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Positioning and Latch

Breastfeeding is an Art
Begin with a Calm Baby
Hold your Baby Skin-to-Skin
Find a Comfortable Position
Laid- Back Position
Cross-cradle hold
Clutch hold (also called the football or rugby hold)
Cradle hold
Side-lying position
Getting a Deep Latch
Chin squashed on the breast
Head tipped back and nose tipping away
The Nipple tilt technique
Is Your Baby Getting Your Milk?
What if Breastfeeding Hurts You?
Helpful Breastfeeding Videos

Breastfeeding is an Art

You might expect latching your baby to your breast to feel natural and easy. Many healthy full term babies know instinctively what to do at the breast. However, breastfeeding each new baby is like having a new dance partner. There is an art to breastfeeding. Sometimes, seemingly small adjustments can help you position your body and your baby’s body comfortably, and make it easier for your baby to latch effectively.

Comfortable positioning and deep latch are important for establishing and maintaining your milk production. When your baby latches deeply onto your breast, your baby can remove milk more effectively. Your breasts need the stimulation of your baby removing your milk to establish a good production. As your baby removes your milk, your body gets the message to make more milk.

The following suggestions may help you get started. Use what works for you and your baby. When you both are comfortable, relax and enjoy the moment!

Begin with a Calm Baby

The first step is starting with a calm baby. It can be more difficult for your baby to latch on to your breast when upset. Watch for early signs that your baby is hungry. Offer your breast before she starts to cry.

What are some early hunger cues?

  • Hand sucking
  • Lip smacking
  • Turning her head toward your breast or chest of the person holding them
  • Just starting to wake up

Active fussing is a late hunger cue. Your baby may find it difficult to latch when frantically upset. Take a few minutes to calm your baby and yourself.

Tips for calming your baby.

  • Hold your baby upright on your chest and gently rock him
  • Use skin-to-skin contact
  • Express drops of milk for your baby to lick from your nipple
  • If your baby is still upset, express a little colostrum or milk. Give it to him in a teaspoon.
  • Sometimes it helps calm a fussy baby if you stand up and sway or gently bounce.
Hold your Baby Skin-to-Skin

Skin-to-skin contact during and between feedings is helpful in the early weeks even when your baby is already calm. It helps your baby know where they are and what they are supposed to do at the breast. The more time your baby spends in skin-to-skin contact with you, the more opportunities for her to feed and let you know she is hungry. This helps you learn your baby’s hunger cues. Read more at  Skin-to-Skin Contact

Newborns may be sleepy much of the time because of birth interventions, medical conditions, or premature birth. This can make it difficult for them to latch on for frequent feedings. Reclining back with your baby in skin-to-skin contact will help your baby maintain his warmth, hear your heartbeat, breathe your scent, and become interested in breastfeeding. Often, babies can latch on and breastfeed when in light sleep. When your baby begins to stir, move him toward your breast.  

Find a Comfortable Position

There are many breastfeeding positions. Some positions may be more helpful than others in the early stages, when you and your baby are learning to breastfeed.

Laid-Back Position

You may find that the laid-back position is most comfortable in the early days and weeks. It is especially helpful if:

  • You are having difficulty getting a comfortable latch
  • Your baby seems stressed while breastfeeding
  • Your baby’s arms seem to be getting in the way
  • You can’t get into a comfortable position

Make yourself comfortable

Even newborns get heavy when you are holding them at the breast for extended periods. With the laid-back position, gravity does the work:

  • Find a bed, couch, or reclining chair where you can lean back and be well supported. Lean back comfortably, but not flat on your back.
  • Raise your feet. It helps to raise your lap, and it takes pressure off your stomach muscles. Use a footstool to prop up your feet or put your feet up on the couch or bed, with a pillow under your knees.
  • Once your baby is comfortably latched, you can tuck pillows under your arms or elbows. Supporting your arms allows your shoulders and neck muscles to release, preventing tension on the muscles underneath the breasts. You may also want to put a pillow behind your head for support if the back of the couch or chair doesn’t provide enough support.

