Getting A Good Latch

Getting A Good Latch

No matter how you hold your baby while breastfeeding, it’s important to get a good latch. A good latch will help you feel comfortable and allow your baby to get the most milk.

Tips for a good latch:

Create a calm environment

Breastfeeding will be easier when you and your baby are relaxed and calm. Find a comfortable chair and position where you feel safe and supported. Try playing some soft, calming music.

Hold your baby skin-to-skin

Hold your baby, wearing only a diaper, against your bare chest. Hold the baby upright between your breasts, and just enjoy your baby for a while with no thoughts of breastfeeding.

Let your baby lead

One way to get your baby to latch is to let them lead and follow their natural instincts to suck. Allowing your baby to search for the breast can take some of the pressure off you and help keep your baby calm and relaxed. If your baby is not hungry, they will stay curled up against your chest. If they are hungry, your baby will bob their head against you, try to make eye contact, and squirm around.

Support and help your baby, but don’t force the latch

Your baby may need help latching at first. Use one arm to support your baby’s head and shoulders as they search for your breast. Use your other arm to support your breast by using a C hold or U hold. When your baby’s chin hits your breast, the firm pressure will make them open their mouth wide and up over the nipple.

As they press their chin into the breast and open their mouth, they should get a deep latch. When your baby has a good latch, they can breathe at your breast and their nostrils will flare to allow air in. Check to make sure your baby’s nostrils are not blocked by your breast.

C HOLD

U HOLD

Signs of a good latch
  • The latch feels comfortable and does not hurt or pinch you. How it feels is more important than how it looks.
  • Your baby’s chest rests against your body. Your baby does not have to turn their head while nursing.
  • You see little or no areola. Your baby’s mouth will be filled with breast.
  • You hear or see your baby swallow. Some babies take a pause in their breathing when swallowing.
  • You see your baby’s ears “wiggle” slightly.
  • Your baby’s lips turn outward like fish lips-not inward.
  • Your baby’s chin touches your breast.
FINDING A GOOD LATCH

Tickle the baby’s lips to encourage them to open wide.

Pull your baby close so that the chin and lower jaw moves into your breast first.

Watch the lower lip and aim it as far from the base of the nipple as possible, so the baby takes a large mouthful of breast.

Tickle the baby’s lips to encourage them to open wide.

Pull your baby close so that the chin and lower jaw moves into your breast first.

Watch the lower lip and aim it as far from the base of the nipple as possible, so the baby takes a large mouthful of breast.

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

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