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Positions of breastfeeding

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breastfeeding AND positioning

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WHO breastfeeding positioning attachment mother baby guidance

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Common breastfeeding positions:
  1. Cradle hold
    • Baby lies across your front, tummy facing your tummy.
    • Baby’s head rests in the crook of the arm on the same side as the feeding breast.
    • Comfortable once feeding is established.
  2. Cross-cradle hold
    • Support baby with the opposite arm: for the left breast, use the right hand to support the baby’s neck and shoulders.
    • Gives more control of the head and is often helpful for newborns or when learning to latch.
  3. Football or rugby hold
    • Baby is tucked beside you under your arm, with feet pointing behind you.
    • Useful after a Caesarean birth, for twins, large breasts, or if nipples are sore.
  4. Side-lying position
    • Parent and baby lie facing each other on their sides.
    • Useful for night feeds or recovery after delivery.
    • Feed only while awake. Put the baby back on their back in a separate firm sleep space afterward.
  5. Laid-back or biological nurturing position
    • Parent reclines comfortably and baby lies prone on the parent’s chest, facing the breast.
    • Skin-to-skin contact and gravity can help the baby find and attach to the breast.
Good positioning for every hold
  • Keep the baby’s head, neck, and body in one straight line.
  • Bring the baby to the breast, rather than leaning the breast toward the baby.
  • Keep the baby close, with chest and abdomen facing the parent.
  • Support the neck and shoulders, not the back of the head.
  • A good latch has a wide-open mouth, lips turned outward, chin touching the breast, and more areola visible above the upper lip than below. Poor positioning can cause nipple pain and ineffective milk transfer.
UNICEF illustrates these holds and signs of effective attachment in its breastfeeding position guide. WHO also recommends breastfeeding counselling to establish effective positioning and attachment.
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