Maximizing Comfort And Milk Supply With The Right Breastfeeding Positions For Toddlers

The Right Breastfeeding Positions For Toddlers

Here are the top positions you can try when feeding your baby:

1. Recline Position

The reclined position is also famous as the laid-back position amongst mothers. It is one of the top positions that women who have become mothers for the first time try. Your baby will be on your chest while your arms will hold his body.

This position is suitable for the following:

• Mothers with relatively small breasts
• For newborns
• For toddlers with tummy sensitivity problems

You can lie back on your bed, sofa, or resting chair to maintain a partial sitting position. This will allow your baby to latch on the nipple naturally. Of course, if latching issues are present, you can change the position of your toddler’s head.

If you start to feel sleepy, move off the sofa or armchair. Falling asleep with a baby on a sofa or soft chair is very risky.

2. Cradle Hold

The cradle hold is the classic breastfeeding position that almost every mother visualizes on the first try. You will be maintaining an upright sitting position while your baby rests on the side of your body. Your toddler’s head will be against your forearm.

Meanwhile, the baby’s body will rest against your tummy. A good position and latch can help you avoid sore nipples. In the early weeks, many mothers find the cross-cradle hold, where your opposite hand supports your baby’s neck and shoulders, gives more control while a newborn learns to latch. However, you may have to provide additional support to make the position more comfortable.

Keeping a pillow behind you for back support will prevent your shoulders from tensing. It will also help you breastfeed comfortably.

3. Football Hold Position

You may come across many positions related to the names of different sports when breastfeeding. The football hold is the best breastfeeding position for:

• Mothers who gave birth through a caesarian (C-section), because it keeps your baby away from your incision
• Females with large breasts also prefer this position because latching can be easier

This position requires you to place your baby on your body’s side. The infant’s legs should be tucked under your arm on the side of the feeding breast. If your baby is feeding from the right nipple, his legs must be under your right arm.

Use your hands to offer more support if your baby is a newborn and not experienced. This position can help prevent sore nipples and keep you comfortable if you follow the instructions.

4. Side-Lying Position

Another popular breastfeeding position is the side-lying position. This option is for all mothers whose babies wake up in the middle of the night. You may be tired after a long day of chores and taking care of the newborn.

The side-lying positions involve you and your baby lying on your sides. Your stomach should touch the tummy of your toddler in this position. The comfortable position is also best for mothers with C-section stitches.

You may use one of your hands to offer support to the baby by holding the infant’s back. Another thing you can do is cup your breast to make feeding easier.

Side-lying lets you rest while you feed, but it also makes it easier to fall asleep. If you might doze off, feed on your bed, never on a sofa or armchair, and move pillows and blankets away from your baby. As soon as you wake up, put your baby back on their back in their own crib or bassinet.

5. Dangle Feeding

Dangle feeding is a position some mothers try when they have a blocked milk duct. The idea is to use gravity to help drain the breast.

However, there is no good evidence that gravity helps unblock ducts or boosts milk supply. Current Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine guidance for blocked ducts and mastitis suggests keeping to your normal feeding schedule, using ice or cold packs, gentle (not deep) massage, and asking your doctor about pain relief. Trying to fully drain the breast over and over can make swelling worse. Call your doctor if you have a fever, a red and painful area on your breast, or feel unwell.

The dangle feeding position requires you to place your baby on their back on the bed. Meanwhile, you will use your hands and feet to crouch above the baby so that your breast hangs above the newborn’s face.

Remember, this position may be a bit uncomfortable for you if you lack physical strength. This is why you should include the position only a few times a week instead of using it for daily feeding. If your baby struggles to latch, a lactation consultant can help you find what works.

6. The Sling Position

Some parents try nursing a baby in a sling or carrier. The NHS advises that it’s not safe to breastfeed your baby while they’re in a sling or carrier, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that slings carry a suffocation risk, especially for babies younger than 4 months.

If you use a sling or carrier at other times, choose one that meets current safety standards and follow its instructions. Homemade slings made from a cloth tied around your neck are not a safe choice.

Always make sure you can see your baby’s face, keep their chin off their chest, and keep their nose and mouth clear. If your baby falls asleep in a carrier, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface on their back as soon as you can.

7. Rugby Hold

The final comfortable position you should try for breastfeeding is the rugby hold. You will have to tuck your baby under your arm. Typically, your underarm will be over the infant’s side or stomach. Meanwhile, the baby’s legs will extend towards your back or the sitting platform.

This nursing position is best for having a good view of your toddler. It will also make your baby feel safer during breastfeeding. Mothers with twins, premature babies, large breasts, and C-sections prefer this position. Your baby will receive excellent support while your comfort level remains high.

It will also make it easier to raise your breasts using towels or other tools if they are relatively heavier. So you don’t have to worry about your breast size or your newborn’s size when using this breastfeeding position.

Final Words

These are the top breastfeeding positions that can help your comfort level and help your baby latch well. Your milk supply mostly depends on how often and how well milk is removed from your breasts, so feeding often with a good latch matters more than any one position.

A good position and latch can also help prevent sore nipples and muscle strain. If feeding keeps hurting, or you are worried about your milk supply, ask a lactation consultant, your midwife or your doctor for help.

Remember to follow the correct instructions when placing your baby in a specific position. You should also consider your needs and birth method when choosing a breastfeeding position. Mothers with C-section stitches should use positions that allow them to feed babies while keeping them on their side bodies. Check here the best breastfeeding positions after C section.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s health.