Tips for New Parents
In a recent article published in the Natural Parent Magazine Marianne Ryan gives tips to new parents on how to avoid aches and pains by learning how to lift your baby safely.Lifting Baby Out of a Stroller Picking your baby up out of a stroller is similar to picking your baby up out of a crib (figure 4). Before you pick up your baby please make sure to lock the stroller wheels and get rid of any bags you are carrying to leave your hands free so you can lift the baby with both hands.Then follow the directions above on how to lift.
DON’T Do This:This is a common mistake that parents make when lifting their baby out of a crib or stroller (figure 5). Can you see what it is?
Answer: You can see Mom is too far away from the stroller; she is bending too much in her back and her knees are not bent. If she lifts her baby out of the stroller like this every time, she risks straining her back.Lifting the Baby in a Baby CarrierAs with the previous lifts, try not to carry anything else when you lift your baby in a baby carrier. Put everything down first. When you lift your baby in a carrier:
- Bend at your knees and hips, not your back. Bow down towards the baby carrier by bending in the hips and knees until you feel you can get a secure grasp on the baby carrier.
- Make sure you are in good alignment by centering your rib cage over your pelvis prior to bending over.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. You can place one foot in front of the other, like in a mini-lunge position.
- Stand directly in front of the carrier to avoid twisting your back.
- Slide the carrier closer to your body (figure 7).
- Place your hands on either end of the seat, as if you were carrying a basket of laundry. Try not to lift the carrier from the center handle (figure 8).
- EXHALE as you lift the baby carrier (figure 9).
- If you need to turn, turn your entire body by circle stepping with your feet or pivoting with your feet; don’t twist your back.
When you need to put down a baby carrier, try doing the reverse.DON’T Do This:Can you find three things wrong with the way the woman in the illustration below (figure 10) is lifting her baby in the car seat?
Answer: In this picture you can see that Mom is talking on the phone, she isn’t facing the carrier and is using only one hand to pick the baby up. This could lead to a terrible accident – mom could drop the baby or strain her back.It is important to remember to take care of your body so that you can take care of your baby – it is hard to look after a baby when you have aches and pains. Try out some of these tips to feel your best as a mom.