Breastfeeding creates a wonderful moment of bonding between you and your baby. The great thing is that you can do this in different ways, in different positions. Which breastfeeding position you adopt depends on your preferences, those of your baby and the overall situation. Alternating different positions can be beneficial. Sometimes it takes some practice to breastfeed in a certain position, but once you’ve mastered it, it can be very agreeable. Try out the different breastfeeding positions and discover, which hold works best for you and your baby. What positions are discussed in this article?


Cradle hold
When you want to feed your baby while sitting down, take your baby on the forearm, left arm when feeding at the left breast and right arm for the right breast. This means, your baby rests with its tummy against your tummy. This is a common hold.
In the cradle hold, your baby rests comfortably on the arm on the side of the breast from which you are feeding. This means, if your child suckles on your right breast, it will rest on your right arm. Make sure that the neck and head are well supported by the hollow of your elbow. With your other hand, you may be able to support your breast a little, but make sure that your baby can latch on and drink well.
The most important thing with the cradle position is that your baby’s belly is in a straight line, so that your baby doesn’t have to turn its head to swallow. Bring your nipple up to the level of your baby’s nose: in this way, your baby will first bring its head back to be able to latch on properly. Once your baby opens its mouth wide, you can bring it closer to allow it to latch on properly.
Tip: as your child gets older, you can also let it rest in your lap or have it sit upright while feeding. Enjoy these special moments together with your baby!
Football hold
For the football hold, place your baby next to you at your side, with its tummy facing you, on the side of the breast from which your baby is going to drink. Your baby’s feet point towards your back. Don’t forget: Support your baby’s neck and head with your hand on the side on which you are feeding, and make sure that your baby rests in a nice straight line. With this breastfeeding pose, you have a better view of your baby’s mouth and you can clearly see whether your child is able to latch on properly.
Tip: When feeding your baby in the football hold, make sure that your baby’s legs cannot kick against the backrest of your child as this will make your baby move away from your breast.
Laid-back (straddle) hold
In this position, you lie back and relax on a bed, sofa or spacious, comfortable chair. You ensure additional support for your back with pillows. Place your baby on your stomach: gravity will keep your baby in position. Here you do not have to support your baby’s neck, unless its neck is not yet strong enough. Place your baby with its mouth near your breast so that it can actively look for your nipple. You can guide your baby, but usually your baby is able to find the nipple itself if it is close enough.
Trying and adapting different poses to suit your and your baby's needs can help you create a comfortable and effective breastfeeding experience.
Cross-cradle (transitional) hold
With this hold, your baby lies in the same pose as with the cradle hold, however, on the arm of the opposite side from which your baby drinks. Wrap your outer arm around your baby, with its head resting on your hand. If you are feeding your baby from your right breast, support your baby with your left arm, and with your right arm, when your baby is drinking from your left breast. This hold is very comfortable when your baby is still very small and is not yet able to latch on very easily. This hold allows you to guide your baby more easily when it starts to latch on.
Side-lying
In the side-lying position, both you and your baby are lying on your sides, belly against belly. Avoid lying with a hollow back, you will not be able to keep it up for long. Pull up your knees a bit and support your breast with your free hand if necessary. Once your baby has latched on, breast support is no longer needed.
Crouch position
The name says it all: you are in a crouched position. Your baby is lying on its back, while you are bend over it and breastfeeding from above, as it were. In this position, you support yourself on your hands and knees and bend over your baby. This pose is especially agreeable if you have hard lumps in your breast, in the case of engorgements or an incipient breast infection, because this position makes it easier than others to drain your breasts.
Breastfeeding positions for twins
If you have twins, you can decide to breastfeed them one after the other. In this case, you can feed them in any of the above positions. If you prefer to feed your twins simultaneously, there are also a number of helpful positions.
Football hold for twins
When feeding your twins at the same time, you can also use the football hold. Both babies lie on one side. The feet of each baby point towards your back and you support both heads with your hands.
Parallel hold for twins
In this case, you hold one baby in the football position and the other baby in the cradle position.
Cross-cradle hold for twins
In this breastfeeding position, both babies are lying in the cradle position, so they cross each other.
Straddle hold feeding with twins
You are reclining on your back with both babies lying on your stomach, each on their own side.
Choose the breastfeeding hold that works best for you
You are reclining on your back with both babies lying on your stomach,
As you can see from the above, there are many different positions for feeding your baby. Try and see which hold works best for you and your baby. You can also alternate the holds, depending on the time of day. For example, a certain position may work very well during the day, while a different hold may be better at night.
Tips:
- Try different breastfeeding holds to see which one is most comfortable for you and your baby.
- Alternate holds as this may help to relieve certain pressure points and teach your baby to drink in different positions.
- Change the holds according to daytime and nighttime. A certain hold may work better during the day than at night.
- Adjust the hold based on needs. A certain hold may be more advantageous after a cesarean section than after a vaginal delivery, and if you notice that your baby cannot latch on properly, switch positions.
- Provide comfort and support. Use pillows or a feeding pad to support your arms and back. Sometimes you may have to sit for a while feeding and then you want to sit or lie down comfortably.
- Pay attention to your baby’s signals to determine if the chosen hold is working.
- If you are having problems or if breastfeeding is not going well, contact a lactation consultant, who can offer valuable advice and support.
Trying and adapting different poses to suit your and your baby’s needs can help you create a comfortable and effective breastfeeding experience.
on their own side.