Getting a good latch: what to know

Co-written by Deja Ramos, a Certified Doula (DONA), ICCE, and Co-Founder of The Birth Companions and Anna Morales, Co-founder of Mila Support

A good latch is the foundation for comfortable, effective breastfeeding and it’s a skill that takes practice for most parent-baby pairs, not something everyone gets right immediately. Here’s what a good latch looks and feels like, the most common latch problems, and when to bring in extra help.

What a good latch looks like

• More areola visible above baby’s lip than below: baby takes in a large mouthful of breast tissue, not just the nipple.

• Lips “flanged” (turned outward, like a fish’s lips) rather than tucked in, with a wide-open mouth before latching.

• Chin and nose touching the breast. A common misconception is that the nose shouldn’t be touching, but if the baby is far from the breast so that the nose doesn’t touch, there’s no way the latch is deep enough. When in reality, baby's nose should be deep in breast tissue and their nostrils are positioned laterally to allow baby to breathe from there.

• Rhythmic sucking and swallowing you can hear or see, rather than fast, fluttery sucking.

• Comfortable for you. A good latch shouldn’t cause sharp or ongoing chapping, cracking, bleeding, or pain. Some initial tugging sensation is common. Rubbing of a baby’s tongue on the nipple will lead to other issues like chapping, cracking, or bleeding. So no sharp pain, rubbing or pinching.

Common latch problems and fixes

• Shallow latch: the most common cause of sore nipples. Try breaking the latch (a clean finger in the corner of baby’s mouth) and relatching with baby’s mouth open wider, tilting the chin toward the breast, and ensuring the nipple ends up at the back of baby's mouth.

• Baby falling asleep quickly at the breast: newborns are often sleepy in the early weeks but still need to feed frequently, so it can help to switch sides more frequently, loosen or remove a layer of baby’s clothing (the slight cool air and skin contact tend to rouse a sleepy baby), or gently stroke their cheek or feet to keep them active.

• Positioning: different holds (cradle, football, side-lying, laid-back) work better for different bodies and situations, after a C-section, a football or side-lying hold that keeps baby’s weight off your incision is often more comfortable.

When to get help

Latch difficulty is common, especially in the first days, and very fixable. It’s worth looping in an IBCLC or lactation counselor for hands-on help if baby seems consistently frustrated or unable to stay latched, or you’re not seeing steady wet diapers and weight gain. If your nipples are cracked, bleeding, or not healing, that’s worth a check talk to an IBCLC or your provider. Getting hands-on help early tends to resolve latch issues faster than troubleshooting alone.

Sourced from: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (Clinical Protocol #5: Peripartum Breastfeeding Management), Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic.