Breastfeeding Positions

Different breastfeeding holds may work better than others for you and baby. From football hold to cradle hold to laid-back, these are the breastfeeding positions nursing moms will want to know about.

Making milk might come naturally, but the delivery of it from breast to belly takes a little know-how and a lot of practice. For many new moms and babies, the first attempts at breastfeeding are haphazard and hapless, at best. But proper positioning is essential in helping your newborn latch on the right way, as well as preventing nipple soreness and other breastfeeding problems.

With some trial-and-error, you’ll find the breastfeeding position that works best for you. And in no time, you’ll be a pro at breastfeeding your baby.

How to hold baby when breastfeeding

Start by placing your baby on one side, toward your breasts. Make sure your baby’s whole body is facing your chest, with his ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line.

You don’t want your newborn’s head turned to the side — it should be straight in line with the body. Use a nursing or regular pillow to bring your baby to a height that makes maneuvering him to the breast easier.

Different breastfeeding positions

Once you and baby are set up, try one of these five best breastfeeding positions:

Cradle hold

To breastfeed baby in a cradle hold position, do the following:[1]

Crossover hold

To breastfeed baby in a crossover hold position, do the following:[2]

Football hold

Also known as the clutch hold, the football hold position is especially useful if you have:

To breastfeed baby in a football hold position, do the following:

Laid-back position (“biological nursing”)

A laid-back nursing position can be particularly helpful for moms who have smaller breasts, for newborns and for babies with sensitive tummies or excess gas.

To breastfeed baby in a laid-back position, do the following:

Side-lying position

This position is a good choice when you’re breastfeeding in the middle of the night.

To breastfeed baby in a side-lying position, do the following:

How to get a proper latch

Now that baby’s in position, it’s important that your baby is latched on properly. Improper latching is the most common cause of breast discomfort, especially sore nipples. Latch your newborn onto your breast using the following tips:

Gently tickle baby’s lip with your nipple

This should open your baby’s mouth very wide, like a yawn. Some lactation consultants suggest aiming your nipple toward your baby’s nose and then directing it down to the upper lip to open the mouth wide. This prevents the lower lip from getting tucked in during nursing. If your baby turns away, gently stroke the cheek on the side nearest you. The rooting reflex will make your baby turn back toward your breast.

Bring your baby toward your breast

Don’t move your breast toward the mouth or stuff your nipple into an unwilling mouth — let your baby take the initiative instead. It might take a couple of attempts before your baby opens his mouth wide enough to latch on properly.

Be sure baby’s mouth covers both the nipple and at least part of the areola

Sucking just the nipple won’t compress the milk glands and can cause soreness and cracking. But in the right spot, the action of the mouth, tongue and lips will massage the milk out of the milk glands.

Check to see if your breast is blocking your baby’s nose

Once your little one is properly latched on, you can lightly depress the breast with your finger to move it away from your baby’s nose. Lightly cradle his head around the neck, instead of holding his head. Elevating your baby slightly may also provide a little breathing room. But as you maneuver, be sure not to loosen his grip on the areola.

Not sure if baby’s getting fed?

Check his cheeks: You should see a strong, steady, rhythmic motion. That means your little feeder is successfully suckling and swallowing.

If you need to position your baby again, unlatch his grip (see below) and begin the lip tickling anew to get your baby to latch on with the nipple and the areola in the mouth. In the beginning, it might take quite a few tries to latch properly. Keep at it. Your baby will be happier in the long run if those efforts bring a mouthful of milk rather than a mouthful of air.

Unlatching your baby

Pulling your breast out of baby’s mouth abruptly can cause injury to your nipple — whether you’re having latching problems and need to re-latch or your baby is finished feeding but is still holding onto the breast. Break the suction first by pressing the breast near the mouth, or by gently inserting your finger into the corner of his mouth.

Breastfeeding positions to avoid

If your baby is positioned improperly, your breasts might not be stimulated to produce more milk, and he might not be getting enough breast milk in the first place. And that can lead to more problems down the road.