points have already been outlined, but there are still several important prohibitions that you need to know about. An adult is prohibited from:

Lift the child by the wrists, forearms, legs. The joints and tendons are still very weak, and it is easy for a newborn to be injured.
Hold the baby by the armpits only.
Carry the baby with one hand. When the baby gets older and can hold his head well, you can use this method, but you always need to be alert.
Remove the support from the spine and move it to the baby’s bottom.
Allow the legs to dangle when the newborn is lying tummy up. This has a bad effect on the development of the hip joints.
Wear it in a vertical position for a long time.
Relax, get distracted.

Learning to do it right: how to hold a newborn upright after feeding

First, you need to take care of hygiene issues: the baby's head is on mom or dad's shoulder when he is held upright, and the baby can also burp. Therefore, before taking the child, you need to put a diaper made of natural fabric without synthetic threads on your shoulder. The material should be soft so as not to scratch the baby's delicate skin. Many parents whose first child does not know how to properly hold the baby so as not to damage the fragile skeletal system. Experts explain the basic rules on how to safely hold a baby upright:

the baby’s head should not swing, so it must be fixed: with one hand you need to support the baby’s neck and head;
Many parents try to grab the baby under the buttocks. This absolutely cannot be done, as this creates additional stress on the fragile spine. With one hand the mother supports the head of the newborn baby, and with the other she holds him by the back, as if creating support for the spine;
Make sure that the child does not lean on the adult’s hand with his legs. This position also puts a lot of stress on the spine;
take the baby very carefully, no sudden movements, so that he does not get scared.

First of all, you need to bend over to the baby as low as possible.
Saying kind words in a calm voice, place one hand under the child’s head, securing the neck, and the other under the lower back and buttocks.
Gently lift the baby off the surface until his head is level with the adult's shoulder.
Lean your child's head on your shoulder, being sure to support him in the neck and lower back area.

All movements of parents must be careful and smooth so as not to injure the child.

Under no circumstances should you pull a baby by the arms. This can lead to dislocation and injury to the cervical vertebrae.
It is not recommended to lift the baby, holding him only in the armpit area. In this position, the baby's head may tilt back.
Many young parents are afraid of dropping their child, so they hug him too tightly. This also should not be done: it can damage the baby’s fragile bones and also impair blood circulation.
One hand always supports the baby's head. At one moment the head lies on the shoulder, and in a second it can roll off it, so it must always be fixed.
You cannot be distracted when there is a baby in the arms of mom or dad: pick something up, answer a phone call, etc. To avoid dangerous situations, the child’s body is secured with two adult hands.

Pediatricians do not give a specific answer as to how long a newborn baby should be held this way. After all, every baby is individual: some children need two minutes for the air to come out, while others need more time. But holding a newborn baby in a column for longer than 10 minutes is not recommended. If after this time the baby does not burp, you can put him down and let him rest after a hearty meal.

Of course, when the baby is just born, the mother tries to listen to the doctors’ recommendations, and rightly so. But time passes and parents get to know their baby, understand his desires and needs, know by crying whether he is hungry, something hurts, or just wants to sleep. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to hold the baby upright after each feeding for the first four months of life. Not all children swallow large amounts of air or overeat; some do not even encounter the problem of colic and regurgitation.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, if the baby is not underweight and there is no regurgitation, there is no need to keep him in a column after each feeding.

Therefore, if parents see that the baby does not show any signs of anxiety or discomfort, eats measuredly and slowly, grasps the nipple correctly and does not swallow air, then there is no need to hold such a baby upright after meals. Artificial babies gasp for air more often and eat more food than they may need, because they are bottle-fed. Such babies, most often, need to be kept constantly after column feeding, so that an extra portion of the mixture and air do not remain in the stomach.

How to properly hold a baby upright? How to carry a newborn baby?

To create the correct position:

We place the baby's head and neck on the shoulder, and place his torso vertically.

1. Gently press the child’s neck with one hand, and use the index finger to hold his head near the ear. 2. We support the baby’s body with our second hand, while evenly distributing the load along the spine, preferably in the area of the shoulder blades. It is important to hold firmly, but do not press with force, very carefully. 3. The baby's legs should be straight, unless he presses them himself.

