To not hold a friends baby

[McHappyPants2012]

Just had a message from a friend saying she was upset at me not holding her newborn baby.

I just can't do, I am scared of holding other people's newborn. They look so small and I fear I will break them or drop them.

I did ask about the baby and coo over him, but when she offered I just froze.

YANBU

I'd much rather you decline to hold my newborn than both you and newborn being really uncomfortable.

My brother has never held any of my babies until they were toddlers, he was frightened of breaking/hurting them. The first newborn he ever held was his own - 6 weeks ago - and he's a natural

Doesn't make him want to hold my wiggly squiggly 5 month DS though

Oh YANBU at all

It's the flippy-floppy head that freaks me out.

That. Except when my own 2 DDs were babies, I felt confident with my own babies.

Yanbu. I loved holding my own newborns but really not keen on holding other people's. I love seeing new mums and hearing their birth stories but I don't ever offer to hold the baby. That might upset some, but Your friend's reaction is peculiar. For what it's worth, I have a range of reasons for not wanting to hold other people's babies, not least the prevention of broodiness. Although the only babies that ever really make me broody are my own!

I'm sure your friend is just being a bit irrational and tired, She will probably feel a bit daft for the text on reflection. Not everyone likes holding babies, nothing wrong with that.

I love little squidgy newborns though, although even I was a bit freaked out when I had to bathe a baby that was about 4lbs, so teeny weeny and birdlike and damn slippery.

Well, if she's a new mum and normally level-headed, I'm sure it's just the hormones kicking.

Give it a few months and once the head is non-wobbly chuck the bubba high up in the air every time you go round, shouting 'who's a flying baby, how high, how high!'. She'll soon stop wanting you to hold it.

I think she's a bit hormental.

I don't like holding newborns - I'd rather admire them from a distance.

Your friend needs to count herself lucky.

My sister graciously let a visiting 5yo hold her newborn and the child just hopped up when she'd had enough and let the baby roll off her lap onto the floor.

I just can't do, I am scared of holding other people's newborn. They look so small and I fear I will break them or drop them.
Just tell her this ^

She's in the midst of post-partum hormones and easily upset, so she's made it mean something else, who knows what. Just tell her the reason and say he's adorable.

She's being silly. Holding other people's babies isn't compulsory. Not everybody is comfortable with it.