Breastfeeding can be one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of early motherhood. Getting a good latch is half the battle, and it’s the key to making feedings more comfortable for both you and your baby. As a certified DONA postpartum doula, breastfeeding is one of the main topics new parents ask me about, and I often guide them through this exact process.
Before we get started, make sure you’re sitting in a comfortable, supportive position. Use pillows behind your back or under your arms if needed, and consider a stool to keep your feet flat and your posture relaxed. A nursing pillow, like a Boppy or My Brest Friend, can also help bring your baby to the right height and make latching easier.
Now that you’re comfortable and set up, here are my six rules for getting the best latch when breastfeeding your baby.
How to Get a Good Latch When Breastfeeding a Baby
Getting a proper latch takes a bit of practice, but once you and your baby find your rhythm, feedings become more comfortable and enjoyable. Follow these six simple rules to help your baby latch deeply and make breastfeeding easier for both of you.
Rule #1: Tummy to Tummy
When baby is ready to eat, you want to position baby’s tummy to mom’s tummy. There are many different breastfeeding positions in which you can feed your baby. The primary ones are the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold, the football hold, and the side-lying hold.
In these positions, you want to ensure that one hand or arm supports the baby’s neck and the other hand supports your breast. Holding your breast can help get more of your breast/bottom of your areola into your baby’s mouth. We refer to these holds as the C-hold or the U-hold.
Rule #2: Nose to Nipple
Many parents I have worked with have their baby higher than the nipple should be. I understand why they think this is right since they try to get their baby’s mouth level with the mother’s nipple. (See below.)
However, we want mom’s nipple to be level with baby’s nose. This will help baby lift their head and chin and open their mouth wider for a better latch. This helps put mom’s nipple in the right place in baby’s mouth to make it more comfortable for her.
Rule #3: Chin to Breast
If your baby’s chin is down to their chest, it will be more difficult for them to open wide and get the best latch. We want to ensure that baby’s chin is up to mom’s breast. Once you have their chin to your breast and your nipple is to their nose, you will start tickling their nose and upper lip with your nipple, which will help stimulate baby’s mouth to open. Once baby’s mouth has opened wide and their tongue is down, you are ready for rule number four!
Rule #4: Baby to You, Not You to Baby
When baby has his mouth open wide, be sure to bring baby to you and not lean over to bring your breast to baby. I can’t tell you how many mothers I’ve seen lean forward and shove their breast in their baby’s mouth as soon as it opens.
Remember, posture is important! Poor posture can affect your letdown and the amount of milk you are able to give your baby. The more comfortable and relaxed you are during breastfeeding, the better.
Rule #5: Nipples to the Roof
I know that sounds like a silly rule. What I mean is that you want to have your nipple at the roof of your baby’s mouth and have more of the bottom of your areola in their mouth. When your nipple is at the roof of their mouth, it hits their soft palate. When you have the nipple dead center in their mouth, having the areola all around it in their mouth, your nipple will not be at their soft palate, which can cause you to feel pain and potentially cause cracked nipples.
If you can tell that your nipple isn’t in the right place, you want to break the latch suction before removing the baby. Otherwise, baby is going to pull your nipple with them. Ouch! The way to break suction is to put your finger in the crease of baby’s lips and your breast and press on your breast to break the suction. Then you can move baby and start all over again!
Rule #6: Fish Lips
Another thing you want to check is that baby’s lips are flanged out. If they aren’t, you can use your thumb to gently push down baby’s chin to widen their latch and push out their bottom lip. Every time I have done this while a baby was latched, mothers have told me that it helped and made the latch more comfortable.
These are my six rules for getting the best latch for baby! Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, so if it does hurt, try these steps to help with baby’s latch. If you need more support, consider consulting a local IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for in-person guidance.
Breastfeeding takes practice and patience. A good latch can make all the difference for both comfort and milk supply. Remember, you’re learning together, and with time and the right technique, it will become second nature.
