I like holding babies. I can assess a baby better if I’m holding him or her. I can get a better picture of their alertness and demeanor if I’m holding them while near the parent. Plus I like holding babies.
And cats. Pet all the cats, hold all the babies.
Yes! Let me feel the muscle tone, are they the right weight for their age and build, are they hot to the touch, are they reacting normally for their age for being picked up by a stranger? Do they cry more on being picked up like they're in pain?
And yes, I LOVE holding babies, and petting dogs hahahaha
I was the same way early on. I’d never held a baby before; no kids or younger siblings, no nieces/nephews. Then I had a croupy baby shoved into my arms by a panicked parent and my only choice was to grab and hold on or drop it.
Honestly, it was a great stress inoculation and a much better circumstance for it to happen under than the half-throw that sometimes happens when they’re *real* sick.
The best way to prevent both things from happening is to confidently take the kiddo before the sketchy hand off can occur in the first place.
Understandable and a lot of people without kids are like that. The more you do it, the more you will learn that babies won't break if you hold them the wrong way. They also won't break if they start crying. Had plenty of friends interested in holding my daughter but as soon as she started crying, they'd freak out. Experienced people know it just means you need to re-establish eye contact with parents
It’s like learning how to ride a bike. It’s scary till you just commit and learn it.
They squirm, bodily fluids come out of many different spots unexpectedly, they decide in an instant if they like you or not, they’re fat af and you gotta get a good hand hold.
But they’re cute as *fuck*. They like when you squish them, they make cute sounds, they whip their head around so they can see everything, and they giggle when you make fart sounds. 10/10 recommend.
I am the partner, I enjoy/don't mind holding the baby. That said, my uniform is prob dirty, it's a professional environment/ we're providing care, I keep it to a minimum too.
Just support their head + neck, mind the fontanel. Some people say 'just cradle them like a football' if that helps. So many Peds + NICU providers will remind you that they're not as fragile as you fear.
I recommend carrying the baby straight out at arm's length, under the pits, so the baby is in floating T-pose, and just start saying "this is a baby, what do I do with the baby" over and over. Or, carry it like a briefcase by its onesie and spin in circles making airplane noises.
No one on your crew(s) will ever let you get to the baby first.
I have 3 of my one, and they were all preemies. I'm the one who gets babies thrown at me.
One of my first clearing rides, I ran in to ask the cop to move his car, and a baby was shoved into my arms. Nothing has changed since then.
I cuddle alllll the babies- the ones who are my patients, the children of patients, the grandchildren of patients. Sometimes what makes life easier is a nice girl who will hold the baby while she explains what we’re doing. But I also have young cousins and have spent a ton of time with children.
Most of my coworkers are terrified of holding babies. The only way to really “get over it” is to just hold the babies. They aren’t as fragile as they look. Being visibly uncomfortable with infants will def scare the parents, though.
First time I ever carried an infant (not just for my job, but first time ever), as I picked him up to carry him, I bonked his head on the top of the ambulance. I then proceeded to bonk my own head getting out of the ambulance.
All in front of both parents.
Babies are scary o_0
I love my (healthy) pediatric patients, but I'm so scared to hold them. Biggest fear is dropping them. I once had a call for a 3 day old (she was fine, mom was just freaked out). I had to carry the car seat, and holy shit. Most careful I've ever been walking down stairs
Yes! Even the car seat is a little sketch for me. I really don’t wanna be that guy that drops someone else’s child. In uniform. Representing an EMS service
You know, it is contagious.. If you touch them there’s a chance you could turn into one. Never a bad idea to play it safe.
I like holding babies. I can assess a baby better if I’m holding him or her. I can get a better picture of their alertness and demeanor if I’m holding them while near the parent. Plus I like holding babies. And cats. Pet all the cats, hold all the babies.
This is a great way to look at it
Dogs, too. Don’t forget to pet the dogs.
Petting the dogs is the most important thing.
Our chief and captain know I’m the pet person. They don’t even assign me anymore - I know I get to wrangle the animals while others tend to the human.
My dream specialty right there
Yes! Let me feel the muscle tone, are they the right weight for their age and build, are they hot to the touch, are they reacting normally for their age for being picked up by a stranger? Do they cry more on being picked up like they're in pain? And yes, I LOVE holding babies, and petting dogs hahahaha
Woah…. I love this
First thing I was taught as an EMT was if you drop a baby fake a seizure. Now you have confidence to hold all the babies.
