How to make sure your baby is latching on properly

When it comes to nursing, there is a right and a wrong way for a baby to latch onto the breast. When a baby doesn’t latch on properly, the mother can encounter problems such as sore nipples and the baby can risk not getting enough milk. This is not an ideal situation for any mother to be in, so it’s always a good idea to make sure your little one latches on properly.

Here are a few checkpoints that can tell you whether or not your baby has a good latch:

Your little one should be well supported in your arms. If you find yourself hunched over while feeding your baby, you could probably do with a pillow on your lap so that he or she is in level with the breast. Always make sure that you’re bringing your baby to the breast and not the other way around, since this will cause you to hunch over. You could also use additional pillows for your back and another to support the elbow of the arm holding the baby.

When your baby is feeding, make sure he or she sucks on the areola as well. Since this is where the reservoirs for milk are located, your baby will get the right supply of milk by sucking on the areola along with the nipple. If your baby only sucks on your nipples, they will be sore after only one or two feedings.

Both the upper and lower lips should be turned outwards. If you think your baby’s lower lip is pulled inward rather than out, simply use an index finger supporting the breast to pull it out. This will keep your baby from tight-mouthing your nipple and make sure he or she gets enough milk.

Lastly, your baby’s chin and nose should be pressed closely to your breast. You won’t need to worry about whether or not your little one can breathe. Because of the way babies are designed, they can flare their nostrils and breathe out of the sides of their noses.