Your ultimate guide to breastfeeding positions

Whether you’re a brand-new mum or you’ve been there, done that, and got the parenting t-shirt before, breastfeeding is a skill that you and your baby will learn together. And finding the ideal breastfeeding position is all part of the journey.

Here we’re exploring the best nursing positions for a good latch and comfortable feeding, breastfeeding positions for reflux, and top tips for overcoming some of those common breastfeeding challenges. 

There’s no such thing as the ‘best’ feeding position - it all comes down to finding what works for you and your baby.

Finding the best nursing positions for you is important because it helps:

• Prevent breastfeeding challenges like blocked milk ducts, engorged breasts, mastitis, and sore nipples
• Your baby effectively attach to your breast
• Your body to produce milk and maintain your supply

From the cradle hold and side-lying, to tucking your little one under your arm like a football (yes, it’s a thing!), take a look at our top five picks for the best nursing positions. 

Possibly the most popular and well-known breastfeeding position, the cradle hold has to sit right at the top of this list. 

To try this position¹:

• Lay your baby across your tummy, so they’re facing you
• Gently place their head on your forearm and point their nose towards your nipple
• Use your hand to support your baby’s body, and check that their ear, shoulder and hip are in a nice straight line

To keep yourself nice and comfy, sit in an armchair or surround yourself with pillows in bed or on the sofa  - perfect for post-feed cuddles. You could also put your feet up to help avoid backache from leaning forward.

‘This was one of the best feeding positions for me and my daughter, ’ says Sylvie’s mum. ‘It kept my mind and body relaxed as she fed, and was the perfect excuse to put my feet up,’

The ideal breastfeeding position when you’re getting the hang of things, follow the steps below to use the cross-cradle (also known as the cross-body) hold²:

• Hold your baby across your body in the opposite arm to the breast you’re feeding from
• Gently hold the back of your baby’s neck so that they can tilt their head back, and use the palm of your hand to support their shoulders
• Use your free hand to hold your breast and bring your baby towards it
• Attach your baby in one swift movement, and avoid moving your breast around to ‘chase’ your baby’s mouth
• Once your baby is well-latched, bring your arm and hand back around your baby in a cosy, secure hold 

‘This was one of the best nursing positions when I first started breastfeeding,’ says Ben’s mum. ‘It gave me good control over my son’s body as he fed. I could also see that he was properly latched. It made us both feel snug and secure during feeds.’

Also known as the ‘clutch’ or ‘rubgy’ hold, this is one of the best feeding positions if you’ve had a C-section or if you’ve given birth to twins¹:

• Get yourself comfy in an upright chair and place a cushion by your side
• Position your baby at the side, near the breast you’re going to feed from, with their feet behind your back
• Support their body with your arm, and place their hips next to yours,
• Your baby’s nose should be level with your nipple so that you can gently guide them to it

For Logan’s mum, ‘the football hold was one of the best feeding positions for me. He found it easier to latch this way, and it also meant that we could enjoy lots of eye contact so that he felt safe and happy.’

Laid-back breastfeeding is sometimes called ‘biological nursing’. It’s the ideal breastfeeding position if you’ve had a C-section (as it won’t result in any pressure being put on your wound) or if you’ve got twins that you need to feed at the same time.

To give laid-back breastfeeding a go¹:

• Lean back in a semi-upright position on your sofa or bed, supported by pillows around your back and neck
• Lay your baby on your front, tummy to tummy - you should be upright enough to make eye contact with them
• Guide your baby gently to your nipple

Why not follow a top tip from Emily’s mum? ‘I found that I wasn’t always comfortable lying her so that her tummy was on mine. Instead, I’d lay her to the side of me and guided her to my breast to feed.’

One of the best nursing positions if you’ve had a C-section, or if your baby has woken up for a night feed, to try the side-lying position¹:

• Lie on your side in a comfortable position
• Position your baby facing you, tummy to tummy, and their ear, shoulder and hip form a straight line 
• Put the arm you’re lying on under your pillow or your head 
• Use your other arm to guide your baby to your breast and support them as they feed

Latching on is how your baby attaches to your breast to get the milk they need. Help your baby learn to latch with our step-by-step guide³:

• Keep your baby close. When breastfeeding, hold your baby’s whole body close to you.
• Nose to nipple. Make sure your baby’s nose is in line with your nipple. 
• The head tilt. Your baby’s head should be free to tip back gently. This will allow your nipple to brush against their lips, encouraging them to open their mouth. 
• Open wide! As your baby opens their mouth wide, ensure that their head is tipped back, their chin is touching your breast, and that they can breathe through their nose. This will help them to take a wide mouthful of your breast. 
• Try the ‘breast sandwich’. Take your breast in your hand and compress it like a burger as you bring your baby towards it. This can help your baby establish a better latch (particularly if you have a larger size breast).

