Baby Won’t Latch? 10 Things to Try Before You Panic By Rickie Bryner

By Rickie Bryner, BS, CLP, Postpartum Doula, Breezy Babies Mentee

What do you do when your baby won’t latch? It’s easy to spiral and think you will never reach your breastfeeding goals. However, take a deep breath because you’re in the right place. 

The purpose of this post is to remind you to take things one latch, one feeding at a time. A baby that has trouble latching today does NOT equal a baby that will struggle forever. 

With some extra patience, practice, and the tips below (especially in the beginning), many babies will latch and eventually become confident feeders! 

 

The Science Behind These Latching Tips

You baby was born with natural reflexes to help with feeding such as: 

1. The Gape reflex (when baby opens their mouth wide to latch)

2. The Sucking reflex

3. The Swallowing reflex

4. The Rooting reflex (when baby turns their head towards the breast)

If your baby is calm, supported, and regulated, these natural reflexes take over to help your baby latch and breastfeed. However, if your baby experiences stress and their “fight or flight” nervous system is activated, these natural feeding reflexes are less effective, making it harder for your baby to latch.

The secret ingredients for latching begin with:

• A calm, low-pressure environment.

• Taking a moment to regulate yourself first (your baby feels your nervous system).

• Supporting your baby in staying relaxed and comfortable at the breast.

 

The 10 Latch Tips below incorporate these secret ingredients in various ways to help your baby latch more easily. 

Tip #1: Early Feeding Cues

The trick with newborns is to feed them before they become too hungry. Babies are just like us - it’s hard to think about anything else when we’re hangry. 

Crying is a late sign of hunger in your newborn. Try to latch when they show early feeding cues such as:

1. Making mouth movements (tongue movements or smacking lips)

2. Bringing hands to the mouth

3. Rooting or turning their head as if searching for the breast

4. Becoming more active or slightly more disorganized in their movements

Latching with early feeding cues can help your baby stay calm as they are learning this new skill. 

Tip #2: Skin-to-Skin

Skin-to-skin is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to improving latch. 

It regulates your baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing. Your smell is familiar to them and comforting. Touch is their most developed sense at birth, speaking loudly to their nervous system that they are LOVED and SAFE. 

Spending lots of time skin-to-skin with your baby will help you respond to their earliest hunger cues and latch before they get overly hungry or upset. 

When practicing latch, place your baby in just their diaper on your chest. It will help them feel safe and calm when coming to the breast. 

Tip #3: Laid-Back (of Biological) Nursing

Laid-back breastfeeding is a position that works with your baby’s natural feeding instincts instead of against them.

To try this, lean back comfortably and place your baby tummy-down on your chest. Let gravity keep your baby close and allow them to use their natural reflexes to find and latch onto the breast. 

You will want baby to come from just below the nipple when latching, so it’s helpful to have their nose at approximately your nipple level when placing them on your chest. You can support their head and neck as needed with your arms.

Instead of placing your baby directly onto the breast to latch, think about supporting their body and letting them come to you.

Many babies will root, bob, and self-attach when given the time and space to do so.

 

Tip #4: Check Your Baby’s Tummy, Legs and Feet

These might sound un-related to breastfeeding, but these three things help your baby stay calm and organized when feeding.

1. Check to make sure your baby is “tummy-to-mummy.” This means their body is fully facing yours to create alignment between their ears, shoulders, and hips. Nobody likes to feed with their body twisted or facing away from the table. Babies latch best when everything is in line, and they are facing the breast.  

2. Try bringing baby’s legs into a gentle “frog-leg” position, especially if using laid-back breastfeeding. To do this, allow the knees to turn outward and then gently bring them up towards the hips. This position promotes relaxation and helps baby feel more secure when feeding.

3. Lastly, check your baby’s feet. If their feet are dangling, baby feels like they are falling which activates “fight or flight” reflexes. Try placing a pillow under their legs or behind their feet (especially when using a football hold). 

Tip #5: Dim the Lights

Your baby spent months in a cozy, dark environment in the womb. The outside world is now very bright and often over-stimulating. 

Try dimming the lights to see if it helps:

1) a sleepy baby become more alert and ready to feed

2) an over-stimulated baby calm before latching

Tip #6: Create a Calm, No Pressure Environment

Before latching, take a moment to regulate you. Try not to put pressure on yourself or your baby to get it “right” this feeding. It’s okay if things don’t go well one feeding, you can try again next time. 

Here are a few simple ways to relax before latching:

1. Play relaxing or familiar music

2. Drink a cool glass of water or a nourishing drink

3. Take a few slow, deep breaths or gently roll your shoulders

4. Talk to the baby in a calm, soothing voice

5. Put your feet up on a stool or small table

6. Make sure your body is fully supported and comfortable

7. Use pillows or blankets to support your back, arms, and body

When you feel supported and regulated, your baby is more likely to feel the same.

 

Tip #7: Talk Your Way Through

Before latching your baby, have a little talk with your baby in a calm, gentle, encouraging voice. Let them know what you are about to do and that you are here to help them. It might feel simple but can be surprisingly effective.

Narrating and talking to your baby during the latch attempt (or anything stressful like a bath or diaper change), can also help you stay grounded. Your baby may not understand your words, but they’ll understand your tone. A soft, steady voice communicates safety and reassurance to your baby.

Tip #8: Try a New Position or Offer the Other Side

There are many breastfeeding positions to try and sometimes a small change can make a big difference. Trying a new position can be just what’s needed to help make breastfeeding more comfortable. 

Some breastfeeding positions to try:

• Laid-back breastfeeding

• Cross-cradle hold

• Football hold (clutch hold)

• Side-lying position

If your baby won’t latch on one side this feeding and becomes fussy, try offing the other breast. Sometimes babies simply need a change in position or perspective to feel more comfortable. 

Tip #9: Take a Warm Bath Together (Safely)

A warm bath can be soothing for your baby. The warm water may feel familiar to them, reminding them of the amniotic fluid in the womb. This can create a feeling of calm allowing the natural feeding reflexes to take over.

If you choose to try this, here are some SAFETY tips:

• Ask your care provider first (if you’ve just given birth)

• Always have a helper nearby.

• Make sure the tub is clean and safe for use.

• Fill the tub with warm (not hot) water to about waist level when seated.

• Get into the tub before your baby and get comfortable.

• Have your helper carefully hand the baby to you and place the infant on your chest.

• Always keep the baby’s face above the water. 

• Maintain constant supervision between you and your helper.

• Hand baby back to your helper before you get out of the tub.

I’ve personally used this tip with my second baby after a NICU stay and bottle feeding, when he initially struggled to latch at home. The water can be so powerfully soothing for the baby. 

Tip #10: Seek Support

You don’t have to figure this out alone. 

Working with a lactation consultant can provide the calm, reassuring, and knowledgeable support you need to navigate positioning, improve latch, and move toward your breastfeeding goals.

Sometimes a fresh set of eyes and hands-on guidance can make all the difference, especially if things feel overwhelming.

Our Breezy Babies team of Lactation Consultants would love to support you on your breastfeeding journey.