Worried I've hurt my baby :(

[Flowerydems]

I was giving my baby who's just over 2 months a wash tonight and when I was drying him I rubbed his head in a way which moved it from side to side slightly just to get his hair dry... Now I'm totally paranoid that I've hurt him there were no screams or anything though but the what if's have come into my head.

He likes a wee jiggle to calm him down aswell which means I often have him upright on my knee while I jiggle my leg a bit, and now looking at it I don't think I'm supporting his head all the time usually have his chest and back held at the same time.

It's my first baby but now I'm over analysing everything I do with him on a day to day basis, including picking him up from under his arms and not supporting his neck properly until he's in my arms. He seems fine (for a colicky baby) but I'm totally paranoid now :(

I think what's made it worse is that I hit google and am now in a bit of a state I mean I know I don't shake him ever but is there a fine line between a jiggle and a shake or am I being paranoid??

Just needed to get it out.... also wondered if any mums had a similar experience and it's all been ok?

I very much doubt you've hurt him, does he seem ok?

By two months he should have some head control anyway. Babies are really quite resilient!

Are you worrying about lots of things, because if you are it might be worth mentioning to your health visitor in case you've have a touch of PND.

Calm down, you haven't hurt him, he'd tell you if you had! Try and take a step back, your paranoia is likely to do him more harm than anything you're doing/not doing. If you're having difficulty reigning in the paranoia and anxiety, maybe you should have a chat with your HV or GP?

I think its fine OP. I hate to admit it but I have (accidentally!) hit both my DCs heads on door frames whilst they were lying along my arm IYSWIM as babies! I think I may have spatial issues!

They are now 5 and nearly 3 and are perfectly fine!

Yeah he seems fine, no more difficult to settle to sleep than normal but I'm just totally paranoid that all his crying is my fault now.

I know I should have mentioned my over-,worrying thing but then worry that she'll take it all the wrong way and think I'm a bad mum so I've gone down the route of talking about the baby and anything that seems concerning about him but 'everything's fine' with me whenever she asks. She's not the most approachable woman....

Flowery, the very fact that you're worrying makes you a good mum. Bad parents don't care enough to worry. Do mention it to your HV though, she won't think you're a bad parent, it's very normal for a new parent to be anxious but you wouldn't want it to get out of control.

He should be fine hun, dont worry at all. babies are extremely resilient and I hate to mention it but abused babies recover from the most awful injuries. You are a good mummy that was drying his hair to make sure it was wet and uncomfortable for him. relax x

and you are a first time mum, everythings a bit scary and its easy to freak out over stuff and totally normal. I remember when ds was about 7 months old and he fell off my bed on to the floor. wasnt a hard surface or anything but i was so upset about it. I also remember when I went to pick him up in his carseat and he slid on to the floor because the strap didnt close. again it wasnt a height or anything, a few inches maybe, but enough to scare me. these things happen and you just have to keep your wits about you and not worry too much. as long as you love and do the best by baby, thats great.

Op when we had ds we spent about half an hour putting his vest on to come home in. We were scared that moving his arm would damage him I think. A midwife who was there said new horns are foundry than they look and its very difficult to damage them unless you're trying to (barring complete accidents of course). Made us feel much better. Still gave up on his posh 'going home' outfit though, pit him in the car seat, wrapped dh's coat round him and got in the car as fast as we could :)

New borns are tougher

Op have you seen a baby be delivered by c-sec? You should SEE how they manouvere
them out of there! You're OK kid, please relax.

Shaken baby syndrome doesn't happen through jiggling. It's through the kind of action that would cause whiplash: something violent.

Moron. Reported. Again.