Breastfeeding positions
Learn the main breastfeeding positions, how to attach your baby to the breast, and tips on pacifiers and breast care while breastfeeding.
You can breastfeed your baby in many positions so try different ones and see what feels comfortable for you. Many first time mothers who are learning how to breastfeed find the cross-cradle position and football hold easier to learn as it has a better control for the mothers.
Cross-cradle position
- This hold is useful for the new mothers who learn to breastfeed, premature babies or babies with a weak suck because it gives extra head support to help babies stay latched
- Sit up straight in a comfortable chair
- Hold your baby with the arm opposite to the breast that your baby is nursing on
- Your baby's chest and stomach should face you
- Put your holding hand behind your baby to support the neck and your thumb and fingers behind the ears
Underarm or 'rugby ball' or 'football'
- This hold is useful for mothers who had a c-section, mothers with large breasts, flat or inverted nipples, or a strong let-down reflex
- Hold your baby at your side tucked under your arm
- Hold your baby with the arm at the same side of the breast that your baby is nursing on
- Your baby's chest and stomach should face your body
- Put your holding hand behind your baby to support the neck and your thumb and fingers behind the ears
- Support your breast with your other hand if needed
- You will need to use extra pillows; one under the baby to support weight and one or two to be placed (in vertical way) behind your back to help the baby have more space. This will help not to squeeze baby's legs and help you have more space for your forearm movement
Side-lying position
- This hold is useful for mothers who had a c-section, have sore episiotomy stitches, or to help any mother get extra rest while the baby breastfeeds
- Lie on side with baby facing you. Pull the baby close and tilt the head back (this will allow baby to come to breast chin first leaving the nose free to breathe)
- Support the baby's back and shoulders with your hand or a folded blanket
Laidback position
This position is easy to learn and comfortable. It can start with the first breastfeeding.
Research suggests that the laidback position encourages your baby's instincts, such as rooting, and is often more comfortable, which helps breastfeeding. Your baby will often attach herself to your breast in this position.
- Hold your baby with his head on your forearm and his/her whole body facing yours
- In a laidback position, your baby's body is completely supported by your body, facing and in close contact with you
- Once baby latched on, tilt the baby's head a little to free his nose
Cradle position
Cradle hold – an easy, common hold that is comfortable for most mothers and babies. Hold your baby with his or her head on your forearm and his or her whole body facing yours. This position is better to use when mother is confident with breastfeeding.
Attaching your baby to the breast
Before attaching your baby, follow below steps:
- Get yourself in comfortable position with your back and feet supported
- Keep baby close to your body and facing your nipple
- Keep your baby's head and body in a straight line while you support his neck and shoulder (if newborn, support the entire body)
- Bring your baby to your breast rather than leaning towards baby
Let the head tilt back and the chin first touches your breast
Move baby to breast with chin in first
Approach breast "nose to nipple"
Wait for the baby's wide-opened mouth (you can gently brush the baby's top lip against your nipple to encourage the baby to open his mouth wide)
Push your baby to the breast to get a big mouthful of breast from underneath the nipple
Signs of a good attachment:
- More areola seen above baby's upper lip
- The chin is touching the breast
- The nose is free
- Upper lip turned upwards
- The baby's cheeks are full and round when feeding
- Baby has deep sucks and you see baby is swallowing or hear baby gulping
- It should not hurt you
Can I give my baby a pacifier if I breastfeed?
It is recommended to avoid using pacifiers and/ or feeding bottles with teats until the successful establishment of breastfeeding (four to six weeks after birth). Reasons for caution are:
- Your baby sucks differently to breastfeed than to bottle- feed. Babies who use teats may find it difficult to remember how to attach to the breast. Baby's oral formation and function may be disturbed when baby is sucking on the teats
- If a hungry baby is given a pacifier instead of a feed, mother may miss her baby's feeding cues and the baby takes less milk and grows less. It also may reduce mother's milk supply
- Teats, bottles and pacifiers can carry infection
Research suggests that early use of pacifiers is associated with decreased exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding because they may interfere with your baby's ability to learn to breastfeed.
How do I take care of my breast while breastfeeding?
Taking care of your breasts when breastfeeding is quite the same as at other times. Here are some tips for you:
- Daily shower is usually enough
- Avoid too much soap and scrubbing your nipples
- Put a little of your breast milk on the nipples after breastfeeding and leave to dry
- Change your breast pads more often when wet
- Check your breasts during the day and if you feel any hardness, pain or redness, let your doctor know.
