Thread: celebration for baby -suggestions?

Hi!
I've been asked to do a show for a 2 month old baby's 'celebration' and the parents want me to actually dance with the baby. Now I'm terrible with babies and I figure I'd be even more terrible dancing with a baby and generally, I just don't feel comfortable dancing with such a small child...does anyone have suggestions as to alternatives to actually dancing with the baby? I was thinking of including the parents somehow....any tips?
Thanks!

I wouldn't do it. 2 month old babies are very floppy, you have to hold them very close to you, then what's the point? the child won't enjoy it and neither will the audience.

I would have the mother hold the baby and dance with the mother.

I agree with Kina. There are other reasons, too- holding a baby close when wearing sequins and beads is not nice to the baby- if his/her little cheek is resting against you.
PLUS, what if the cute adorable thing spits up on your costume? Disaster!

My little one is now 6 weeks old and so far I wouldn't give her to a dancer to dance with her. I dance with her around myself but that is a different point.

I think it would be better to have the mother to dance with the baby. Doing some turns or showing her some figure-eight-like moves with the upper body (lying figure eight, something equal to maya with upper body...)

I agree - the liability of picking up and dancing with such a young infant is something I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Having the mother or another family member hold the baby is a good compromise. If you feel comfortable doing so, you could very gently hold the baby's hand while shimmying in place, so they can get pictures of you and the baby "dancing together".

I did a BellyGram a while ago and there was a baby I'd say about 8 months old. She was standing on her mother's lap but totally supported by the adult's hands under the armpits. This kid was fascinated by the dancing and costume - every time I danced by she would smile hugely, clap her hands and squeal in delight. The mom held her out to me and tried to get me to take her, but I was way too nervous about the liability. I had the mom hold her like before, then I took her hips and veeeeeeery gently moved them back and forth in a "shimmy". Everyone laughted and cheered and it was an awesome moment. They did ask me if I would pose for a picture with the baby on my way out and I agreed - but I held her standing still and with a cover up on over my very expensive costume.

Thank you ladies so much for the wonderful advice! I thought I was the only one who thought it was a little (a lot) awkward, especially with a newborn.

Great suggestions!

Ditto what others have said. There's a BIIIIG difference between 2 and 8 months development-wise....

Also remember that zils = bad for many babies. My son went through a phase where they made him scream.

I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but I think a 2 month old can't really support his / her own head, usually an adult holds it. Maybe I am confusing it with the fact that a baby normlly can lift her head up while laying on belly around 3 months.
Either way I agree with everyone else
- such a young child is very fragile, it's enough to hold them properly and supportively, but to dance?
- the baby will not enjoy the dance as much as everyone else around him. He might cry, be cranky anyways, etc.
- it will not be comfortable for him to lay his head against your sequins - ouch!
- it would be best to have the mom dance with him, and pose for pictures afterwards. The party only lasts a few hours, but the pictures will be there forever. I can't tell from your post if it's a boy or girl, but it would be a good moment for later; especially if it's a boy, they can show it to his friends and say he already had a belly dancer dance for him at age 2 months!

What if Mom or Dad sat in a prominent place in the room and held the baby and you danced near or around them?

You could place something around them or do something special to honor the little guest.

I think it could work if you weren't holding the baby.

Or if you didn't want to place something around them like a veil or something what about sprinkling something ...white petals?