The mother who is holding the baby should keep her back straight and straighten her shoulders, this way there will be less strain on her arms.

We lift the baby smoothly into the above position so as not to provoke excessive regurgitation. You can hold the baby with one hand, but at the same time you must hold your head, since such small children still do not know how to do this on their own.

This position will be quite comfortable not only for the baby, but also for the adult who takes him in his arms. When you hold your newborn upright, you have the opportunity to easily change your position: walk, lie down, stand up.

But whether you will hold your child upright or not depends only on your desire.

How to hold a baby correctly video:

Soon after the birth of the baby, young parents may experience some difficulties. How to properly hold a newborn upright after feeding, how to carry him in your arms, how to hold the baby’s head, and how to improve it from the very first days after discharge from the hospital? All these questions worry mom and dad.

When caring for a newborn, older and more experienced family members can give advice on what position the baby should be held after feeding, which often contradict each other in meaning and content. Figuring out which words are really worth listening to can be very difficult.

From the first days of life, a little person needs careful handling, attention and care. Even in the maternity hospital, a neonatologist, obstetrician-gynecologist or department nurse can show the mother how to properly hold the baby, wash and swaddle the baby.

Whenever the baby is in your arms, his head and neck should be gently held with your palm. He will learn to hold his head up on his own only by 4 months.
Under no circumstances should you try to seat your newborn on a high chair or armchair.
It is very important to take the baby carefully, without making sudden movements, so as not to frighten him, while at the same time gently supporting him by the body.

To ensure that the baby does not experience discomfort, is calm and happy, it is necessary to follow a simple rule. First of all, the baby needs to be fed on demand. There is absolutely no need to achieve long breaks between meals, because this can negatively affect the condition of the newborn (anxiety, fatigue) and his mother (neuroses, etc.). In order for milk production to stabilize in the first months, it is very important not to skip night feedings. If necessary, you can use the services of competent breastfeeding consultants or ask a pediatrician.

If mom must be away for a while, it is important to maintain the principle of on-demand feeding in her absence. The baby should be fed expressed milk or formula from a bottle.

Is it possible to carry a baby in a column after feeding?

In some cases, the baby does not burp immediately after feeding, so he is bothered by colic, gas accumulation, or other sensations that cause discomfort to the baby. In this case, doctors recommend slightly changing the baby’s position, namely, walking around the room with him:

while walking, you can slightly change the baby’s position, transfer it to the other shoulder;
perform rocking movements in different directions;
stroke the baby's back from bottom to top so that the air comes out as quickly as possible. But movements should be light and smooth.

You should not carry your child vertically for more than 5–10 minutes to avoid additional stress on the spine.

Pediatricians pay attention: carrying a child vertically has a calming effect and has an analgesic effect. The fact is that the baby presses its stomach against the parent’s body and feels its warmth. And smooth rocking movements ease the pain from colic.

Sleepy kingdom: should you hold your baby upright if he falls asleep after feeding?

Many mothers are faced with the fact that the baby falls asleep while feeding. What to do in this case: wake up the baby and take him upright, or leave the sleeping baby alone? Experts recommend taking a closer look at the baby’s behavior and acting based on his well-being. There are several options:

If the baby falls asleep, but at the same time behaves restlessly: begins to sob, cry, lets go of the breast, and then begins to eat hastily again, most likely he has swallowed air and this causes him inconvenience in the form of painful sensations and bloating. In this case, doctors recommend holding the baby upright and waiting until the air and excess food come out;
but in children whose mothers breastfeed, a different scenario most often develops: the baby calmly, leisurely eats and falls asleep. In this situation, pediatricians are not against skipping post-feeding. But please note that the baby must be placed in a side position, while creating support under the back using a special pillow or a towel bolster. If the child burps, the vomit will not enter the respiratory tract;
but it also happens that the baby wakes up and starts crying: the air that entered the stomach after feeding begins to bother the baby. Therefore, at the next feeding, when the baby falls asleep, it is recommended to lift the sleeping baby vertically and hold it until the air comes out. Babies are usually deep sleepers, so doing this won't interfere with their rest.

