At the beginning of your breastfeeding relationship, it may take some experimenting to find the best breastfeeding positions that work for you and your baby! Then, as your relationship goes through changes and your baby continues growing, you may also find different breastfeeding positions that work for you two and this is normal. Continue reading for now on breastfeeding positions newborn, football breastfeeding position, side lying breastfeeding position, laid back breastfeeding position and more!
Tips for Finding The Right Breastfeeding Positions
A few good signs that a breastfeeding position is working for you include:
- Your breasts hanging naturally
- Baby is able to latch on well
- You’re not experiencing any nipple pain
- Neither you or your baby are strained
Now let’s get into the 6 breastfeeding positions you need to try!
1. Breastfeeding Positions: Cradle Hold
In the cradle hold:
- You will sit in any posture that is comfortable (upright or laid back)
- Your baby will lie on his or her side, facing you
- The side of your baby’s head and body rest on your forearm, the same arm as the breast your baby is nursing from
Consider using a Boppy Breastfeeding Pillow or pillows around your house to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed in this position!
2. Cross-Cradle Hold
For the cross-cradle posture:
- You may sit in any posture that is comfortable
- Your baby lies on his or her side, facing you
- The side of your baby’s body rests on your forearm (the one on the opposite side of the breast being used)
- Your hand supports your baby’s neck and shoulders in a way where your baby can still tilt his or her head as needed
This position is especially useful for newborn or preterm infants.
Consider using a Boppy Breastfeeding Pillow or pillows around your house to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed in this position!
3. Football Hold
During the football hold (or clutch posture):
- You may sit in any posture that feels comfortable for you (upright or laid back)
- Your baby lies on his or her back, curled between the side of your chest and arm
- You will support your baby’s body with your forearm and your hand supporting their neck and shoulders without pressing on the back of their head
Ensure your baby is in-line with their head, shoulders, and hips.
For this position, a Boppy Breastfeeding Pillow or other pillows around your house may make it more comfortable for you.
4. Laid-Back (Semi-Reclining)
For the semi-reclining (or “laid-back”) posture:
- You will sit in a comfortable, semi-reclining posture
- You’ll be leaned back and your baby will lie against your body (tummy to mummy!)
In this position, your baby will be supported on your body with their head and body free to move.
This position along with the Australian posture position is useful if you have a large milk supply, oversupply, or a fast let-down because your baby will be able to move his or her head to manage the rapid flow of milk. Additionally, in these positions, gravity isn’t helping to make your milk come out even quicker in this position which is beneficial for your baby’s feeding under these circumstances.
5. Side-Lying
In the side-lying position:
- While lying on your side, I highly recommend using pillows somewhat tucked behind and under your back to help you relax into them while remaining on your side. This helps you stay comfortable for a whole feeding or longer!
- Place your baby on their side, lying chest to chest with you
- You can use either arm that feels comfortable to you to support your baby’s back or use a rolled blanket to support their back
- Nurse with whichever breast is more comfortable for you
The side-lying position is one of my favorites for bedsharing mothers who are able to do so safely according to Dr. James McKenna’s safe co-sleeping guidelines.
Additionally, there was greater satisfaction typically found in the side-lying position versus the laid-back position for cesarean mamas!
6. Lying Down (Australian Posture, or Biological Nurturing)
In the “lying down” position:
- You will be “down under”, lying on your back
- Your baby will be supported on your chest
This position along with the ‘reclined nursing’ position is useful if you have a large milk supply, oversupply, or a fast lat-down because your baby will be able to move his or her head to manage the rapid flow of milk. Additionally, gravity isn’t helping to make your milk come out even quicker in this position which is beneficial for your baby’s feeding under these circumstances.
Furthermore, one study from 2020 found that “biological nursing significantly reduced the risk of breast problems including cracked and sore nipples [2].
Be sure to check out my post on How to Overcome a Positioning and Attachment Breastfeeding Problem to help you correct your baby’s latch and ensure you’re both comfortable during feedings.
7. The Koala Hold
How to do the “Koala Hold” breastfeeding position:
- Sit semi-reclined with your baby straddling your leg and facing your breast. If they can’t straddle your leg comfortably, keep their legs in between yours.
- Support your baby’s head with the same arm of the breast they’re nursing on.
- You may also support your breast with the opposite hand while allowing your baby to latch (remember CHINS).
- Then lean back and relax!
This upright position may help with baby gas, reflux, fast flow, or overactive let-down.
Questions or Comments on Breastfeeding Positions?
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below👇🏻
Talk soon, mama!
– Katelyn Lauren
Sources for Breastfeeding Positions:
[1] Safe Cosleeping Guidelines
[2] Milinco M, Travan L, Cattaneo A, Knowles A, Sola MV, Causin E, Cortivo C, Degrassi M, Di Tommaso F, Verardi G, Dipietro L, Piazza M, Scolz S, Rossetto M, Ronfani L; Trieste BN (Biological Nurturing) Investigators. Effectiveness of biological nurturing on early breastfeeding problems: a randomized controlled trial. Int Breastfeed J. 2020 Apr 5;15(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s13006-020-00261-4. PMID: 32248838; PMCID: PMC7132959.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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