Ensure full body contact

If your baby feels comfortably secure, she will be able to latch on better to feed. If she feels insecure, she may wave her arms around or kick her legs to feel more secure.

  • The laid-back breastfeeding position uses gravity to hold your baby close.
  • This position molds your baby’s body to yours. It allows your baby to feel safe and secure knowing that she is not going to fall.
  • Most babies do not like their feet dangling. It is helpful to provide your baby with somewhere to plant her feet. For example, your baby’s feet could rest on your belly, legs, or a pillow.
  • The whole front of your baby’s body should have full contact with the front of your body. Your baby’s chin, tummy, and legs should be in contact with your body.
  • Your baby can rest on you in any direction you both like as long as her front is next to the front of your body. Your baby could lie with his feet down towards either one of your thighs, or they could be across your body with their feet under your other breast.
  • When you are in position, your baby’s cheeks should rest near your bare breast.

Adjust your breast as needed

 Place your breast so you can rest comfortably while feeding. It may be helpful to:

  • Hold your breast while your baby latches.
  • If you are larger breasted, use your upper arm to secure your breast, so the nipple does not fall to the side of your body.
  • Place a rolled-up face cloth beneath your breast where it meets the ribcage if extra support while breastfeeding is needed. 
  • Release your breast once your baby has latched deeply and started sucking. You may need to move a little to get a more comfortable position.
  • Bring your baby to your breast rather than moving your breast to your baby.
  • Consider using the basic sandwich hold so that you compress your breast parallel to the baby’s mouth.

Cross-cradle hold

The cross-cradle is sometimes used in the early days especially with small babies and is often taught in hospitals. However, you may want to be cautious about its use as some research links the cross-cradle hold to increased nipple pain.¹

How does it work?

  • Hold your baby in the opposite forearm from the breast you are using.
  • Place your baby’s bottom near the crook of your arm.
  • Use your forearm to support your baby’s back.
  • Support your baby’s head with the palm and fingers of your hand. Your thumb and fingers will be at the base of the neck, and your palm on the upper back.
  • Use your other hand if you need to support your breast.
  • Make sure your baby is turned tummy to tummy with you.
  • Give your baby a gentle push between the shoulder blades with the palm of your hand as he latches. This will bring your baby close. Continue to hold him close with the palm of your hand so he doesn’t fall off when he sucks.
  • Lean back or use pillows to take some pressure off your arm. This will help your baby feel more secure.
  • Avoid holding the top of your baby’s head. This can trigger your baby to pull away from the breast, prevent a wider open mouth, and lead to painful latching.

Clutch hold (also called the football or rugby hold)

The clutch hold can be helpful if you had a cesarean section, and you need to keep your baby off the incision. It may be helpful if you have larger breasts. You can even feed two babies at the same time in a double clutch hold. The clutch hold may help you to see how your baby is latching.

How do you get started?

  • Hold your baby’s front against the side of your body
  • Use your forearm to support your baby’s back. Your hand is at the base of your baby’s head, and your baby’s feet are near the back of your body.
  • Use your elbow to tuck your baby in close to you. Ensure that she is far enough back so that she latches with the chin first and the nose tipped away. Otherwise, her feet may push away. If your baby is too far forward, her chin will tuck against her chest, causing a painful shallow latch.
  • If needed, place a cushion between your back and the back of the chair or sofa.

Cradle hold

This position may be difficult to master in the early days and weeks but once you are experienced at breastfeeding, it may become a regular position for you.

How does it work?

  • Cradle your baby in the forearm of the same side as the breast you’re using. Use your opposite hand to lift your breast or adjust your breast.
  • Turn your baby towards you so that his tummy is touching your tummy.
  • Continue to hold your baby close as he reaches up to latch. This will help make sure that he does not fall off the breast when he sucks. If you’re sitting upright, it can be tiring to hold your baby close enough that he feels secure. Think about how close he would be if he were lying on top of you. That’s how close he needs to be against your body.
  • Lean back to take some pressure off your arm.
  • Have pillows nearby to put under your arms once your baby is latched. This can help take the strain off your arms, shoulders, and neck. A pillow under your elbow may be helpful to support your baby’s body.

