A video featuring Californian doctor Robert Hamilton, who uses a technique called The Hold to calm the cry of a baby When it's intense. We all know what it feels like when a newborn cries, the reason is unknown, and we can't seem to calm them down; many times It is the parents' attitude that prevents them from seeing the solutionWe get nervous and transmit that to the little one. It's true that everything changes after the second child, even if each child (a very common situation) is different. Cries for different reasons and with different intensity; I personally felt safer with the little girl, the experience is a degree, they say.
Before explaining what this technique involves, I'd like to clarify something: although Hamilton encourages parents to try the Hold and claims to have had no problems due to malpractice, there are other voices that recommend prudence
For example, from the Committee on Safety and Prevention of Unintentional Injuries (AEP), they warn that an inexperienced and untrained person could cause some kind of injury to the babyEspecially considering it's often used in infants under three months old. They don't advise against it, but rather suggest ask for the opinion of the family pediatricianNo precaution is too much when dealing with a newborn, given the technique publicized by Robert Hamilton involves performing certain maneuvers in the baby's little body.
TheHold
Hamilton has been a pediatrician for approximately three decades, and it appears he created The Hold about twenty years ago; he has been refining it ever since. However, It has not been proven to work better than other techniques. To soothe crying, techniques based on restraint are used (for example, placing the baby face down on your arm or on your knees). Furthermore, Let's not forget that every baby is unique. And not everyone responds the same way: it depends on their sensitivity, the need they express, and the helplessness they may be experiencing at that moment. Several experts affirm that if it works, it's because at that moment The adult applying it is much calmer. that the parents, who are already desperate because they don't know what to do.
I'll briefly explain what it consists of, but not before remind you Please consult your baby's pediatrician before resorting to this technique, which has been presented as a magic bullet (personally, I would remove the adjective, but that's just my opinion).
As detailed in the video (you can turn on subtitles for better understanding, although they are not available in Spanish): the child is lifted up while looking down and, carefully, She draws her little arms up to her chestgently folding them; the adult's hand is placed on them and at the same time supports the chin. With the palm of the other hand They hold their buttocksFinally, the baby should be placed at a 45º angle and It rocks very carefully.
- Arms crossed over the chest: Gather both of the baby's arms against their chest without forcing and without hyperextending elbows or wrists.
- Chin and neck support: With the same hand that holds the arms, provide firm support to the chin to prevent the head from falling backward.
- Pelvic support: With the other hand, hold the buttocks and hips, without pressing with the fingers on the abdomen or ribs.
- 45º tilt: Keep your body inclined and perform gentle vertical or lateral rocking motions, always without sudden movements.
As Hamilton himself explains, The tilt helps maintain control of the baby's body and head, while many infants find relief in that compact position. Some pediatricians specializing in gastroenterology have pointed out that This tilt can also act as an antireflux mechanism.so that the gentle rocking would help to reduce gastric reflux into the stomach and, therefore, the discomfort it causes.
The technique is usually used in babies up to two or three months oldbecause from then on their size and weight make it difficult to hold them safely in that position. In any case, it does not apply to small children with hunger, sleepiness, dirty diaper, or illnessBefore any maneuver, it is advisable to ensure that your basic needs are met.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2C8MkY7Co8
It should be emphasized that No one has proven that one method is better than another. to calm a baby. Leading authors in respectful parenting have described that what usually soothes them is to be picked up, cradled and caressedIn consultations, many pediatricians They tend to hold them somewhat away from the body. to avoid getting stained by regurgitation, which explains why restraint techniques like The Hold are common in the clinical setting.
Risks and Precautions
The AEP's Committee on Safety and Prevention of Unintentional Injuries reminds us that Learning from just one video is not enough and that an uneducated adult can cause cervical injuries in a newborn. If tested, the recommendation is go to the pediatrician first so that you can assess each case, demonstrate the technique, and supervise its implementation.
Among the basic precautions: always smooth movementsAvoid jerking movements, do not apply pressure with your fingers on the ribs or abdomen, and ensure at all times the head-neck-trunk alignmentIf the baby continues to cry with continuous whimpering, fever, lethargy, or difficulty breathing, One should not insist and you have to consult.
