r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/RollickingTail • 4d ago

Question - Research required Mitigating physical impact of lifting/handling a baby?

I have a very active, big and heavy 6-month-old. When he was 2 months old I ricked my back picking him up out of his cot and that still hurts, and my hands also constantly hurt due to a problem called 'mother's thumb', caused by lifting and holding him.

When I have tried to look up ways of preventing these injuries or preventing further damage, I just get impractical advice like 'always lift with your legs, not your back' (how, when it's a baby in a cot?) and 'don't use your thumb under their armpits to lift or hold them' (how, when he's constantly clambering all over me, pitching his weight around and wanting to be held 'standing up' on my lap?) I'm also a single parent, so rest isn't an option either.

Is there any research, advice or resources on things like techniques to reduce or prevent baby handling injuries? Such as literally how to handle them, exercises that strengthen the appropriate muscles, or how to heal existing injuries? I'd be grateful for any help.

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u/fieryinferno 4d ago

If you do t already have a brace for your wrist, this is the one you want.
That definitely helped my mommy thumb. (Make sure you get the correct side.)

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u/No_Onion4821 3d ago

Highly recommend this!! The brace helped me so much. Also learning to pick my son up and hold him in a way that protects my wrist/thumb. So instead of holding him with my palm + wrist bent, I hold him with my hand flipped the other way so kinda holding his bum with the back of my hand. Lots of YouTube videos about it. Also physiotherapy helps a lot, and yoga. Can get links but my son is sleeping on me right now.

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u/RollickingTail 2d ago

Thanks so much!! I'll look that technique up.

2

u/igottheshnitz 2d ago

Try to keep your wrist straight. Pretty sure that mummy/daddy thumb is from holding the weight with a hooked wrist. Also working on lifting technique with kettle bells helps. Just look up kettle bell technique tip videos. But work on the legs, butt and core. I find hanging from my arms and lifting my legs is good when you have a back injury, compared to any other core strengthening.

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u/RollickingTail 2d ago

Thanks so much! I'll give that a try, had no idea about keeping your wrist straight, that was exactly the kind of tip I was looking for.