You can hold a sleeping baby in a column until he burps air.

Often women feed their babies in a lying position: the baby falls asleep, releases the breast and the mother can go about her business. But the child can wake up as soon as the parents begin to pick him up to hold him in a column. In this case, experts recommend feeding the baby while sitting in a semi-upright position. When the baby falls asleep and lets go of the breast, he must be carefully moved to his mother’s shoulder for five to seven minutes so that he burps up excess air.

When and how long should you hold your baby upright?

It all depends on the individual characteristics of the baby. Parents begin to carry some babies upright from about five months, when they confidently hold their heads and want to get to know the world around them from a different angle.

Doctors emphasize that if the baby does not spit up and his tummy does not bother him, you can stop holding him up after each feeding.

For some babies, their digestive system improves when they master turning over onto their stomach. But there are children who need to be held upright until five to six months or later until they learn to sit. At your monthly check-up with the pediatrician, the doctor always asks about regurgitation. Depending on the condition of the baby, his well-being and the pace of development, the doctor will definitely give recommendations on when to carry the baby in a column, or when it may no longer be advisable to do this. As the baby gets older, parents can carry him upright for longer periods of time while walking. This position is becoming a favorite among many kids, because it gives them a better view. The older the child, the more his spine becomes stronger, as well as the muscles of the body. Therefore, the time of wearing the baby in an upright position can be increased.

How to pick up and put down correctly

How to properly hold a newborn? An urgent question for parents raising their first child. First of all, you need to pick up and put down the baby in a calm emotional state, confidently and smoothly. Any sudden movements can simply scare the baby. Also try to talk to your child in a quiet, gentle voice. Perhaps these are the main rules. All other points are purely technical. Parents master them quickly enough.

How to take if the baby is lying on his back. Gently place one hand under the baby's head and the other under the buttocks. Raise your baby so that his head is slightly higher than his body.
How to take if the baby is lying on his stomach. Place one palm under the baby's chest, holding his neck with your thumb and forefinger. Place the other palm under your tummy. It can be placed either horizontally on the side or vertically between the legs. Raise the baby so that his head is slightly higher than his body.
How to put the baby down. The basic rule is to hold your baby close and bend over to transfer him into a crib, stroller, bathtub, changing table, etc. Do not lay it out at arm's length. If the baby is not sleeping, you need to stay in his space for a while, stroke him, and slowly remove your hands from under him.

What to do if your baby is restless in your arms

Sometimes parents may encounter a problem when the baby gets restless in their arms: it bends over, becomes capricious, and begins to cry. Any dissatisfaction of the child indicates that the baby is uncomfortable or something is bothering him. Adults need to find out the reason for this behavior and eliminate it:

unpleasant tactile sensations: mothers often do not think about the naturalness of the fabrics from which their clothes are made. But baby's skin is very sensitive. And when a baby touches an adult’s things with his body, it can prick and scratch the skin, so the child feels uncomfortable. When with your baby, give preference to clothes made from natural fabrics;
unpleasant odor: newborn babies have a well-developed sense of smell. It’s not for nothing that they instantly find the mother’s breast: they hear the smell of milk. But if parents use scented shower gel, antiperspirant or perfume, the child may not like it;
physical discomfort: the diaper rubs, a seam on clothes or a button or fastener on a mother’s robe interferes. Before picking up the baby, make sure that foreign objects do not cause any discomfort to the baby;
mother’s mood: it has long been proven that the emotional connection between baby and mother is very strong. Therefore, any experience or nervous overstrain of a woman is transmitted to the baby, especially when she takes the baby in her arms. You must always be calm and collected, and show care and affection when holding a child in your arms.

After each feeding, picking up and holding the baby in your arms is recommended in order to help the immature digestive system cope with the digestion of food. Excess air and excess milk or formula can cause colic, gas, and even vomiting. Therefore, parents are advised to monitor the condition of their baby: if the baby often burps, an upright position after eating is mandatory. But there are children who, just a few weeks after birth, eat calmly, do not gasp for air and are not bothered by tummy problems. Then you can refuse to hold the baby upright after breakfast, lunch or dinner. The development of each baby occurs individually, and in this situation this rule also applies.