Hamilton himself has indicated that the maneuver It is easier for large handsand that those with small hands can lean on a blanket or muslin to pick up the baby's arms with greater control. In any case, hand size does not replace the proper training nor prudence.
If The Hold doesn't work, it's usually because it exists. any immediate needHunger, sleepiness, diaper changes, feeling cold/hot, the urge to spit up, or discomfort from reflux. Considering all these causes before insisting on restraint saves frustration and avoid overstimulating to the little one.
Hold or bring the body closer?
Definitely the second one; I realized it when my eldest son was still very small and would calm down when I took him out of the bassinet to carry him in my arms. From that moment on, the use of strollers and chairs became very sporadic.You're going to tell me that moms and dads end up exhausted, that their backs hurt, and all that; it's all a matter of attitude and deciding which needs to meet: the baby's or mine? Is it possible to satisfy both? Is it incompatible to use a baby carrier during the day and feel relaxed? To the last question, certainly not. Our happiness depends in part on the well-being of our children, to which we contribute.
I also remember that the ergonomic carrying It's not just for prevent cryingbut also pain in the upper or lower back (nothing to do with uncomfortable hanging braces). Babies they need contact with their motheror with their father; whether they cry or not, it doesn't answer many questions, and none related to an intentional decision of the little one.
It's logical to think that if they don't yet have verbal language, need to cry to communicate or because they are tense. The reaction it provokes in adults, when it consists of increased nervousness or rejection, is not at all natural: it depends on how we were raised and on the support we haveProbably, in a more natural environment, we would always respond instinctively; that wouldn't prevent all crying episodes, but could prevent them from intensifying.
Just as I talk about carrying to improve the child's mood, when co-sleeping the babies they cry lessbecause they satisfy their basic needs (contact and food) almost immediately. For my part, I point out that holding the child moves them away from the mother, and from that perspective, the technique seems less appropriate to me; furthermore, If done incorrectly, it could cause an accident.
We also need to consider the Importance of the adult's moodExperienced professionals emphasize that it's not so much the method as the person doing the rocking: a calm person transmits calm, while an exhausted or tense caregiver increases baby's activationTaking a moment to stop, breathe, ask for a replacement if possible, and reducing stimuli (light, noise) helps any technique work better.
Other forms of support and comfort that often work
Besides The Hold, there are other safe restraint positions and simple resources that, combined with contact and calm, often relieve crying:
- On the forearm, face down: Support the baby's abdomen on your forearm (the so-called hummingbird hold). The warmth and gentle pressure on the tummy relieve gas.
- Vertically, skin to skin: Chest to chest, with your head resting on my shoulder. This position regulates heart rate and breathing and fosters the bond.
- On the knees: Lying face down on your thighs and gently rocked; useful for release tension and facilitate the expulsion of air.
- Lullaby with a blanket: Wrapping ergonomically (without forcing hips or restricting hips/knees) can provide temporary containment in some babies.
- Rhythmic swaying and white noise: Rocking at a steady rhythm and emitting a soft shhh can evoke intrauterine sensations and reduce sensory overload.
Before applying any technique, review a basic checklist: clean diaper, hunger satisfied, appropriate temperatureNeed to burp, wear comfortable clothing, and ensure there is no hair or thread on your fingers (tourniquet). If reflux is suspected, maintain moderate incline After feedings, gentle rocking can reduce discomfort.
Regarding its effectiveness, Hamilton states that It works in a high percentage of cases. of babies in consultation, but even so, she reminds us that it's useless when there's hunger, sleepiness, or pain. Meanwhile, experts in pediatrics and parenting point out that The Hold It does not offer anything radically new.It's mainly about picking up the child, supporting their head and neck, stroking them, and rocking them. The real difference often lies in... safety and serenity with which it is executed.
Image — Critical moss.
It is clear that calming a baby's crying is a process that combines care, observation and safetyThe Hold offers a specific restraint guideline that may help some children, but it does not replace attending to their needs, consulting with professionals, or the power of the skin to skin contact and proper babywearing. With patience, support, and safe techniques, most crying episodes resolve quickly and safely.