How Do I Get My Newborn To Latch Properly? | Calm Latch Guide

Breastfeeding is a skill you and your baby learn together. The first days can feel clumsy, and that’s normal. With a few repeatable steps and some body cues to watch for, you can guide your newborn into a deep, pain-free latch that moves milk well.

Below you’ll find clear steps, visual cues, and fixes that work at 3 a.m. as well as at noon. Save this page and use it during feeds until it all feels routine. Pause often; breathe between steps.

How To Get A Newborn To Latch Correctly: The Core Steps

1. Set up skin-to-skin. Relax your shoulders, lean back a touch, and bring your baby chest-to-chest. Line up ear, shoulder, and hip in one straight line.
2. Position nose to nipple. Hold your baby so the nose points to the nipple. This encourages a wide gape.
3. Wait for the big yawn. Brush the top lip with the nipple. When the mouth opens wide and the tongue drops, move baby in quickly—belly first—so the chin plants on the breast and the head tips back a little.
4. Bring baby to you. Hold shoulders and neck, not the back of the head. Keep your hand off the back of the skull so the chin can lead.
5. Check the feel. You should feel a firm tug and hear regular swallows. Sharp pain or pinching means try again.

Latch Signs Quick-Check

Use this table during a feed. If several items land in the right-hand column, pause, break the seal with a clean finger, and try again from step one.

What You Notice	Deep Latch	Shallow Latch — Fix
Mouth shape	Wide, lips flanged, corners open	Lips tucked or narrow gape; reset, aim for a wider mouth
Chin & nose	Chin buried in breast; nose clear	Chin off breast or nose jammed; roll baby’s tummy closer
Areola view	More above top lip than below	Even or more below; shift baby so chin takes a bigger mouthful
Suck sound	Rhythmic swallows, soft breaths	Clicks, squeaks, or long pauses; re-latch for a seal
Nipple after	Round, same color	Squashed or “lipstick” shape; take a break and reposition
Parent comfort	Tugging without sharp pain	Pinching or burning; try again before the feed continues

Positions That Make Latching Easier

Pick the hold that gives you the most control today. Swapping positions can reset a tricky feed and ease sore spots.

Laid-Back (Biological Nurturing)

Lean back on pillows so gravity helps. Place your baby tummy-down on your chest, nose near the nipple. Many babies crawl, bob, and self-attach in this reclined pose, which can reduce nipple pain in the early days.

Cross-Cradle

Hold the neck and shoulders with the hand opposite the feeding breast. Use a “U” hold on the breast with the other hand. Guide the shoulders in as the mouth opens wide so the chin lands first.

Football (Clutch)

Tuck your baby under your arm on the same side as the feeding breast, feet back. Great for small babies, a tender abdomen, or a shallow latch that needs a reset.

Side-Lying

Lie on your side with a rolled towel behind the baby’s back. Bring baby close so the nose lines with the nipple. Handy for night feeds and sore perineum care.

Want a quick visual guide you can trust? See the NHS positioning and attachment page for step-by-step photos and checks. For a list of latch cues and diaper counts, the CDC newborn basics page is handy during the first week.

When Pain Or Fussing Pops Up

Short-term soreness can happen as you both learn. Ongoing pain or a baby who can’t stay on the breast calls for quick tweaks.

Sore Or Cracked Nipples

• Break the seal with a finger if the latch hurts, then try again.
• Start on the side that feels better; switch once flow starts.
• Express a few drops of milk and air-dry after feeds.
• Check that your baby’s body is tight to yours from chest to hips.

Sleepy Newborn

• Skin-to-skin first. Unwrap, change the diaper, or rub the feet.
• Hand-express a few drops to the lips to spark interest.
• Use breast compressions during sucks to keep swallows going.

Engorgement Or Fast Let-Down

• Soften the areola with hand expression for one minute before latching.
• Try laid-back so baby can manage the flow.
• Use gentle compressions once the initial rush settles.

Flat Or Inverted Nipples

• Roll the nipple or use a short hand-expression “prime” to evert the tip.
• Shape the breast into a firm “U” or “C” so the mouth can take a bigger mouthful.
• Ask an IBCLC about a temporary shield if direct latch remains tricky.