ChildbirthInfo

Contents [Show]

To avoid pain from colic, experts recommend holding your newborn upright after feeding. This simple technique allows the baby to get rid of air bubbles that entered the stomach during feeding and eliminate discomfort. In addition, this position allows the newborn to easily get rid of excess food - mother's milk or special formula.

Pediatricians advise holding the baby upright after feeding in the first months of life. The newborn’s body is rebuilt and adapts to changing conditions. This also applies to the digestive system. In utero, the child was fed through the placenta, which provided him with all the necessary substances. Now feeding occurs in a different way, as does food digestion.

Why hold your baby upright after feeding:

eliminating excess air from the stomach;
prevention and treatment of colic and bloating;
preventing suffocation when regurgitating;
strengthening the muscles of the neck and back;
physical contact with parents and stabilization of the emotional background.

A newborn who is not properly latched to the breast may accidentally swallow air. This phenomenon occurs even more often in children who are bottle-fed. Air bubbles that enter the intestines cause colic in the baby.

In addition, children do not yet know how to determine the amount of food they need. If your baby spits up frequently after feeding, you may be overeating.

After feeding, the baby should be placed in an upright position so that the swallowed air is released from the intestines. In this position, you need to hold the baby in a column for no more than 10 minutes.

Before you pick up your baby, you should place a clean diaper on your shoulder. It will come in handy if the baby spits up. Then you need to take the baby with one hand, supporting him between the back and lower back. You need to hold the baby's head with your other hand to avoid straining the neck muscles. This rule is important because the newborn does not yet know how to hold his head up on his own.

In front of

On the shoulder

How to properly pick up a baby:

the baby is picked up;
the head should rest on the adult’s shoulder without tipping back;
one hand holds the neck, the other holds the lower back;
the spine and legs should be straight;
The position is held for 10 minutes; if regurgitation does not occur, you can lay the baby horizontally.

You should hold your baby immediately after feeding to ease the digestive system. The parent's body should be pressed against the child's, but not too tightly so as not to disrupt the blood circulation process. Also, you should not provide support for the legs; the “under the shoulder blades” position is used after the child has begun to hold his head.

To induce regurgitation, it is recommended to place the baby in your arm, facing down.

Sudden movements should not be allowed during the process. All actions must be performed carefully and slowly. It is equally important to carry your baby correctly after breastfeeding. The mother is advised to move slowly and smoothly.

You can carry the child in an upright position - facing away from you, the back is pressed to the stomach, the right hand holds the armpits, the left hand holds the buttocks from below.

How to carry a baby in a column:

We take the child vertically in a column;
the child's body is pressed tightly against the adult;
in small steps (the length of the foot) we begin to slowly move forward;
To quickly expel air, small rocking movements to the right and left are useful.

To help your baby relax after eating, you can talk to him gently in a quiet voice or sing. The woman needs to remain calm because newborns copy the behavior of the mother. The baby may become nervous if the mother is worried.

How long should you hold your baby up after feeding? Don't hold your baby up for too long. 10 minutes is enough so as not to overload the children's spine.

It is recommended to select this time individually, based on the characteristics of the baby. It is also important to take into account the opinion of the pediatrician. The baby needs to be held upright for a sufficient amount of time so that he regurgitates excess food and gets rid of air bubbles accidentally swallowed during feeding. If after 10 minutes this still does not happen, you can put the baby down and let him rest.

Older children can be held in their arms longer. You can periodically slightly change the baby’s position in space, moving him to the other shoulder.

Until what age should a newborn baby be carried in a column after feeding? Pediatricians advise keeping the baby in position for up to 5-6 months. In most infants, by the time complementary foods are introduced, the functioning of the digestive system is completely restructured and the incoming food is well absorbed.

Often babies stop needing this measure when they begin to roll over onto their stomach on their own. If there are individual pathologies of health or development, you can not use age restrictions and continue therapy.