Side-lying position

The side-lying position may be helpful if you’re recovering from a cesarean birth or if your bottom is sore after giving birth. It is also extremely helpful for breastfeeding in bed during the night. This position can be a little tricky to master because you have limited use of the arm you are lying on. It is worth practicing as soon as possible, so you can nurse lying down. Once you master the position, night and nap time nursing is much easier.

How does it work?

  • Lie on your side with your knees bent up and a pillow under your head.
  • Place your baby on their side, facing you, with her head on the bed.
  • Make sure your baby’s nose is level with your nipple. Adjust how you are lying so your nipple is as far away from the bed as her mouth.
  • Place your arm under your baby’s head, if needed, to get your nipple opposite your baby’s nose.
  • Give your baby a gentle push between the shoulder blades with the palm of your hand as they latch; this may help bring her close.
  • Remember to bring your baby in chin first, with her head tipped back and her nose off the breast. To achieve this, the baby needs to start lower than you might think, under the breast and looking up.
  • Use one hand or temporarily prop yourself up on your elbow while latching. Propping yourself allows you to use your lower hand to latch. Once your baby is comfortably latched, you can lower yourself back down onto the bed.
  • Use a pillow between your knees for comfort.
  • Place a pillow under the small of your back to prevent you from rolling onto your back. Place a pillow behind your baby’s back to keep your baby from rolling away from you.

Getting a Deep Latch

A comfortable, secure position allows your baby to use their instincts to latch deeply onto the breast. With a good latch, your baby takes in a large mouthful of breast tissue and gently stretches your nipple to the back of their mouth. When this happens, your baby can effectively remove the milk. A deep latch ensures that your baby gets plenty of milk and that your body gets the message to keep making more milk. It also helps prevent pain and damage to your nipples.

Chin squashed on the breast

If your baby’s chin is not touching your breast, he will often move his head searching for your breast. While your baby’s chin touches the breast, he is close enough to smell your milk. This triggers him to open their mouth wide, reaching up for a mouthful of breast.

  • It’s helpful if your baby’s chin is placed well away from the base of your nipple. In most instances, if his chin is close to the breast in a deep, comfortable latch, the baby’s lower lip will not be visible.
  • If you’re holding your breast, your fingers need to be far enough away from your areola (the dark area around the nipple) so that your fingers will not be in your baby’s way.
  • The farther away your baby’s lower jaw is from the base of your nipple, the more breast tissue he will be able to take into the mouth. This helps get a deeper latch.
  • Be prepared for your baby to lick or nuzzle for several minutes before he opens wide.

Head tipped back and nose tipping away

  • Most babies will naturally throw their heads back for the chin to come in first and touch the breast, and to help them get a wide open mouth. Avoid pressing your baby’s head forward and interrupting this process. This is part of the baby’s instinct for latching deeply and comfortably.
  • Support your baby’s head with your palm on their upper back. If you touch the top of her head, she will likely pull away.
  • Allow your baby’s chin to touch your breast with your nipple near their nose.
  • With her head tipped back and her chin planted on your breast, your baby can open her mouth wide.
  • With a wide-open mouth, she can reach up and over your nipple, taking in a large amount of your breast tissue. Think about how you take a big bite of a large sandwich.” You can start by placing the bottom of the sandwich on your lower jaw. Then you reach up and place your upper jaw up and over the top of the “burger.” This is the same motion your baby makes to get a big mouthful of breast.
  • Gently press between your baby’s shoulder blades as she reaches up to latch. It is important that you do not shove your baby onto your breast. Allow her head to lean back.
  • Once your baby is latched her nose may touch the breast, but it shouldn’t be poking into it. You shouldn’t feel like you must hold your breast back so your baby can breathe. Chin in, nose tipping away, head back is the same position you take when you drink something. When adults take a drink of water, we also need to extend our neck to be able to drink and swallow comfortably. Facilitating neck extension in babies is important for comfortable feeding.

Both cheeks should be touching the breast. If once latched, one cheek is not touching the breast, consider adjusting your baby. This will help you to make sure your nipple is deep into her mouth.

Adjust your baby as often as needed. Babies often creep upwards or forwards while feeding.