Your baby is latching well if³:

• You can see more of your areola (the dark area around your nipple) above their top lip than their bottom lip
• Their top and bottom lips are ‘flanged’ outwards, with their bottom lip turned down 
• They start their feed taking quick, short sucks that soon become deeper
• You see a regular rhythm of sucking and swallowing - you’ll probably hear it too!
• Their little cheeks look rounded and full, and they’re calm as they feed

You might need to adjust your position for a better latch if³:

• Breastfeeding is painful. You might have sore, cracked nipples, blocked milk ducts or mastitis
• Your baby keeps pulling away from your breast
• You can hear a smacking or clicking sound when your baby is feeding
• Your baby is feeding a lot and/or for long periods of time compared to their usual pattern of feeding
• Your little one is restless and fussy when they feed

Every baby is unique. Finding the ideal breastfeeding position for you and your circumstances can take a little time as you try a few different techniques.

Below you’ll find advice on feeding newborns and small babies, the best breastfeeding position for acid reflux, and breastfeeding if you’ve had a C-section. 

The best nursing positions for newborn babies are the ones that keep your baby nice and close, and their head and body fully supported. Any of the 5 positions above could work well for you and your little one, encouraging a strong latch and a comfy, cosy feed.

Why not start with the cross-cradle hold? This is one of the best feeding positions for supporting your baby’s body from their head, neck and shoulders right down to their little toes.

The laid-back position also works well for smaller babies, especially if they arrived earlier than expected, as it can help both you and them feel secure and comfortable during feeds.

The best breastfeeding positions for reflux in babies are those that allow your baby to be more upright. For example, the koala hold.

The koala hold is usually more suited to babies who can sit up on their own. However, it can be a good breastfeeding position for reflux, as long as you make sure to fully support your baby’s head and body⁴. This might also be worth trying if your baby has colic.

To try the koala hold⁴:

• Sit upright or in a semi-reclined position
• Position your baby so they're facing you and straddling your thigh 
• You can also place them on your hip if that’s more comfortable
• Support your baby’s head, neck and back as you guide them to your breast to feed 

When your baby has finished feeding, try to keep them upright for as long as possible to help their milk settle and let gravity do its thing! 

The laid-back breastfeeding position could be a good option if your baby has wind/gas. This is because it might help create a slower milk flow, preventing your baby from feeling too gassy after a feed.

If your baby is struggling with the symptoms of reflux or gas, or you’ve got any worries about how they’re feeding, always seek advice from your doctor or midwife.

If you’ve had a C-section, finding the ideal breastfeeding position will help to ensure that you’re not putting pressure on your wound and keep you comfortable during feeds, too. The football and side-lying holds are great options⁵.

To avoid stretching and twisting your body, ask someone to pass your baby to you to be fed, support yourself with plenty of pillows, and perhaps pop one of them over your wound to protect it from any bumps⁵.

The 6-6-6 breastfeeding rule refers to storing your expressed breast milk. The rule states that once expressed, you can store your breast milk for 6 hours at room temperature, for 6 days in the fridge, and for 6 months in the freezer.

The NHS guidance differs slightly, and says that breast milk can be kept for between 4-8 days at the back of the fridge at 4 degrees Celsius⁶.

The time it takes to breastfeed can vary from feed to feed. If you’re feeling that it’s taking a little too long, or your baby is continuously feeding, speak to your midwife or a breastfeeding specialist, as it may be that your baby needs help with latching on effectively. 

To encourage your baby to open their mouth wide and latch on, brush your nipple against their lips. As they take a wide mouthful of your breast, their chin should be touching your breast, and their nose should be clear. 

Signs that your baby isn’t latched on effectively include:

• Sore nipples and pain as you breastfeed
• Your baby is unsatisfied after feeds and fussy at the breast 
• Your baby comes on and off your breast 
• Smacking or clicking sounds as your baby feeds 
• Your baby’s lips are turned inwards rather than outwards 
• Your baby is attached to your nipple rather than having a wide mouthful of breast (your areola)