Is it necessary to hold the baby upright after feeding? No, you don’t always need to hold your baby upright. When a breastfeeding baby latches onto the breast correctly, he may not be able to swallow air. You may not want to hold your baby upright if there are no signs of distress after breastfeeding.

Often, inexperienced parents make mistakes that can harm the child's body. Do not place the baby on horizontal surfaces. Support under your feet will create additional stress on the child’s spine, which is not yet adapted to upright posture.

Small children should not be lifted by the arms or by the armpits.

The parent's movements must be careful. To avoid tummy problems, do not suddenly lift your newborn. In addition, the carelessness of an adult can frighten a baby. It can also damage his fragile bones.

The heavy head, which makes up most of the newborn's weight, will fall back. It is imperative to support the infant by the head and neck. Don't squeeze your baby too hard. Otherwise, circulatory problems may occur.

Should I hold my baby up if he falls asleep? If your baby falls asleep after feeding, you should not pick him up. It's better to lay it horizontally. Air bubbles that have entered the intestines may come out later when the mother takes the awakened child in her arms. In addition, not all children need to sit upright after eating.

Back up

Face up

There are 2 options for how to put a sleepy baby in the crib after feeding. When positioned with the back up, the baby's head and body are placed on the side. It is important to ensure that small children sleep on a hard pillow; soft objects contribute to suffocation.

The upright position is an excellent exercise for a baby; it relieves colic and abdominal pain, promotes the passage of gases, develops the muscles of the back and neck, and is a good preventative against regurgitation. If you follow the rules for performing a vertical position, manipulation has a positive effect on the health of the baby.

Air may enter the baby's stomach: the baby grasps the nipple incorrectly and is in a hurry to suck. This is often the cause of tummy problems in newborn babies and children in the first six months of life. Therefore, after feeding, you need to take the baby upright so that the air bubbles come out and the baby feels better.

This position helps to facilitate digestive processes in the body, which is just adapting to the perception of food.

Experts recommend keeping your baby upright immediately after feeding.

There are mothers who are afraid to carry their baby in a column, explaining this by the large load on the spine. But experts say that correctly carrying a baby in an upright position trains the muscles of the neck and back, and prepares the baby to hold his head independently.

Experts emphasize that newborn children have a weak spine and a very fragile skeletal system. Therefore, being in a vertical position for a long time is contraindicated for them.

Children can be kept upright from birth

First, you need to take care of hygiene issues: the baby's head is on mom or dad's shoulder when he is held upright, and the baby can also burp. Therefore, before taking the child, you need to put a diaper made of natural fabric without synthetic threads on your shoulder. The material should be soft so as not to scratch the baby's delicate skin. Many parents whose first child does not know how to properly hold the baby so as not to damage the fragile skeletal system. Experts explain the basic rules on how to safely hold a baby upright:

the baby’s head should not swing, so it must be fixed: with one hand you need to support the baby’s neck and head;
Many parents try to grab the baby under the buttocks. This absolutely cannot be done, as this creates additional stress on the fragile spine. With one hand the mother supports the head of the newborn baby, and with the other she holds him by the back, as if creating support for the spine;
Make sure that the child does not lean on the adult’s hand with his legs. This position also puts a lot of stress on the spine;
take the baby very carefully, no sudden movements, so that he does not get scared.

All movements of parents must be careful and smooth so as not to injure the child.

Caution: how not to lift a baby vertically so as not to injure the baby

Under no circumstances should you pull a baby by the arms. This can lead to dislocation and injury to the cervical vertebrae.
It is not recommended to lift the baby, holding him only in the armpit area. In this position, the baby's head may tilt back.
Many young parents are afraid of dropping their child, so they hug him too tightly. This also should not be done: it can damage the baby’s fragile bones and also impair blood circulation.
One hand always supports the baby's head. At one moment the head lies on the shoulder, and in a second it can roll off it, so it must always be fixed.
You cannot be distracted when there is a baby in the arms of mom or dad: pick something up, answer a phone call, etc. To avoid dangerous situations, the child’s body is secured with two adult hands.

We record the time: how long do you need to hold the child upright?

