Like anything new, breastfeeding can be a case of getting the hang of it. It’s all about practice and mastering that initial latch.
Everyone from your mum to the midwife will tell you that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, but what you may not appreciate is that it’s also a skill. And like any new skill, it takes practise (and patience!) to get right.
One of the trickiest things for mum and baby can be getting the latch right.
‘Latching on’ refers to how your baby attaches to the breast using their tongue and mouth – if the latch is right it will be easy for baby to feed, and shouldn’t result in discomfort for mum. Feeling pain while feeding or having sore nipples can be signs your baby isn’t attached correctly or that baby has tongue-tie.
"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.", says the NHS.
The NHS also say that: "The acronym CHIN can be used in all breastfeeding positions. Try to keep CHIN in mind when breastfeeding.
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C - Close: Keep your baby as close to you as possible. Their bottom should be tucked in with their arms hugging your breast. Being close to you will help them latch effectively and get a good feed.
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H - Head Free: Keep your baby’s head free to move around. You can do this by supporting your baby’s shoulders. This will allow them to tilt their head back when they are coming in towards the breast.
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I - In Line: Keep your baby as straight as possible as they feed. Their ears, shoulders and hips should be in a straight line. This will make sure your baby is comfortable when feeding.
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N - Nose to Nipple: Your baby's nose needs to be opposite your nipple. Bring them into the breast when they have a wide open mouth. They will lead with their chin and take a big mouthful of your breast. They will then take your nipple up and back into their mouth.
How to get baby to latch on to the nipple
1 of 51) Check you're sitting comfortably
Before you introduce your baby to your nipple, make sure you’re comfortable. Check that your baby’s head and body is in a straight line (if not, it can make it harder for him to swallow) and that you are supporting his neck, shoulders and back.
Whichever breastfeeding holdyou choose, your baby should be able to tilt his head back and swallow easily.
2 of 52) Get the position right
Position your baby so that his nose is opposite your nipple. To feed well, your baby will need to use his tongue to scoop a big mouthful of your breast from beneath the nipple. To help him do this, his bottom lip and tongue need to reach your breast first.
Once your baby opens his mouth wide, bring him to your breast quickly and smoothly, aiming his bottom lip as far away from the base of your nipple as possible. His head should be tipped back slightly, so that he is leading with his chin. Once his lips touch your breast he should respond by dropping his lower jaw and drawing your nipple to the roof of his mouth.
3 of 53) Perfect timing
A good latch is all in the timing. Once you see your baby’s lower jaw start to drop, start to move him towards you. If you wait until his mouth is at its widest before beginning the movement, his mouth may already start to close and won’t be able to draw in a big enough mouthful.
As you bring your baby towards you, focus on his lower lip rather than his top one. As long as his bottom lip makes contact well away from the base of your nipple, his chin will indent your breast and his top lip should easily reach over the top.
4 of 54) Start as early as possible
The earlier you start breastfeeding your little one, the easier it is to tap into your baby's innate reflexes meaning an easier experience for both mum and baby. Starting from the get go will also help keep your milk supply strong. If you haven't been able to breastfeed in the early stages, don't worry, focus on skin-to-skin contact with your baby and allow your baby to become used to you and your touch and smell.
If you need help with boosting your breast milk, here are 9 must-read tops on increasing it naturally.
5 of 55) Check for signs it's going well
If the latch is correct, you should be able to see your baby swallowing and there shouldn’t be any pain. If you think the latch isn’t right, gently insert your finger between your baby's mouth and your breast to break the seal – and then have another go.
If your baby seems content and satisfied after most feeds, is putting on weight after the first two weeks and has at least six wet nappies and two soiled ones a day, it’s a good indication he is feeding well. Check out our poo colour chart to know what to look out for.
About the author
Adejumoke Ilori is a Commercial and Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mummy of one who's been through the weaning process with her daughter and is able to use her own experiences to help other parents. She enjoys writing about baby world, mothership, true life stories (especially single parenthood), and celebrity gossip. With a degree in Creative Writing, she has also worked with media platforms like, OK! Magazine, New, She Rose Revolution and Fab Magazine.