Breastfeeding Positions: An IBCLC's Complete Guide to Finding What Works for You
One of the first things new moms realize is that breastfeeding isn't just about the latch — it's about the whole setup. How you hold your baby, where you support their body, and how you position yourself all play a massive role in whether nursing feels comfortable and effective or painful and frustrating.
Here's the thing nobody tells you: there is no single "correct" breastfeeding position. The right position is the one that works for you and your baby — and that may change from feed to feed, week to week, and as your baby grows. What matters is that your baby can latch deeply and effectively, and that you're comfortable enough to sustain a full feeding without pain.
This guide walks you through the most common breastfeeding positions, who each one works best for, and the IBCLC tips that can make each one more effective. Read it as a menu of options, not a rulebook.
Before You Start: The Basics of Good Positioning
Regardless of which hold you choose, a few principles apply across the board:
Bring baby to the breast — not the breast to the baby. Hunching over to bring your breast down to your baby will hurt your back and create a poor latch angle.
Baby's body should be fully facing yours. Tummy to tummy (or tummy to chest in laid-back). No head turning to the side to reach the breast.
Nose to nipple first. Line up your baby's nose with your nipple — not their mouth. This naturally tips their head back slightly, which helps them get a deeper latch.
Head and body in line. Your baby's ear, shoulder, and hip should be in a straight line. A twisted or scrunched body makes swallowing harder.
Support yourself first. Use pillows and a stool to support your back, arms, and feet before the feeding starts. Comfort for you = longer, more effective feeds.
1. Cross-Cradle Hold
The cross-cradle hold is similar to the cradle but gives you much more control over your baby's head — making it one of the most recommended positions for the early days of breastfeeding.
How to do it:
Sit upright and a tad leaned back (10%) with good back support
Hold baby with the opposite arm from the breast you're using — if feeding from the right breast, hold baby with your left arm
Baby's body lies along your forearm, tummy facing you, bottom tucked under the non-nursing breast
Your hand supports the back of baby's head and neck — NOT the back of the skull (this can cause baby to push back)
Your other hand is free to support your breast in a U shape or C-hold if needed
Use a nursing pillow to bring baby up to breast height — this prevents moms from leaning over and also provides a platform to support mother more than baby
Best for:
Newborns and the early days of breastfeeding
Small babies or babies who have difficulty latching
Babies with low muscle tone or who need extra head support
Moms learning to breastfeed for the first time
IBCLC tip: Use of the "flipple" nipple technique is best attempted in this position. You hold the breast in a U shape hold and use your thumb to touch the areola right where the tissue meets the breast — this angles the nipple to the ceiling. When you bring it to baby's mouth it will graze their palate, making the latch deeper.
2. Football Hold (Clutch Hold / Underarm Hold)
In the football hold, baby's body is tucked under your arm like a football — their legs extending behind you rather than across your body.
How to do it:
Sit upright with good back support, or lean back slightly
Tuck baby under your arm on the same side as the breast you're using
Baby's body rests along your forearm, their back supported, legs pointing behind you
Use your hand to support the base of baby's skull and neck
Baby's face should be level with and facing your breast
A pillow under your arm helps bring baby up to the right height
Best for:
Moms recovering from a C-section — keeps baby's weight off the incision
Moms with larger breasts
Feeding twins simultaneously
IBCLC tip: When using football hold, baby can be on their side or facing you — we also call this the upright football hold. Sometimes making eye contact with you can reduce their stress and help moms and babies engage more with one another. Be sure to lift the breast and bring baby to your breast to get the best latch.
3. Laid-Back Position (Biological Nurturing)
The laid-back position — also called biological nurturing — uses gravity and your baby's natural instincts to facilitate feeding. Instead of sitting upright and holding baby, you recline at roughly a 45-degree angle and let baby lie on your chest, tummy-down.
How to do it:
Recline on a bed, couch, or reclining chair — not flat on your back, but comfortably leaned back
Use pillows to support your head, back, and arms
Place baby on your chest, tummy facing down, with their cheek near your breast
Baby's whole front body should be in contact with your body
Give baby's feet something to rest against — your belly, thigh, or a rolled blanket
Allow baby to find the nipple and latch — their natural rooting reflexes will guide them
Best for:
The very first feeds after birth
Moms with a fast or forceful let-down — gravity helps slow the flow
Babies who come off the breast frequently or seem overwhelmed by milk flow
Moms with sore nipples — gravity reduces the pull on the nipple
Relaxed, skin-to-skin bonding feeds
Moms who find other positions uncomfortable
IBCLC tip: This position works with your baby's instincts rather than against them. Many babies who struggle with latch in other positions do beautifully in laid-back. It's often the first thing I try when a mom and baby are having difficulty.
4. Side-Lying Position
In the side-lying position, both you and your baby lie on your sides facing each other. This is one of the most restful positions and is especially valuable for nighttime feeds and postpartum recovery.
How to do it:
Lie on your side on a firm, flat surface
Place baby on their side facing you, tummy to tummy
Baby's nose should be level with your nipple
Use your bottom arm to support your own head, or rest it above baby's head
Your top hand can guide baby to the breast or support your breast if needed
A pillow between your knees or along your back can help with comfort
Make sure baby has a clear airway — no pillows or blankets near baby's face
Best for:
Nighttime and early morning feeds
Moms recovering from C-section or perineal tears
Moms who are exhausted and need to rest during feeds
Established breastfeeding pairs who want a more relaxed option
IBCLC tip: Safe sleep reminder — if you think there's any chance you might fall asleep while side-lying feeding, make sure your sleep environment is as safe as possible. Use a timer set to a gentle sound — like birds chirping or a soft chime — around the 8-10 minute mark. This is the most common time drowsiness kicks in when nursing. Always use a firm mattress, no heavy blankets near baby, no pillows near baby's face. Never side-lie feed on a soft surface like a couch or armchair.
