Breastfeeding for beginners: Get comfortable
Check out these four tried-and-tested breastfeeding holds that help you both relax and encourage your baby to latch on well. Which one works best for you?
The cradle hold
Get in position: Hold your baby with her head on your forearm (the same side as the breast you are feeding from). Check her head is resting comfortably in the crook of your arm and her body facing yours. You can also put a pillow in your lap for support if it helps. However, do not allow your baby to sleep unattended on the pillow (even for a few minutes) because of the risk of suffocation.
Best for: Most situations
The side-lying hold
Get in position: Face your baby while lying on your side and support them with one hand. Grasp your breast with the other and touch your nipple to your baby’s lips. Once they are latched on, support them with your top arm while supporting your head with your other arm.
Best for: All situations but especially helpful for moms who are feeling tired or had their baby by C-section. It may be more comfortable while healing.
The cross-cradle hold
Get in position: Similar to the cradle hold but offers your baby added head support to help them stay latched. You hold your baby on the opposite arm from the breast you are feeding from, supporting their head with the palm of your hand.
Best for: All situations but especially helpful for early breastfeeding and for babies with an initial weak latch. Also good for moms who have had a C-section (once they are comfortable sitting with pillow support).
The footballhold
Get in position: Hold your baby at your side, supporting their back on your forearm. Their head should be at nipple level and can be supported with the palm of your hand. You might like to place a pillow in your lap during feeding for added comfort.
Best for: All situations but especially for moms whose babies are born by C-section, moms with large breasts or flat/inverted nipples, or moms who have a strong let-down reflex (where milk readily fills your breast and may start to leak even before your baby is latched on).
Sources
HYPERLINK "http://www.lalecheleague.org/faq/positioning.html"Breastfeeding handbook for physicians. 2nd ed. Elk Grove IL. 2014.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Positioning-Your-Baby-for-Breastfeeding.aspx (Accessed December 29 2016)
https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/learning-to-breastfeed.html (Accessed December 29 2016)
Last revised: April, 2017
Related articles
How often will my baby feed?
6 things you need to know about feeding your baby in their first six months.
2 mins to read
Understanding mastitis and breast pain
Did you know? Up to one in three moms who breastfeed may experience a painful condition called mastitis.
2 mins to read
Breastfeeding for beginners: Get started
Like any new skill, breastfeeding can take practice and perseverance to master. Follow these simple steps for a smoother journey and it’ll feel like second nature in no time.
5 mins to read
Responsive feeding: Learn about how to feed your baby
Can you identify which of these responsive feeding principles are fact and which ones are fiction?
2 mins to read
Breastfeeding: one day at a time…
Different types of breastmilk| Nestlé Baby & me
1 min to read
Breastfeeding for beginners: Get a good latch
Breastfeeding has lifelong health benefits for your baby. Take the time to learn about these latching techniques now, so you'll have an easier time later.
4 mins to read
Did you know? Breast milk helps both moms and babies
Breast milk helps both moms and babies.
1 min to read
How to pump your breast milk
Everything you need to know about expressing your breast milk and choosing the most suitable breast pump for you.
1 min to read
What your baby is telling you
Did you know? Your baby was born with the natural ability to eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full.
2 mins to read
Baby’s first “superfood”
Breast milk is nature’s perfection. Find out about four breast milk ingredients with special powers that do more than just feed your little one.
1 min to read
Breastfeeding for beginners: Get confident
Now you’ve mastered breastfeeding in the comfort of your own home, it’s time to get out and about!
3 mins to read
Your breastfeeding FAQs
The most common breastfeeding concerns, answered by a Nestlé lactation specialist.
4 mins to read
You can do it!
Did you know? Your breasts make just the right amount of breast milk for your baby.
2 mins to read
Are they hungry? How to read your baby’s hunger cues
When it comes to feeding your baby, how will you know when to start and when to stop? Simple—they’ll tell you.
3 mins to read
How to support your baby’s growth and health
Breast milk contains the right quantity and quality of proteins to boost your baby’s growth and health—both now and in the future.
2 mins to read
Baby hunger cues
Depending on their level of hunger, your baby’s cues may become very obvious to you.
2 mins to read
The truth about breastfeeding
With so much information on breastfeeding out there, can you separate the fact from the fiction? Put your knowledge to the test with our quick quiz.
1 min to read
Your baby knows how much they need
Did you know? Nursing—feeding your baby directly from your breast—helps to protect her ability to drink only as much as she needs.
2 mins to read