  • If your baby’s chin is tucked into their chest, she will not be able to hold on to the breast with their mouth. She will also find it hard to swallow (Try it yourself!).
  • You may need to adjust your baby during the feeding by sliding her downwards or backwards towards her feet.
  • You may also need to pull your baby in gently from behind the shoulder blades. This will push her chin forward deeper into your breast. This will tip her head back. In this position, your baby can drink comfortably just like you do.

The Nipple tilt technique

To get an even deeper latch, you can try using the nipple tilt technique. This is also sometimes known as the “flipple” technique.

How does it work?

  • Hold your breast with your thumb on top and your fingers on the bottom. Place your thumbs well back from the base of your nipple. This is in line with where your baby’s upper lip will be when they are latched. Make sure your fingers are far enough away from where your baby’s chin will be.
  • Press in with your thumb, this will tilt your nipple away from your baby.
  • Bring your baby to your breast so that his chin is touching the breast.
  • When your baby reaches up for a big mouthful of breast, release your nipple at the last moment by moving your thumb. This allows your nipple to fall deeply into your baby’s mouth.

Is your baby getting your milk?

Babies can suck, and still not be sucking effectively to get enough milk. Swallowing is the main sign that your baby is getting milk. When there’s a mouth full of milk, your baby’s chin will drop with a pause.  When your baby swallows, you may hear a “kah” sound as he breathes out after a swallow.

When your baby is drinking, he will have a steady suck, swallow, breathe pattern. He will take short breaks between letdowns of milk. When another let down of milk occurs, your baby will begin swallowing more again. If swallowing or sucking slows down, you can gently squeeze or compress your breast with your whole hand for several seconds; this will increase milk flow and encourage your baby to keep drinking.

What if breastfeeding hurts you?

In the first three to five days after birth, you may experience nipple soreness beyond a slight tenderness when your baby latches on. This may be a sign that something isn’t right with the baby’s latch, position, or suck. A deep latch prevents the nipple from being pinched by the tongue and the hard palate of your baby’s mouth. A shallow latch often results in sore nipples. If your baby is not latched deeply and comfortably, the end of your nipple may look creased, flattened, or pinched. It may look like a new tube of lipstick when it comes out of your baby’s mouth. The end of the nipple may also be blanched white for a few seconds.

If you feel pain and are not confident about your baby’s latch, it is important to resolve it right away, even if people tell you that the latch looks fine. Pain is your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong and needs to be changed. A painful latch is usually a shallow one. With a shallow latch, your baby is not able to remove milk as easily. It is not helpful to suffer through a painful latch. A deep latch will be comfortable for you, and your baby will get lots of milk.

  • Often, the latch can be adjusted while your baby is still attached. This can prevent your baby from getting frustrated by being taken on and off the breast. If your nipples are already damaged this prevents you from continually experiencing the pain of the first few seconds of latching. If you are hearing a clicking or smacking sound or see dimples in your baby’s cheeks, try improving the latch. Bring your baby’s chin more deeply into  your breast and their hips closer to you with the rest of their body tucked into your body.
  • If it still feels painful, you can unlatch your baby by slipping a finger in the corner of the mouth to break the suction. Then you can try latching again.

If nipple pain worsens after the early days of breastfeeding, your nipple pain may be due to other causes like bacterial infection, vasospasm, dermatitis, anatomical variations, or tongue-tie. Contact an LLL Leader for help if you need further assistance to improve your sore nipples.

References

¹Robyn Thompson et al., “Potential predictors of nipple trauma from an in-home breastfeeding programme: A cross-sectional study”, (2016 Aug;29(4)):336-44. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.01.002, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26895966/.

Resource

La Leche League International, The Art of Breastfeeding (Ballantine Books, 2024), 71-95.

Helpful breastfeeding videos

Newborn Nursing Video Collection | La Leche League Canada

La Leche League Canada – YouTube

Biological Nurturing Scenario

https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/parenting-babies-0-12-months/breastfeeding/latching-your-baby-video

Attaching Your Baby at the Breast – Video – Global Health Media Project

Updated Mar 2026