A deep, painless latch comes from good positioning, a wide gape, and bringing your baby to the breast chin first.
Getting A Newborn To Latch Properly: Clear Steps
A good latch starts before the mouth touches your skin. Settle both of you, breathe, and make space for your baby’s head to tip back. These steps keep things simple when you sit down to nurse.
- Start skin-to-skin. Hold your baby in just a diaper. This wakes feeding instincts and steadies their breathing.
- Line up nose to nipple. Aim your nipple at the bridge of the nose, not the lips. This cues a wide mouth and head tilt.
- Hold shoulders, not the back of the head. A hand at the shoulders lets your baby tip the head back to open wide.
- Wait for the big gape. Look for a yawn-wide mouth and the tongue down. Then bring your baby to you, not your breast to the baby.
- Lead with the chin. Touch the chin to the breast first, then roll the top lip on. Think chin-to-breast, nose free.
- Hold close, body in line. Ear, shoulder, and hip stay in one line. Tummy to tummy, with no twist in the neck.
Early on, many parents like a quick visual check. Use the signs below during the first minutes of a feed. If several boxes do not fit, pause and try again. A short reset saves time and tenderness.
| Sign | What You See Or Feel | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Wide mouth | Mouth opens like a yawn; lips flanged | Lets the tongue cup a bigger mouthful of breast |
| Chin in, nose clear | Chin nests in the breast; nostrils free | Keeps airway clear and jaw moving well |
| More areola above | You see more of the dark skin above the top lip | Shows an asymmetric, deeper latch |
| Cheeks look full | No dimpling with sucks; steady rhythm | Means tongue and jaw are working together |
| Little to no pain | Initial tug, then comfort | Reduces rubbing and nipple damage |
| Nipple shape after | Round, not pinched or creased | Signals good placement during the feed |
You can also skim a trusted overview like the NHS latching guide for the same visual cues and simple position tips.
Positions That Make Latching Easier
Pick a position that lets gravity help and gives your baby a clear path to the breast.
Laid-Back Or Reclined
Lean back on pillows so your chest is at a gentle angle. Place your baby tummy down, cheek near the breast. This hold uses reflexes well and can be calming after a fussy spell.
Cross-Cradle
Hold your baby across your body with the opposite arm, holding the shoulders and neck. Use your free hand to shape your breast like a sandwich if needed. Many newborns latch well with this control.
Football Or Clutch
Tuck your baby at your side under your arm with legs pointing back. This can feel good after a C-section or with larger breasts. It also gives a clear view of the mouth as it opens.
Side-Lying
Lie on your side, nose to nipple level, and pull your baby close with a rolled towel behind the back to stay put. Handy at night and for tender perineal repairs.
Fixing A Shallow Latch Right Away
Pain, clicking sounds, or a pinched nipple after a feed point to a shallow latch. A fast reset often turns the session around.
- Break the seal gently. Slip a clean finger into the corner of the mouth and lift away.
- Re-set the aim. Bring baby’s nose to nipple again so the head tips back.
- Shape the breast if needed. Use a C- or U-hold that matches the baby’s mouth, then try the wide gape again.
- Use an asymmetric latch. Let the lower lip take more areola than the top lip so the nipple points to the roof of the mouth.
These steps match the practical tips shared by the AAP latch tips and many bedside lactation helpers.
Feeding Rhythm, Swallowing, And Diaper Clues
Once latched, watch your baby’s pattern. You’ll see fast sucks to start, then a deeper pull with clear swallows. During active swallowing, the chin drops with a brief pause. Soft gulps often follow let-down. If sucking stays rapid and shallow, try a new latch or a breast compression.
Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. By day five to seven, many babies have six or more wet diapers in a day, and stools move from dark to yellow and seedy. Low output, sleepy feeds with few swallows, or no weight gain need a same-day call to your baby’s doctor.
When To See A Lactation Pro Or Pediatrician
In-person help moves things along. Reach out if any of these fit your day.
