Our baby hamster is here!!!

[TracyMM]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Just a brief update. When Sam arrived home after a birthday party this evening, approx 7pm, we lifted the cage onto the floor and took off the top. Now I have to tell you at this point that our first hamster, Harry, bit me at least 4 times and left holes in my digits - I kid you not. So I've been increasingly nervous about handling this baby when we got him home. I was OK at the breeder's, the babies were in a breeding pen, all trying to get out and once, and it was all hands on deck just to keep them in. But that was under the confident supervision of Sue (who must be fed up with my neuroses). I desperately do not want to undermine Sam's confidence, which is growing all the time. So, to cut a long story short, I plucked up courage and lifted him ( very firmly but gently because he didn't want to be constrained) and held him. He struggled to get away at first, but did get slightly calmer (but not much). I lifted him out onto my knees, etc, and let him crawl hand to hand. It was a kind of controlled chaos, with most of the turmoil in me! He scrabbled to get away, trying to dig through my legs or get away through my arms. I could see it was all a bit much, so I let Sam briefly hold him, then we put him back. We each gave him a tiny piece of cooked chicken as a reward. After 10 mins I let Sam lift him again. This was brief. Then the baby started chattering his teeth, so we definitely knew he'd had enough. So lid on, cage back. He tried to burrow under the wood chip to get some peace, and was even more displeased when I hoovered around later. He dug himself into his corner, chattering away. I made him a tiny bit of porridge and left him. Just checked now, and he's up and about, and seems a bit more confident about the things in the cage, still trying desperately to break the spell of the impenetrable invisible force field to escape the ZooZone.

My question - are we doing this right? This was a confident little baby, and tonight he didn't look half as confident or happy. BUT I know he's just had a MASSIVE life change, lost his siblings, found himself in solitary confinement, strangers gawping and pawing and cooing at him. It's just that I am very nervous about handling him, but am desperately trying to act brave for Sam (who so loves him already), and also reminding myself that he's already used to being handled, and is friendly. I am guessing we have to give him lots of time. Tomorrow I think I'm going to put him in the bath with Sam, and that way we don't have to worry about him running and disappearing down a skirting board, etc. But about 1 session of 15 minutes per day? Or until he looks as if he's had enough (because he's a baby, and probably quite stressed). I don't want to distress him, but I do want him to get used to us and to us handling him.
Yours, feeling not so pleased with myself tonight.