Tongue-Tie Or Oral Tension

If the latch looks wide but milk transfer stays low, or nipples stay sore even with good positioning, ask your pediatrician and an IBCLC for an assessment. Weight checks, wet and dirty diapers, and milk transfer signs guide the next steps.

Quick Fixes By Symptom

What’s Happening	Try This	Why It Helps
Clicking or slipping	Bring tummy closer; lower the shoulders an inch	Improves seal so suction stays steady
Sharp pain after latch	Break seal, relatch with chin leading	Deeper mouthful spreads pressure
Baby arches or pops off	Switch to laid-back; burp between sides	Slows fast flow and eases gas
Long feeds with few swallows	Breast compressions every few sucks	Boosts flow and keeps baby engaged
Lipstick-shaped nipple	Angle baby so chin is tucked in more	Centers the nipple deeper in the mouth
Sore spot at one area	Rotate positions through the day	Changes pressure points on the nipple

Pumping, Bottles, And Protecting The Latch

Sometimes you’ll need expressed milk. If bottles enter the mix early, use slow-flow nipples and paced feeds so baby still works for the milk. Hold the bottle level, pause often, and switch sides halfway through the feed to mimic the breast. If latch skills wobble, go back to skin-to-skin and a calm, unrushed setup before the next feed.

When To Get Extra Help

Reach out fast if feeds hurt through an entire session, if diaper counts stay low after day five, or if weight checks lag. An IBCLC can watch a full feed and adjust tiny details you can’t see from your angle. Your pediatrician can track weight and jaundice and coordinate any next steps.

Know The Cues That Lead To A Better Latch

Start when your baby is waking, not wailing. Early cues include stirring, stretching, hands to mouth, lip smacking, and a gentle head turn toward touch. A newborn who is already crying has a tight jaw and shaky breaths, which makes a deep latch harder. Calm first with skin-to-skin, then begin the steps above.

• Offer both sides at each session during the first weeks.
• Watch swallows, not the clock; long suck-swallow patterns mean milk is moving.
• Expect cluster feeds in the evening and during growth spurts; this boosts supply and practice.

Hand Expression: A Two-Minute Primer

Hand expression before a feed softens the areola, shows baby where the milk is, and can kick-start swallows. Here’s a quick routine you can use anytime pumps aren’t nearby.

1. Place thumb and forefinger opposite each other about an inch behind the nipple.
2. Press back toward your chest wall, then compress and release in a steady rhythm.
3. Rotate the hand around the areola to reach new ducts. Collect drops on a spoon, cup, or clean syringe if you want to feed them.
4. Repeat on the other side. Even thirty to sixty seconds per breast can help a sleepy baby latch and feed.

Make The Setup Work For You

Prop your arms and back so you can hold the position without hunching. Use pillows where you need. Keep your baby’s body snug against yours—no gaps at the tummy or shoulders. If your nipple tilts up or down while the mouth closes, pause and reset the angle before trying again.

Shaping the breast can help a small mouth. Use your hand to form a “sandwich” that matches the direction of the lips: a “U” hold for upright lips or a “C” hold for side-lying. Release your hand once the mouth is deep and the latch feels steady.

After The Feed: What A Good Session Looks Like

Many babies relax their hands, unlatch on their own, and seem drowsy when content. The breast feels softer. In the first week, diapers tell you a lot. Meconium turns green, then yellow by the end of the week. Ongoing counts and weight checks show intake.

Common Myths That Trip Up Latching

• “Pain is just part of breastfeeding.” Early tenderness can happen, but sharp, lasting pain signals a latch that needs a tweak.
• “Small nipples or large nipples can’t work.” Mouth position and a wide gape matter more than size.
• “One position works for everyone.” Switch holds through the day to find the easiest angle for you and your baby.
• “If a bottle appears, breastfeeding is over.” Paced technique and skin-to-skin between bottle feeds help keep latch skills steady.

One-Page Latch Mini-Checklist

• Skin-to-skin first; relax and breathe.
• Nose to nipple; wait for the wide gape.
• Chin in, head tipped back slightly.
• Bring baby to you—belly tight to your body.
• Look for flanged lips, round cheeks, steady swallows.
• Feel a tug, not a bite; re-latch if pain lasts past ten seconds.
• Track diapers: by day five, about six wets and three or more stools.
• Swap sides when swallows slow and baby looks relaxed.
• Ask for hands-on help early if pain or milk transfer stays off.