- Nipple pain that does not ease after the first minute, or visible cracks, blisters, or bleeding
- Clicks with every suck, cheeks that dimple in, or a pinched nipple shape after feeds
- Fewer than six wet diapers after day five to seven, few stools, or dark urine
- Baby falls asleep at the breast in under five minutes and rarely swallows
- Poor weight gain, jaundice, or signs of dehydration
- Concerns about tongue tie, a tiny mouth, or prematurity
| What You Notice | What Often Helps | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or inverted nipples | Hand express or pump for a minute to evert; try football hold | A shield is a short-term tool only with a lactation helper |
| Strong let-down, baby sputters | Feed in laid-back; pause mid-let-down and relatch | Use a towel; brief hand expression before latch can help |
| Engorgement day 3–5 | Soften the areola with warm water or reverse pressure, then latch | Cold packs between feeds can ease swelling |
| Sore nipples | Begin on the side that hurts less; adjust latch; vary positions | Express a few drops of milk and air dry after feeds |
| Sleepy newborn | Skin-to-skin, gentle rub on feet or back, switch sides often | Wake for feeds at least every 3 hours until weight is trending up |
| Possible tongue tie | Ask for a skilled oral exam and latch help | Feeding plan may include pumping to protect supply |
Gentle Care While You Work On Latch
Comfort aids buy you time while the technique improves. After feeds, express a few drops of milk and let nipples air dry. Many parents like pure lanolin or hydrogel pads between sessions. Keep bras clean and dry. If scabs form, soak the area with warm saline and let it dry before the next feed.
Rotate positions through the day so the pressure points change. Start on the less tender side, wait for milk flow, then move to the other breast. If pain stays sharp, unlatch and try again. Your comfort matters to milk flow and your baby’s pattern.
Night Feeds And Sleepy Newborns
Night feeds protect supply well. Keep lights low and stay skin-to-skin to cue a wide gape. Side-lying can make nights gentler. Roll your baby close, line up nose to nipple, and wait for that big open mouth before you bring the body in.
If your baby keeps dozing at the breast, try soft strokes along the spine, a diaper change, or switch nursing to restart swallows. Count swallows, not minutes. If you rarely hear swallows, circle back to latch depth.
Quick Troubleshooting Flow
- Hurts? Break the seal, reset nose to nipple, lead with the chin, and try an asymmetric latch.
- No swallows? Do breast compressions, switch sides, or change to a laid-back hold.
- Nipple looks flat or slanted? Relatch until it comes out round.
- Baby fussy at let-down? Pause, burp, or recline more while flow settles.
- Worried about output? Track wet and dirty diapers and call your baby’s doctor if counts stay low.
If Latch Just Won’t Happen Today
Some days a newborn stays fussy or sleepy and the latch keeps slipping shallow. Keep feeding on track while you keep practicing. Hand express a little milk to soften a firm areola and to trigger swallows. If a latch still feels pinchy, express into a clean spoon or cup and feed that small amount, then try again when your baby is calm.
Protect milk making while you learn. If milk transfer stays low, add brief pumping or hand expression eight to ten times in twenty-four hours.
Extra Alignment Cues That Help Any Position
- Nipple to nose, not lips. This cue prompts a wide mouth and a head tilt back.
- Chin lands first. The lower jaw needs room to move; the nose stays free.
- Mouthful of breast, not just nipple. Think more areola in the lower lip than the top.
- Watch and listen. Look for a steady suck-swallow-breathe pattern.
Why Deep Latch Feels Better
When the mouth takes a big mouthful of breast, the nipple rests far back against the soft palate instead of rubbing near the hard palate. The tongue can cup the breast and drive a long, smooth pull. You feel a tug, not a pinch. Milk moves well, your baby stays settled, and the nipple comes out round. If the nipple looks slanted, go back to nose to nipple and try again.
A deep latch also helps milk move fully from the breast. That steady removal tells your body to keep making what your baby needs. Full breasts can feel tight and tricky for a newborn mouth, so soften the areola first. Warmth before feeds and cool packs between feeds can help.
With calm setup, nose-to-nipple aiming, a wide open mouth, and a chin-first approach, most newborns learn a deep latch in the first days. Keep sessions unhurried and use these cues to guide each feed.