5. Cradle Hold
The cradle hold is the most recognized breastfeeding position — baby's head rests in the crook of your arm on the same side as the breast you're feeding from, body draped across your lap.
How to do it:
Sit upright with good back support
Rest baby across your lap, tummy facing you
Baby's head rests in the crook of your elbow on the same side as the breast you're using
Your forearm supports baby's back and bottom
Use a nursing pillow or regular pillow under your arm to bring baby up to breast height
Best for:
Moms and babies who have established breastfeeding and have a good latch
Older babies with better head control
Comfortable, relaxed daytime feeds
IBCLC tip: The cradle hold can be tricky in the early days because you have less control over baby's head positioning. If you're struggling with latch in the early weeks, try the cross-cradle hold first and transition to the cradle once you're both more confident.
6. Upright / Koala Hold
In the upright or koala hold, baby sits straddling your thigh or hip, facing your breast in a more upright position rather than lying horizontally.
How to do it:
Sit upright
Position baby straddling your thigh, sitting upright and facing your breast
Support baby's back and head with one hand
Baby's spine should be straight, not curved
Guide baby to the breast at nipple level
Best for:
Babies with reflux — the upright position reduces milk coming back up
Babies with ear infections — horizontal positioning can be uncomfortable
Older babies who want to look around and be interactive while feeding
Moms with a fast let-down — gravity helps regulate flow
Babies with medical conditions that may require cheek or chin support
IBCLC tip: The upright hold is underused and underrated. It's particularly helpful for babies with oral motor challenges or reflux who don't do as well lying flat. If your baby comes off the breast frequently or seems gassy and uncomfortable after feeds, try this position.
7. Nursing While Lying Down (Prone / Tummy Time Feeding)
A variation on the laid-back position, in this hold baby is prone (tummy-down) on your chest or lap while you recline. This is different from side-lying — baby is on top of you, not beside you.
Best for:
Moms with oversupply or fast let-down — gravity works against the flow
Babies who choke, gulp, or pull off frequently during feeds
Colicky babies who seem to swallow a lot of air
Skin-to-skin bonding
IBCLC tip: This position is particularly helpful for oversupply situations. When baby feeds lying prone on top of you, they're working against gravity to pull milk — which naturally slows the flow and gives them more control. Many moms with forceful let-down find this position transformative.
Which Position Should You Use?
The honest answer: whatever works. Here's a quick guide to help you choose a starting point:
Newborn or latch difficulty → Cross-cradle or laid-back
C-section recovery → Football hold or side-lying
Fast let-down or oversupply → Laid-back or prone feeding
Nighttime feeds → Side-lying
Reflux or gassy baby → Upright/koala hold or laid-back
Twins → Football hold (both sides simultaneously)
Older baby who wants to look around → Upright/koala hold
Frequently Asked Questions
Does breastfeeding position affect milk supply? Position itself doesn't directly affect supply — but it affects how well baby can drain the breast. A baby who can't latch deeply due to a poor position won't drain the breast effectively, which over time can signal your body to produce less. Good positioning supports a good latch which supports good supply.
Can switching positions help with clogged ducts? Yes! Different positions drain different areas of the breast. If you're prone to clogs in a specific area, try positioning baby so their chin points toward that area during feeds. For example, if you frequently get clogs on the outer upper part of the breast, the football hold (which drains the lower outer quadrant effectively) might help.
My baby keeps pulling off — could it be the position? Absolutely. Pulling off frequently is one of the most common signs of a positioning or latch issue. In most cases, experimenting with laid-back or football hold resolves it — both give baby more control over the flow. If pulling off persists, it's worth having an IBCLC observe a full feeding.
How do I know if my position is causing nipple pain? Nipple pain during or after feeds is almost always a sign that something needs adjusting — and positioning is the first place to look. A deep latch in the correct position should not hurt. If you're experiencing pain, try repositioning before assuming the latch itself is the problem. Many times a simple position adjustment resolves pain completely.
When should I see an IBCLC about positioning? If you've tried multiple positions and are still experiencing pain, your baby is consistently coming off the breast, feeds are taking very long, or your baby isn't gaining weight well — it's time to call an IBCLC. Position issues are among the most fixable breastfeeding challenges, and most can be resolved in a single visit with hands-on guidance.
Get Hands-On Support from a Lactation Loop IBCLC
Reading about breastfeeding positions is one thing — having an IBCLC watch you feed and make real-time adjustments is another. Sometimes all it takes is one small tweak to a hold to make breastfeeding go from painful to comfortable.
Our board-certified IBCLCs offer in-home, in-office, and virtual visits across all 50 states — with physical locations in Michigan, Florida, Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Indiana. Most major insurance plans accepted including Aetna, Cigna, UHC, Anthem, UMR, Meritain, Wildflower, Lactation Network, and Curative.
Book an appointment: lactationloop.com/services Call us: 941-254-2502
Related reading:
Why Is My Baby Fussy at the Breast? — lactationloop.com/blog/fussy-baby-at-the-breast-why-babies-pull-away-cry-or-fuss-while-nursing
How to Increase Milk Supply: What Actually Works (And What Doesn't) — lactationloop.com/blog/how-to-increase-milk-supply-what-actually-works-and-what-doesnt
Mastitis vs. Engorgement vs. Clogged Duct: How to Tell the Difference — lactationloop.com/blog/mastitis-vs-engorgement-vs-clogged-duct