Breastfeeding positions: Finding Comfort for You and Your Baby

A useful breastfeeding position supports both your body and your baby’s ability to feed. There is no single hold that everyone must master. You can try a different position when your arms ache, an incision feels tender or your baby struggles to stay attached, ideally with someone observing if feeding is difficult.

Keep the same essentials in every hold

Bring your baby’s body close and keep the head and body aligned, rather than turning the neck towards the breast. Support the shoulders and body while allowing the head to tilt back. Keep the nose and mouth clear and avoid pushing on the back of the head.

Your own back and arms need support too. Arrange a cushion for your comfort if helpful, while keeping it away from the baby’s face. The latch guide explains how positioning connects with attachment and swallowing.

Try a seated cradle or an underarm hold

In a cradle hold, the baby lies across your front facing you, with the head supported on your forearm. Check that you are not leaning forward throughout the feed. If the baby presses on a sore abdomen, another position may feel easier.

For an underarm or rugby hold, support the baby along your side, with their body beside you and their face towards the breast. This can reduce pressure across the abdomen after a caesarean. Ask for help arranging support so that the baby is close enough without the neck bending. Our feeding after caesarean guide considers recovery needs too.

Explore reclining or lying on your side

A partly reclined position lets the baby rest against your supported body while you remain awake and able to see their face. You should not lie completely flat or let their chin become pressed onto their chest.

When feeding on your side, face your baby towards you with their body in line. Keep pillows and bedding away from their face. This is a feeding position, not permission to leave your baby sleeping on their side. Return them to their separate, clear sleeping space on their back before you sleep.

Judge the position by the whole feed

Look for comfortable attachment and effective sucking and swallowing. Persistent pain, repeated slipping or concerns about intake deserve a feeding assessment rather than endless adjustments on your own. Remove a baby from a sling or carrier before feeding.

If you are becoming drowsy, use the plan in our night care guide and seek help from an alert adult when available. Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. The best position is one that remains comfortable, observable and safe throughout the feed.