Can't believe I'd forgotten...

[Libby65]

I held a friend's newborn baby at playgroup yesterday, and it made me as nervous as anything. She was so tiny and I could not remember how to hold a baby properly... the poor thing's head was flopping to the side () and I couldn't believe how uncomfortable it made me!!! My three yr old ds is a big strapping boy now but he only weighed 5lb 8oz at birth - and I just could not for the life of me remember holding him when he was that small. It's scary!! Must have been in a stress-induced haze...

It just made me realise that I am NOT a natural -I watched some of the other mothers holding the baby effortlessly and I wonder how I got through the whole thing. I guess you just do what you have to do at the time!! Has anyone ever experienced feeling like this?

Ooooh yes. I nearly dropped a friend's newborn when DS1 was only 13 months old. This baby just wobbled and flopped back - I looked like a complete amateur!! I've got better since, but only by concentrating very very hard on what I'm doing

I'm not a natural either, I just don't volunteer myself when it comes to holding, I just 'poke' from afar! I think the thing is when its your own child you have to as nobody else will.

I can't believe how 'unnatural' the whole mother concept is, I really have to work hard at it. Whereas some seem to have no trouble and then go on to have three or four (or more!) effortlessly.

My friend came to visit yesterday and while i held her 7 month old baby, he threw himself backwards and I had to do a diving catch to save him. Even though my DS did exactly the same.

Me too. I'm only a natural with my own.

I'm with you all. Holding a friends little baby all she wanted was to go to sleep. Did I recognise that no. Of course I had her up on my shoulder so she could look around. No wonder she whinged the whole time she was in my arms. She breathed this huge sigh of relief when I gave her back to her mum and fell asleep within seconds.

I could see the look on her mum's face the whole time I had her as well. It was that look of, what the hell are you doing? Don't you have any idea? Answer to that was obviously no.

Meanmum

I think my friend was giving me the same look yesterday.

I suppose it's because that floppy stage passes so quickly and you're not in the best position to remember anything.

I went round to see a friend with 4 week old this week and she was worried about nail clipping. All gung ho, I volunteered, and promptly managed to nip the poor little thing!

So no more tiny babies for me, then - I'm obviously a danger to all concerned

ROFL at you Gizmo. I haven't managed to do that to ds yet but I know so many others who did all when their children were so small and even though their children are much older now they still live in horror at the thought. Your friend won't let you near her child ever again. What is it about drawing blood from a tiny little nic in the skin that sends parents into a frenzy.

This sounds so familiar.

I had never held a tiny Baby before having my ds. I am disabled, somewhat clumsy, and would never have risked it. Of course I handled my own boy (although was bl**dy terrified at first, and managed OK, despite him being a strapping 8lb 3oz (and me only tiny).

There is no way now I'd volunteer to hold a baby now tho'. Can't imagine how I ever did.

BTW DS is now 3.5 yrs.

Message withdrawn

this happened to me recently - saw an acquaintance who had recently had a baby and this baby was now about 9lbs something and I could not get over how small he was. Amazed me to think how little my 6lb 1 oz cherub was and must have seemed to others. I just forgot how little and vulberable she looked.

Same here eidsvold. My SIL has just had a 7lb 1oz girl who is TINY. My ds was 6cm longer than her at birth, but even so, I can't believe that he was anywhere near that small!