Mastering Breastfeeding Positions: From Cradle to Football Hold

Starting your breastfeeding journey can feel overwhelming, especially when you're navigating sleepless nights and learning to care for your newborn. The good news is that we can help you. Finding the right breastfeeding positions can make all the difference in creating a comfortable, successful feeding experience for both you and your baby.

At Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, our obstetrics team helps new mothers master various feeding techniques that promote proper latching and bonding. Getting a grasp on different positions gives you options to find what works best for your unique situation.

The Foundation: Understanding a Good Latch

Before exploring specific breastfeeding positions, it’s essential to recognize what makes feeding successful. A good latch is key to breastfeeding and plays a huge role in a positive nursing experience.

“When looking for signs of a good latch, you want to make sure the baby’s mouth is wide open with their lips flanged — no sucking in the top or bottom lip," said Amelia Cuevas, RN, Clinical Coordinator for Obstetrics at MHSC. "If you can hear sucking or smacking sounds, you do not have a good latch, which can cause pain."

Proper positioning is crucial for achieving this latch. Cuevas emphasizes that when you position your baby, you don't want their head turned to the side.

"You want the baby's head looking straight and hips and shoulders to be aligned," she said.

5 Essential Breastfeeding Positions

No. 1 — The Football Hold

This position tucks your baby under your arm with their legs extended behind you, similar to carrying a football. Your baby's head rests in your hand while their body lies along your forearm.

“I like to have people start with the football hold because you can see your nipple and the baby’s mouth, and you also have good control over the infant’s head,” Cuevas said. “This is also good for mothers who have had a c-section because the infant is not lying on the mother's belly.”

This position works particularly well for supporting your baby's head and ensuring proper alignment for latching.

No. 2 — The Cradle Hold

In this classic position, your infant lies cradled in your arm with their head resting in the crook of your elbow. Your baby's body stretches along your forearm, with their hips and shoulders aligned toward you. This traditional hold promotes skin-to-skin contact and allows for comfortable feeding once you and your baby establish a routine.

No. 3 — The Cross-Cradle Hold

This is similar to the cradle hold, but it allows more control over your baby's head positioning. In this variation, your infant's head rests in your hand rather than the crook of your elbow, while their bottom is positioned by your elbow. This position gives you better ability to guide your baby to latch properly and is often easier for newborns who are still learning to feed or who are having trouble nursing.

No. 4 — Side-Lying Position

Both mother and baby lie on their sides facing each other in this restful position. This technique can be especially helpful during nighttime feedings or when you're recovering from delivery. However, it's important to remain alert during feeding.

"You should never sleep with your baby," Cuevas said. "Nights could be hard until you and your baby get into a routine, and that is OK. You will eventually get there."

No. 5 — Laid-Back Position

In this reclined position, the mother leans back slightly while the baby lies on top of her. This position allows gravity to help your baby maintain contact with your breast and can be particularly soothing for both mother and infant.

Finding What Works for You

The beauty of knowing multiple breastfeeding positions lies in having options ready to go when challenges arise. What works perfectly for one feeding might not be ideal for the next, and that's completely normal.

"You will know which position is best by what works for you and your baby," Cuevas said.

For gassy babies, try different positions to see which provides the most comfort — sometimes the laid-back or side-lying position can help with digestion.

If you experience pain while breastfeeding, don't assume it's something you must endure.

"Pain when breastfeeding could be due to many different things," Cuevas said. "It could be due to latch or the way the infant is sucking. I recommend working with your nurse to rule out different things and find the cause."

Getting Support

Remember that breastfeeding is a learned skill for both you and your baby. If one position doesn't work immediately, try a different one and don't be hard on yourself. What works for one mother might not work for another, and the same applies to babies.

Partners can provide valuable support, too, by changing the infant's diaper before and after feeding, checking if feeding is needed before you get up during nighttime hours, and ensuring you stay alert during feeds.

"Like everything else, it just depends on mom and baby," Cuevas said. "I would not go buy a bunch of stuff assuming that you will need it. All you really need is mom and baby."

The lactation consultants and nursing staff at MHSC are here to support you through your breastfeeding journey. With patience, practice, and the right guidance, you'll find the positions that work best for you and your little one.

Our lactation consultants at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County are available to provide breastfeeding guidance. For more information, call 307-352-8345.