Pediatricians do not give a specific answer as to how long a newborn baby should be held this way. After all, every baby is individual: some children need two minutes for the air to come out, while others need more time. But holding a newborn baby in a column for longer than 10 minutes is not recommended. If after this time the baby does not burp, you can put him down and let him rest after a hearty meal.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, if the baby is not underweight and there is no regurgitation, there is no need to keep him in a column after each feeding.

Therefore, if parents see that the baby does not show any signs of anxiety or discomfort, eats measuredly and slowly, grasps the nipple correctly and does not swallow air, then there is no need to hold such a baby upright after meals. Artificial babies gasp for air more often and eat more food than they may need, because they are bottle-fed. Such babies, most often, need to be kept constantly after column feeding, so that an extra portion of the mixture and air do not remain in the stomach.

In some cases, the baby does not burp immediately after feeding, so he is bothered by colic, gas accumulation, or other sensations that cause discomfort to the baby. In this case, doctors recommend slightly changing the baby’s position, namely, walking around the room with him:

while walking, you can slightly change the baby’s position, transfer it to the other shoulder;
perform rocking movements in different directions;
stroke the baby's back from bottom to top so that the air comes out as quickly as possible. But movements should be light and smooth.

You should not carry your child vertically for more than 5–10 minutes to avoid additional stress on the spine.

Pediatricians pay attention: carrying a child vertically has a calming effect and has an analgesic effect. The fact is that the baby presses its stomach against the parent’s body and feels its warmth. And smooth rocking movements ease the pain from colic.

If the baby falls asleep, but at the same time behaves restlessly: begins to sob, cry, lets go of the breast, and then begins to eat hastily again, most likely he has swallowed air and this causes him inconvenience in the form of painful sensations and bloating. In this case, doctors recommend holding the baby upright and waiting until the air and excess food come out;
but in children whose mothers breastfeed, a different scenario most often develops: the baby calmly, leisurely eats and falls asleep. In this situation, pediatricians are not against skipping post-feeding. But please note that the baby must be placed in a side position, while creating support under the back using a special pillow or a towel bolster. If the child burps, the vomit will not enter the respiratory tract;
but it also happens that the baby wakes up and starts crying: the air that entered the stomach after feeding begins to bother the baby. Therefore, at the next feeding, when the baby falls asleep, it is recommended to lift the sleeping baby vertically and hold it until the air comes out. Babies are usually deep sleepers, so doing this won't interfere with their rest.

You can hold a sleeping baby in a column until he burps air.

Doctors emphasize that if the baby does not spit up and his tummy does not bother him, you can stop holding him up after each feeding.

For some babies, their digestive system improves when they master turning over onto their stomach. But there are children who need to be held upright until five to six months or later until they learn to sit. At your monthly check-up with the pediatrician, the doctor always asks about regurgitation. Depending on the condition of the baby, his well-being and the pace of development, the doctor will definitely give recommendations on when to carry the baby in a column, or when it may no longer be advisable to do this. As the baby gets older, parents can carry him upright for longer periods of time during walks. This position is becoming a favorite among many kids, because it gives them a better view. The older the child, the more his spine becomes stronger, as well as the muscles of the body. Therefore, the time of wearing the baby in an upright position can be increased.

Sometimes parents may encounter a problem when the baby gets restless in their arms: it bends over, becomes capricious, and begins to cry. Any dissatisfaction of the child indicates that the baby is uncomfortable or something is bothering him. Adults need to find out the reason for this behavior and eliminate it:

unpleasant tactile sensations: mothers often do not think about the naturalness of the fabrics from which their clothes are made. But baby's skin is very sensitive. And when a baby touches an adult’s things with his body, it can prick and scratch the skin, so the child feels uncomfortable. When with your baby, give preference to clothes made from natural fabrics;
unpleasant odor: newborn babies have a well-developed sense of smell. It’s not for nothing that they instantly find the mother’s breast: they hear the smell of milk. But if parents use scented shower gel, antiperspirant or perfume, the child may not like it;
physical discomfort: the diaper rubs, a seam on clothes or a button or fastener on a mother’s robe interferes. Before picking up the baby, make sure that foreign objects do not cause any discomfort to the baby;
mother’s mood: it has long been proven that the emotional connection between baby and mother is very strong. Therefore, any experience or nervous overstrain of a woman is transmitted to the baby, especially when she takes the baby in her arms. You must always be calm and collected, and show care and affection when holding a child in your arms.

