Babymus Fearamus
Picking up a brand-new-straight-out-of-the-womb-piping-hot-baby is something that nearly everyone will, at some point in their life, do.
Recently I was fortunate enough to be asked if I wanted to come and see a brand new baby and hold it, without gloves, almost when it was too hot to handle, and trust me not yet wearing any clothes for baby. Though it was terrifying to me I agreed. It being a once in a lifetime opportunity, possibly, I grabbed the baby quite literally with open arms and had a good go.
Turns out I am a natural! But not everyone is–oh no (and trust me not everyone is, because there is nothing more horrifying than someone who is really awkward around babies trying to pretend that they are enjoying themselves).
So here we go: it’s your lucky day!
Here are a few pointers for those of you with profound debilitating fear-of-picking-up-babies (in latin it might be called babymus-fearamus, I suppose).
1) Babies are tougher than you think. Sort of. Though not so tuff that they bounce off the floor. But that doesn’t mean that you have to be super gentle with them. I mean be gentle and support their neck, but otherwise let instinct take over. Assuming you have some but you should find out soon enough.
2) Babies do cry. Just because you picked him / her up and she started to cry doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Don’t panic!
3) Chances are that if it feels awkward for you it’ll feel awkward for the baby. Look at others who hold babies and learn from their mistakes. Who knows, if you ask about then these tortured new fathers might even give you some pointers!