You pick up your crying child when they cry. And occasionally, you find yourself holding them far more frequently than putting them down. This may unavoidably draw some criticism, frequently from an understanding family, friend, or acquaintance, though occasionally even strangers feel forced to speak out.

They usually remark, "You shouldn't hold your infant too much." You will ruin them. This lofty remark could cause some terror in a typical new parent, or at the very least, some uneasiness about spoiling their newborn. However, the truth is that simply holding the infant frequently in those first few weeks could be helping.

Even though professionals have long maintained that you cannot pamper a newborn, the myth has endured for a very long time. Research on a randomised controlled experiment that revealed that new babies who were held more often tended to scream and complain less was published in the journal Pediatrics as early as 1986.

The researchers concluded back then that "supplemental carrying affects 'normal' crying by lowering the length and modifying the typical pattern of screaming and fidgeting in the first three months of life."

Why you shouldn't pamper a newborn is explained here: The brain of a newborn infant is still undergoing significant development. Their brain won't even be fully developed for a while.

Reasons that babies cry:

A baby that is sobbing is attempting to communicate with you. Your task is to determine the cause and, if anything, what you can do to address it.

With practice, you could learn to recognise your baby's requirements from the way they cry. A cry of hunger, for instance, can be brief and low-pitched, but a cry of pain would be abrupt, protracted, and high-pitched. You can better respond to your baby's crying if you see any trends.

Think about what your sobbing child could be thinking:

1. They are hungry. 
2. They are lonely
3. They are tired
4. They have wet themselves
5. They want to move
6. They are hot or cold
7. They want to be bundled

Additionally, too much movement, noise, or visual stimulation may make your infant scream. Put your infant in the crib or leave for a more tranquil setting. Your wailing infant may be soothed by white noise, such as the repetitive sound of an electric fan or the sound of ocean waves.

It's acceptable to let your infant scream if they don't seem ill, you've done everything, and they are still unhappy. If you need a few moments to yourself, place your kid securely in the crib, make a cup of tea, or contact a friend.

Benefits of holding babies:

Neonatologists have discovered several advantages to cuddling a preterm infant as near as possible using a method known as "kangaroo care." In addition to keeping the infant warm due to the parent's body warmth, being near the parent also reduces crying, aids in controlling respiration and heart rate, promotes weight gain, and accelerates growth.

1. The proximity makes it easier for parents and children to get to know one another, which promotes more interaction and bonding.
2. Additionally, your baby will get more knowledge than if they are confined to a bassinet or infant seat.
3. You may help your baby develop language skills by talking to them as you move them from room to room.

Colic:

Although all infants scream occasionally for a variety of reasons, newborns with colic cry a lot, are harder to comfort, have disturbed sleep, and can make parents very anxious.

Colic may be to blame if a wailing infant cannot be calmed. Babies that are healthy and cry a lot yet are difficult to calm down are said to be experiencing colic. The precise aetiology of colic is unknown. The following list includes typical colic symptoms:

• Timing: It typically starts at around 2 weeks of age and ends by 4 months.
• Behaviour: Crying fits last a long time and are uncontrollable, not even by feeding.

One in ten babies experiences colic, which is a common problem. It can affect both newborn boys and newborn girls, and it frequently begins around 10 days and three weeks after birth.

Conclusion:

Therefore you don't need to be concerned if your aunt or a neighbour criticises you for holding your baby too much. In particular, during the first few weeks of life, your infant needs to be looked after regularly, including yes, being held. You have to take care of those things for them. Of course, some newborns may require more holding than others. You'll eventually discover what your infant reacts to the most.