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Is there a real need to hold the baby upright after feeding or is all this a remnant of Soviet medicine? To answer this question, let’s understand a little about the physiology of breastfeeding.

Where do the roots of the strange advice about carrying a baby in a column after feeding, which is given by a huge number of children's pediatricians, come from?

Among all the species of mammals existing in the world, not a single female, after feeding, changes the position of the baby’s body in order to get rid of excess air in the stomach. It would be logical to assume that if such a need existed and was a prerequisite for survival, over such a long period of evolution this action would necessarily be fixed in the subconscious and would be carried out at the level of instincts. However, this is not the case.

It probably all started in Soviet times, when regimen feeding was common. Maternity leave for mothers lasted 3 months, after which the infants were sent to a nursery, where they were fed formula and then held in a column so that the baby could regurgitate the excess. This helped to avoid overfeeding, since with artificial feeding it is difficult to calculate the individual nutritional needs of each child.

The baby’s tiny stomach is simply not able to accommodate a whole bottle of formula, but he needs to eat, since according to the schedule, the next feeding occurs only after 3 hours. In addition, the nipples quite often had very large holes, which is why the mixture was swallowed along with air.

When breastfeeding, attachment is carried out at the request of the baby, and this procedure can occur more than 4 times per hour. Therefore, the mother simply does not have time to hold the baby upright every time after feeding. Also, when breastfeeding, it is impossible to overfeed the baby, since the composition of breast milk is selected in such a way that it is suitable for regular feeding. And if applied correctly, the problem of air getting into the stomach can be eliminated.

Read also: how to properly attach a baby to the breast

Unlike artificial formulas, mother's milk practically does not linger in the stomach and, thanks to the enzymes included in its composition, is completely absorbed through the intestinal walls.

Nature also made sure that fatty hind milk does not reach the baby immediately, but only after prolonged feeding, lasting more than 20 minutes. Thanks to the sedative components included in its composition, it calms the baby, after which he falls asleep directly on the chest during feeding. And this is a natural process.

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Much more concern should be shown if the baby does not fall asleep during breastfeeding. It is necessary to figure out what worries the baby and prevents him from relaxing and falling asleep peacefully with his mother’s breast in his mouth.

Now, having learned a little more about the physiology of breastfeeding, answer the question: how does a mother need to fit breastfeeding into this process?

The baby falls asleep calmly after breastfeeding. A mother, exhausted by the new routine of life, can also relax with the baby or do household chores without being distracted by the child. But, following the doctor's recommendations, it is necessary to hold the child upright to release excess air.

A disturbed baby instantly wakes up, becomes capricious, perhaps even regurgitates most of what he has just eaten, and again begins to demand the breast. And it’s completely unclear whether to feed him again or rock him to sleep? After all, a mother is afraid of both underfeeding her child and feeding him too much. And there is no one to answer all these questions and dispel the doubts gnawing at the young mother.

If, after feeding, you let the baby fall asleep quietly and do not change his position, the situation will look completely different. The child will eat well, sleep well and be less capricious.

Irena: And I feel so sorry for holding my son up..... He falls asleep so sweetly with his tit (tita). I don’t want to put him in the crib, so as not to wake him up, not to mention the bedpost.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that nursing mothers do not harass themselves or their baby, and let him sleep peacefully after feeding. Even if there is excess air in the stomach, it will come out when you carry the baby in your arms after waking up.

Another unclear recommendation is to place the baby on his tummy so that he learns to hold his head. We do not advise you to put your baby in this position until he can roll over on his own. It is believed that in this position the baby feels uncomfortable: it seems that he was either left somewhere or fell. Children can hold their head up from birth, but initially have difficulty coordinating it. It is much more effective to carry the baby correctly in your arms without supporting your head.

Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that the baby does not fall asleep on his stomach. A direct link between the baby's tummy position and sudden infant death syndrome has been scientifically proven.