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Positioning and latching
- 0-1 Years
- Feeding and eating
Positioning is how you hold your baby as they are breastfeeding. Latching is also known as attachment or fixing. This is how your baby takes the breast into their mouth. Positioning can help make the attachment more effective and comfortable for both you and your baby.
Explore the topics on this page:
Benefits of good positioning and latching
Benefits of good positioning and latching
Some people who breastfeed may find it easier to get the correct position and latch. However, for most people who breastfeed it can be difficult.
When you are learning how to breastfeed, getting the positioning and latch right will help:
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- establish a good milk supply
- make feeding pain-free
- ensure your baby is getting enough milk
Issues from poor positioning and latching
Breastfeeding should be comfortable and pain-free for the breastfeeding parent. A number of difficulties breastfeeding parents experience comes from feeding their baby in a uncomfortable or ineffective way.
Below are some of the issues that can come from poor positioning, leading to your baby not latching well.
Breastfeeding parent
Painful feeds
Sore or cracked nipples
Build up of milk within the breast (engorged breasts)
Clogged ducts or mastitis
Baby
Starts to feed, then pulls away
Frequent or lengthy feeds
Slow weight gain
Getting a good latch
The acronym CHIN can be used in all breastfeeding positions. Try to keep CHIN in mind when breastfeeding,
Different breastfeeding positions
There are a variety of positions you can breastfeed in. Read more about breastfeeding positions.
Below is a video produced by Global Health Media demonstrating various breastfeeding positions.
Christina Buscaglia: When it comes to breastfeeding your baby, it's important to find a position that is comfortable for you and enables baby to feed effectively. For all breastfeeding positions bring your baby in nice and close. This will allow them to feel safe and secure, but will also enabled them to get a big mouthful of breast tissue.
Babies instinctively will bring their hands up towards their mouths when they are due to feed.
When bringing baby to the breast with them hands up, it will create a gap between yourself and baby. Try to move baby's arms out of the way. This will allow them to be as close to you as possible.
Use your thumb and middle finger across baby's shoulders to ensure that the back of their head is free, so that when they're brought to the breast their head can tip back and they can get a big mouthful of breast tissue.
Baby's ear, shoulder, hip and knee should be in a straight line.
When you are bringing baby to the breast, ensure that baby's nose is lined up with your nipple.
Global Health Media also have a video demonstrating various breastfeeding positions.
Last reviewed: 1 November, 2024
