29/11/2025
🤍 Let’s talk attachment! 🤍
‘Position & attachment’, ‘fit & hold’, ‘latching on’- these are all terms used to describe how a baby latches to the breast.
There are a few things that we need to get right for attachment to be comfortable and ensure proper milk transfer. A baby can sometimes ‘appear’ to be feeding but not transferring milk well at all!
Here’s your checklist…
ᥫ᭡ Is baby stabilized by your body? That is, they don’t feel like they are falling or hanging on? Ensure the front part of their body (chest, tummy, knees/feet) are in contact with your body. If sitting up, you may find leaning back a little helps achieve this.
ᥫ᭡ Is their back (not their neck) supported by your hand? This provides pressure and a feeling of safety/ relaxation to allow baby full head movement & deep attachment.
ᥫ᭡ Is their chin barely (or not even) visible when latched on? Being able to bury their chin into your breast switches their innate feeding reflexes ON.
ᥫ᭡ Are both cheeks touching your breast? This ensures their face is symmetrical & close to the breast, preventing ni**le drag & pain.
ᥫ᭡ Is baby ‘looking over your shoulder’ when feeding (i.e. their nose is tilted off or just sitting lightly against your breast)? This ensures proper neck extension to allow the suck/swallow/breathe pattern. *Imagine trying to drink from a cup without first tilting your head back!
Supporting your baby to latch on their own, and avoiding ‘shoving’ baby onto the breast, significantly reduces ni**le pain and other bodily discomforts.
Were you taught this or shown something completely different? I’d love to know!
I know breastfeeding advice is conflicting out there, so reach out to an IBCLC if you need support & guidance. 🫶🏼
Thank you to the Mum I saw recently who has kindly allowed me to share this pic of her enjoyable, pain free latch! X