Establishing your favorite breastfeeding positions can take a bit of practice and patience. Try to focus on what works best for your comfort and your baby’s latch.

Pros: Babies can intuitively latch in this horizontal position. If you’re recovering from a C-section, this position might be ideal.How to: Recline comfortably, and place your baby on top of you. If younger than 6 weeks and placed with arms and legs open like a tree frog, your baby might “breast crawl” to latch.

Laid back

Pros: Many moms find this popular breastfeeding position natural and comfortable.How to: Cradle your baby using your right arm for your right breast or your left arm for your left breast. Your baby’s head can rest on your arm, which you can support with pillows to help bring your baby closer to your chest.

Cradle

Pros: This position is great for the early stages of breastfeeding because it gives you greater control over your baby’s latch.How to: Place your baby tummy to tummy across your body, just as you would in the cradle position, yet support your baby with the opposite arm (i.e. right arm for left breast). Hold your baby’s head with your free hand.

Cross cradle

Pros: This hold is great for feeding multiples or recovering from a C-section, or if you have large breasts or a strong letdown.How to: Hold your baby to your side, positioning your baby’s legs toward the back of your cradling side and supporting your baby’s head with your hand. With this hand, guide your baby’s head to your breast.

Football hold

Pros: This popular position promotes resting while you breastfeed your baby.How to: Lie on your side, and face your baby toward your breast. With your free hand, guide your breast toward your baby’s mouth. Once latched, use your hand to support your baby’s back and to keep your baby close while feeding.

Side lying

Pros: As your baby develops more head and neck control, this upright position can become very comfortable.How to: Position your baby upright, facing your breast, and straddling one of your knees. Scooch your baby toward you until you are sitting tummy-to-tummy, and use your open hands to guide and support your baby’s head.

Koala hold

Pros: If you’re coping with plugged (or clogged) milk ducts, this position might help bring relief.How to: Place your baby flat on your lap or on a soft, flat surface, and dangle your breast over your baby’s mouth to nurse. This might not be a comfortable position to hold for long, but it can help unclog a milk duct by prompting gravity to stimulate your flow.

Dangle feeding

Pros: If you’re multitasking or on the go, this approach can be very handy and accommodate multiple positions.How to: Adjust <a href="https://hello.onewillow.com/component_container/blta832ef810e414bab" target="_self">your carrier</a> to bring your baby’s mouth close to your breast. If using a sling or a side-hold carrier, ensure that your baby is able to cup both sides of your breasts with open hands.

In a carrier

If you’ve chosen to breastfeed, there are a few tips and tools that can help you establish a good routine.

Establishing breastfeeding

Knowing how your and your baby's bodies innately work together can provide foundational guide posts as you find your rhythm.

The mechanics of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean that it always comes naturally. Sometimes it can be challenging, but here’s the scoop on the basics of feeding, common conditions, and tips and tricks for success. 

Breast care and feeding

Learning the art of the latch can take time and patience.

Securing a good breastfeeding latch

How much milk you produce is influenced by many factors. That said, a few basic ground rules can help.

Breastfeeding positions