Baby handling

Education on proper handling is essential for a baby’s optimal sensorimotor development and the prevention of accidental injuries to the shoulders or brain, as the baby's head is particularly sensitive in the first months and the neck muscles are weak. The foundation of education is natural handling of the child, mimicking the "fetus" position in the womb (flexed or curled body position) to prevent unnatural and harmful positions during care, such as arching the trunk, crossing the legs, or tilting the head backward.

Proper handling is especially important for children at neurodevelopmental risk and with other conditions, as it helps eliminate additional harmful external factors affecting normal development, prevents disease progression, and promotes rehabilitation. Neurodevelopmental risk refers to the risk of damage occurring from the 22nd week of pregnancy to the 7th day after birth, which can cause neurodevelopmental or neurological disorders in the child.

The way we handle the child's body is also crucial for all healthy children, as this is stored in the brain as a motor pattern that the child will spontaneously use throughout further development. Proper handling sends information to the brain about correct movements and prevents the development of poor movement patterns.

Baby handling is not only about educating on proper handling but also reduces anxiety and fear for parents that they might do something wrong with their baby, who appears especially delicate and fragile in the first days and weeks.