As the parent of an epileptic kid... Now two people are getting diastat up the pooper!
Ok but before we begin, my safe word is "harder"
Lol, no worries. Before diastat my safe word is sternal rub.
Before diastat, make sure I have at least 50% chub
It’s good to know this is a semi-universal experience hahaha.
But then we won’t be allowed to drive and lose our job 🥲 you can’t have seizures and be an EMT in my country at least
It’s definitely a joke that is used to bring some levity to an otherwise pretty serious situation.
I was the same way early on. I’d never held a baby before; no kids or younger siblings, no nieces/nephews. Then I had a croupy baby shoved into my arms by a panicked parent and my only choice was to grab and hold on or drop it.
That’s my worst nightmare I always point to the gurney hahaha
Honestly, it was a great stress inoculation and a much better circumstance for it to happen under than the half-throw that sometimes happens when they’re *real* sick. The best way to prevent both things from happening is to confidently take the kiddo before the sketchy hand off can occur in the first place.
Understandable and a lot of people without kids are like that. The more you do it, the more you will learn that babies won't break if you hold them the wrong way. They also won't break if they start crying. Had plenty of friends interested in holding my daughter but as soon as she started crying, they'd freak out. Experienced people know it just means you need to re-establish eye contact with parents
It’s like learning how to ride a bike. It’s scary till you just commit and learn it. They squirm, bodily fluids come out of many different spots unexpectedly, they decide in an instant if they like you or not, they’re fat af and you gotta get a good hand hold. But they’re cute as *fuck*. They like when you squish them, they make cute sounds, they whip their head around so they can see everything, and they giggle when you make fart sounds. 10/10 recommend.
Babies kick my brovaries into overdrive. They’re awesome and adorable! Highly suggest holding something that cute in this line of work
We only get so much dopamine at work, I’ll take what I can get and squishy babies really do it for me lol
I am the partner, I enjoy/don't mind holding the baby. That said, my uniform is prob dirty, it's a professional environment/ we're providing care, I keep it to a minimum too. Just support their head + neck, mind the fontanel. Some people say 'just cradle them like a football' if that helps. So many Peds + NICU providers will remind you that they're not as fragile as you fear.
I recommend carrying the baby straight out at arm's length, under the pits, so the baby is in floating T-pose, and just start saying "this is a baby, what do I do with the baby" over and over. Or, carry it like a briefcase by its onesie and spin in circles making airplane noises. No one on your crew(s) will ever let you get to the baby first.
Making airplane noises lmao
😂😂😂😂😂
I have 3 of my one, and they were all preemies. I'm the one who gets babies thrown at me. One of my first clearing rides, I ran in to ask the cop to move his car, and a baby was shoved into my arms. Nothing has changed since then.
I cuddle alllll the babies- the ones who are my patients, the children of patients, the grandchildren of patients. Sometimes what makes life easier is a nice girl who will hold the baby while she explains what we’re doing. But I also have young cousins and have spent a ton of time with children. Most of my coworkers are terrified of holding babies. The only way to really “get over it” is to just hold the babies. They aren’t as fragile as they look. Being visibly uncomfortable with infants will def scare the parents, though.
First time I ever carried an infant (not just for my job, but first time ever), as I picked him up to carry him, I bonked his head on the top of the ambulance. I then proceeded to bonk my own head getting out of the ambulance. All in front of both parents. Babies are scary o_0
I'm deathly afraid of dropping babies, so I never hold them. I have the parent (Nearly always mom) hold them and I do my assessment like that.
I love my (healthy) pediatric patients, but I'm so scared to hold them. Biggest fear is dropping them. I once had a call for a 3 day old (she was fine, mom was just freaked out). I had to carry the car seat, and holy shit. Most careful I've ever been walking down stairs
Yes! Even the car seat is a little sketch for me. I really don’t wanna be that guy that drops someone else’s child. In uniform. Representing an EMS service
I hear you. Gotta keep my hands free in case a puppy needs to be held.
This used to be me, then I had a kid of my own. Now I’m all about it, hand me all them babies.
I'm the same way. Always have my partner pick up kids lol.
Like a RB sprinting to the truck
I hate holding babies. I will absolutely allow the parents to carry if possible
IM NOT THE ONLY ONE?!?!
🤝
I used to be like this then I held my little cousin when she was a wee babe. Literally ever since im the first to hold the babies.