Latch Basics

A deep, comfortable latch is one of the most important factors for effective milk transfer and pain-free breastfeeding. While every dyad is unique, a few key principles can greatly improve latch quality and feeding success.

Start with positioning. Make sure you are in a comfortable position with your body supported. Then, bring the baby to the breast with their chest and belly towards your body and be sure the baby’s ears, shoulders, and hips are aligned in a straight line. You may find it helpful to use one hand to hold the breast while baby is about to latch on.

Bring the baby in close so their chin is touching the breast, with the nipple pointing up toward and even touching the baby’s nose. This positioning encourages the baby to tip their head back slightly, and open their mouth wide, allowing for a deeper latch.

Wait for baby to open their mouth wide and when they do, quickly support them coming on the breast to latch using your hand at the base of their head or their upper back. Avoid placing your hand on the top of their head as they need to be able to tilt their head back and angle up to latch.

When the baby attaches, they should take more of the bottom portion of the areola into their mouth than the top. This will naturally happen when the nipple is pointed towards the nose. This allows the nipple to be drawn up and back toward the soft palate rather than being compressed at the front of the mouth which can lead to pain and poor milk transfer. To achieve this, wait patiently for the baby’s mouth to open wide—like a yawn—before bringing the baby onto the breast. A wide gape before latching is key to comfort and effective milk removal. Baby’s nose will be and should be close to the breast tissue, if not touching the breast! The nostrils are angled up slightly so even if touching the breast, baby should be able to breathe comfortably.

With good alignment, a wide gape, and an asymmetric latch, breastfeeding is more likely to feel comfortable and work well for both parent and baby.