You can breastfeed your baby in many positions so try different ones and see what feels comfortable for you. Many first time mothers who are learning how to breastfeed find the cross-cradle position and football hold easier to learn as it has a better control for the mothers.
Cross-cradle position
- This hold is useful for the new mothers who learn to breastfeed, premature babies or babies with a weak suck because it gives extra head support to help babies stay latched
- Sit up straight in a comfortable chair
- Hold your baby with the arm opposite to the breast that your baby is nursing on
- Your baby's chest and stomach should face you
- Put your holding hand behind your baby to support the neck and your thumb and fingers behind the ears
Underarm or 'rugby ball' or 'football'
- This hold is useful for mothers who had a c-section, mothers with large breasts, flat or inverted nipples, or a strong let-down reflex
- Hold your baby at your side tucked under your arm
- Hold your baby with the arm at the same side of the breast that your baby is nursing on
- Your baby's chest and stomach should face your body
- Put your holding hand behind your baby to support the neck and your thumb and fingers behind the ears
- Support your breast with your other hand if needed
- You will need to use extra pillows; one under the baby to support weight and one or two to be placed (in vertical way) behind your back to help the baby have more space. This will help not to squeeze baby's legs and help you have more space for your forearm movement
Side-lying position
- This hold is useful for mothers who had a c-section, have sore episiotomy stitches, or to help any mother get extra rest while the baby breastfeeds
- Lie on side with baby facing you. Pull the baby close and tilt the head back (this will allow baby to come to breast chin first leaving the nose free to breathe)
- Support the baby's back and shoulders with your hand or a folded blanket
Laidback position
This position is easy to learn and comfortable. It can start with the first breastfeeding.
Research suggests that the laidback position encourages your baby's instincts, such as rooting, and is often more comfortable, which helps breastfeeding. Your baby will often attach herself to your breast in this position.
- Hold your baby with his head on your forearm and his/her whole body facing yours
- In a laidback position, your baby's body is completely supported by your body, facing and in close contact with you
- Once baby latched on, tilt the baby's head a little to free his nose
Cradle position
Cradle hold – an easy, common hold that is comfortable for most mothers and babies. Hold your baby with his or her head on your forearm and his or her whole body facing yours. This position is better to use when mother is confident with breastfeeding.
Attaching your baby to the breast
Before attaching your baby, follow below steps:
- Get yourself in comfortable position with your back and feet supported
- Keep baby close to your body and facing your nipple
- Keep your baby's head and body in a straight line while you support his neck and shoulder (if newborn, support the entire body)
- Bring your baby to your breast rather than leaning towards baby
Let the head tilt back and the chin first touches your breast
Move baby to breast with chin in first
Approach breast "nose to nipple"
Wait for the baby's wide-opened mouth (you can gently brush the baby's top lip against your nipple to encourage the baby to open his mouth wide)
Push your baby to the breast to get a big mouthful of breast from underneath the nipple
Signs of a good attachment:
- More areola seen above baby's upper lip
- The chin is touching the breast
- The nose is free
- Upper lip turned upwards
- The baby's cheeks are full and round when feeding
- Baby has deep sucks and you see baby is swallowing or hear baby gulping
- It should not hurt you
Can I give my baby a pacifier if I breastfeed?
It is recommended to avoid using pacifiers and/ or feeding bottles with teats until the successful establishment of breastfeeding (four to six weeks after birth). Reasons for caution are:
- Your baby sucks differently to breastfeed than to bottle- feed. Babies who use teats may find it difficult to remember how to attach to the breast. Baby's oral formation and function may be disturbed when baby is sucking on the teats
- If a hungry baby is given a pacifier instead of a feed, mother may miss her baby's feeding cues and the baby takes less milk and grows less. It also may reduce mother's milk supply
- Teats, bottles and pacifiers can carry infection
Research suggests that early use of pacifiers is associated with decreased exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding because they may interfere with your baby's ability to learn to breastfeed.
How do I take care of my breast while breastfeeding?
Taking care of your breasts when breastfeeding is quite the same as at other times. Here are some tips for you:
- Daily shower is usually enough
- Avoid too much soap and scrubbing your nipples
- Put a little of your breast milk on the nipples after breastfeeding and leave to dry
- Change your breast pads more often when wet
- Check your breasts during the day and if you feel any hardness, pain or redness, let your doctor know.