Welcome to your new baby: Holding and touching, and Tummy Time

Holding and Touching

(Welcome to your new baby magazine, page 12.)

Moving, touching, holding and carrying your new baby will help her get stronger and develop her muscles to be ready to move and play. 

When you handle your baby, look into her eyes and tell her what you are going to do. This will help her feel safe and secure. 

Supporting your baby’s neck and head

Newborn babies have not developed head control, so for the first few weeks you need to help support her head and neck. 

At first, support her head with your hands or fingers whenever you pick her up, carry her, or lay her down. As she grows stronger, let her practise holding her head up on her own. 

Be gentle 

Newborn babies are not ready for rough play. 

Don’t jiggle her on your knee, shake or throw your baby up into the air. 

Bond with her by handling and holding her gently, looking into her eyes, stroking her, talking and singing to her.

Cuddling 

Cuddle your baby – carry her curled up with her arms and legs in front of her. Being curled up with her head centred in the middle helps to calm and settle her, and also lets her look, talk and play with you.

When you carry your baby, make sure her arms are in front of her so she can learn to play with her hands.

Hold your baby close and support her under her bottom and at her chest. Don’t forget to support her head and neck if she needs you to.

Picking up and putting down

Place your hands under your baby’s armpits, support her head with your fingers or hand, and roll her slowly to her side and onto your arm, then pick her up. As you pick her up, support her under her bottom so she feels safe. Picking your baby up in this way helps her get used to rolling and turning her head from side to side.
Lay your baby on her side to play with you, so that she can curl up, talk with you and play with her hands. This will also help her learn to enjoy being on her side and to roll when she is older.
Every time you lay your baby down, put her on her side first, then slowly roll her onto her back or tummy. 
When your baby is awake, give her plenty of ‘tummy time’ so that she can practise holding her head up, and help make the muscles she will need for movement and balance strong. 
Find out more about tummy time on the next page.

Tummy time and head shape

(Welcome to your new baby magazine page 13.)

Your baby was born with ‘reflex’ movements, such as automatically turning his head when you stroke his cheek to search for a nipple to suck. 

He will also learn to move in response to being touched and held.

Your baby will slowly learn to control his body, starting from the head down. 

If you put your newborn baby on his tummy on a firm surface, he’ll turn his head enough so he can breathe. Gradually, he’ll learn to hold his head up when lying on his tummy, or lift his head forward when on his back.

Tummy time is important because it:
  • helps your baby to move his neck to each side
  • strengthens the muscles your baby needs for balance and movement. These include muscles in his chest, back, tummy and bottom. 
  • helps with pushing himself up, sitting, early rolling, getting on all fours and crawling.
  • means your baby isn’t always lying on the back or sides of his head. 
  • Never leave your baby alone when he’s on his tummy. 
  • Never let babies sleep on their tummies. (See Safe Sleeping.) 

Start short periods of tummy time from day one 

  • Try tummy time during dressing – put your baby on his tummy for doing up and undoing buttons, and even some playful back massage.
  • Carry your baby on his tummy along your forearm.
  • Lie him on your own tummy and chest for good eye contact.
  • Place him over your thighs - this can be very comforting, relaxing and settling.

To help your baby enjoy being on his tummy, make sure his hands are in front of his shoulders. This will help him lean on his arms, lift his head and learn to reach with his arms. He might like it if you put your hand on his lower back and bottom.

Your baby may find tummy time difficult to begin with, but touching, stroking and talking with him will help him feel calm and safe. Don’t worry if your baby is a little fussy during tummy time. 

Tummy time will get easier the more he practises – gradually increase the time as he grows stronger.

When your baby is a few weeks old, try tummy time on the floor.
  • Make sure his elbows and hands are in front of his shoulders. 
  • Encourage him to lift his head by lying in front of him and talking. 
  • Even on the floor, never leave your baby alone when he’s on his tummy. 

Keep my head in shape

Because the bones of a newborn baby’s skull are quite soft, babies can develop a flat spot if they spend too much time with their head in the same position. 

From birth

To help keep his head in shape, vary the position of your baby’s head during sleep and when he is awake.

  • Always place your baby on his back to sleep, but gently turn his head to a different side each sleep time.
  • Give your baby plenty of tummy time when he is awake.
  • Lie your baby on his side and talk to him when he is awake.

After the first two weeks:

Change the position of the cot, or put your baby to sleep at different ends of the cot so he will have different things to look at and sleep on different sides. 

Babies like to turn their head to look towards:
  • light from a window
  • the direction from which people approach
  • brightly coloured or moving objects such as curtains or mobiles. 
If you are worried about your baby’s movements or the shape of his head, talk to your child health nurse or doctor.

Need help?


Last Updated: 18/06/2021