How to Latch Your Baby for Breastfeeding

By Summer, RNC, BSN, Breastfeeding Educator

The big secret to a good latch is a tiny space at the back of your baby’s tongue. Many mothers make the common mistake of stopping just short of this space, an area which we call the "NO ZONE." Learn the simple concepts of a good latch, how to recognize a bad latch, and what you can do to fix it.  This article will also outline why the "NO ZONE” is no place for a nipple.

Babies are born with a suck reflex at the back of their tongues. To find this reflex, insert a clean finger all the way to the back of the tongue and feel as your baby’s tongue curls around your finger and begins to suck. As you pull your finger out, you will notice that the suck reflex stops as the tip of your finger reaches the soft palate area under the nose.  It is clear that in order to stimulate the suck reflex, your nipple must be inserted into the very back of the tongue. If you don't insert your nipple deep enough, your baby will not be able to suck.  This is called the “NO ZONE." 

Your breast and your baby's mouth fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. You can demonstrate this by squeezing only the end of your nipple. Squeezing the nipple produces little to no milk. However, if you push slightly back from your nipple and squeeze the milk ducts surrounding the alveola, milk will appear.  See below for an illustration of a good latch. Here you can see how far back the nipple reaches on the baby's tongue, and why the “NO ZONE” is no place for a nipple.

How do you get a good latch when breastfeeding?

Use the 3 P’s to get a good latch when breastfeeding — positioning, patience, and practice:

Positioning

To find the back of the tongue with your nipple, you must first be able to see it. You cannot see anything when your baby's chin is against her chest. Hold your baby's head with an ear-to-ear grab and apply a bit of pressure to the shoulders with the bottom of your hand to open up the space between the chin and the chest. Position your baby with the chin out so you can clearly see the back of the tongue, aim your breast and shove it in. Don't be afraid to shove in too much; because if she gags, you will know that you are on the right track. 

Patience

A good latch will leave little to no areola visible outside the mouth when both the nose and the chin are pressed against the breast. It is impossible to get a good latch without a wide-open mouth. While your newborn is learning to open wide for a good latch, you must be patient and WAIT for the wide-open mouth that is searching for your breast. Stimulate your baby's lips by rubbing them with your nipple, and then create a space for your baby to open wide. You may have to repeat this process a few times before your baby opens her mouth wide enough for your nipple.

Practice

A good latch takes practice. Reward your baby with colostrum.  These delicious drops are a super-concentrated form of your breast milk meant to entice your baby to open up wide for more.

How to ensure you activate the suck-reflex

• Bring your baby to your breast, not your breast to your baby. Use a pillow or two to bring your baby up to your breast.

• Many mothers mistake holding their breasts too close to the areola. Hold your breast further back so that there is enough nipple available to reach the back of the tongue.

• Tummy-to-tummy refers to the correct body position. No matter the breastfeeding position, turn your baby so that they are tummy-to-tummy with you. Ensure that your breast is directly in front of your baby’s face.

How long should your newborn latch?

When newborns are awake, they should be at the breast. By nursing, your baby sends your body the message to begin milk production. The more your body gets the message, the faster your milk will come in. Your newborn should latch on and nurse each breast for a minimum of 20 minutes every three hours. Once your milk supply is established, your baby will need about 20 minutes to fully drain each breast.

What does a bad latch look like?

AREOLA

The appearance of the areola can be a sure sign that the nipple is in the "NO ZONE." With a good latch, little to no areola should be visible outside of the baby's mouth. If you see any of your areola around your baby's mouth, you should question whether the nipple is far enough back. 

CHIN TO CHEST

If your baby's chin is against her chest, your nipple will land in the “NO ZONE." Lift her head slightly, push her shoulders down so that her head tilts slightly backward, and make sure she opens her mouth wide.

LIPSTICK NIPPLE

A classic sign that your baby has latched incorrectly is when your nipple comes out of your baby’s mouth and resembles the tip of a lipstick tube. It simply means that your nipple was in the “No ZONE” rather than against the tongue’s suck reflex.

How do you fix a bad breastfeeding latch?

If you and your baby are struggling with a bad latch, keep the 3 P’s in mind when you are nursing—positioning, patience, and practice. A bad latch is usually an easy fix. A minor adjustment in positioning will usually get the nipple past the "NO ZONE." Furthermore, you must patiently wait for the wide-open mouth before forcing your baby to latch.    

• Try a newborn-specific breastfeeding position in which you can easily visualize the back of the tongue. An effective method is the FOOTBALL HOLD: Support the head with an ear-to-ear grasp and use the bottom of your hand to apply pressure to the shoulders opening up the space between the chin and the chest.

• Wait for your baby to open up wide. After stimulating your baby’s lips with your nipple, make sure to separate your nipple from her lips. Your baby will purse their lips to continued stimulation if you do not pause and give them space to open.

• A good latch takes practice. It may take time to break bad habits, especially if you have gotten off the wrong foot. If you feel frustrated, take a break. Your baby will sense your uneasiness, which will only worsen matters.

Can a good latch still hurt?

A good latch should not be painful. Now that you understand why the “NO ZONE” is no place for a nipple, a bad latch should not be the cause of nipple pain. If you continue to have pain with proper positioning, you may suspect another cause, such as a yeast infection.   

Conclusion

Always ensure that your nipple reaches right to the back of your baby’s tongue and doesn’t land in the “No ZONE.”

Use the 3 P’s (positioning, patience, and practice) to help establish a good latch foundation and replace bad latch habits. Check out this video for a demo on how to hand express your breast milk.