Breastfeeding Positions: 7 Holds for Newborns, C-Sections and More

Seven breastfeeding positions, including cradle, football hold, side-lying and laid-back, and when the NHS, AAP and UNICEF suggest each one.

Quick answer: This guide covers seven breastfeeding positions: cradle, cross-cradle, football (clutch), side-lying, laid-back, an upright hold and a double football hold for twins. UNICEF calls cross-cradle useful when you're first learning, and a good option for small babies. After a c-section, the NHS suggests the football hold or the laid-back position, and side-lying for night feeds.

Reviewed by: Whispie Editorial Team Evidence-Based Parenting Research

Published: 2026-09-25

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician or doctor about your child.

Sources: WHO, CDC, AAP and NHS guidance. Recommendations differ between countries — for local advice see the NHS or CDC.

See how we research and review →

You can use more than one position and switch between them. Whichever you choose, the NHS latch signs below help you check it's working: a big mouthful of breast, full rounded cheeks, and feeding that doesn't hurt after the first few sucks.

This guide draws on the NHS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and UNICEF, plus national health bodies in Germany and Spain where they add something: what each position looks like, when it can help, and how to tell your baby is latched on well and getting enough milk.

Which position fits your situation?

Tap what's going on right now, and we'll point you to the positions that help.

Cradle hold

Support your baby on the arm on the same side as the breast you're using (AAP).
Rest your baby's head in the crook of your elbow (AAP).

Good for: General, everyday feeding and bonding (UNICEF)

Keep in mind: Can be uncomfortable after a c-section, since baby lies across you near the scar (NHS).

Cross-cradle hold

Support your baby on the arm opposite the breast you're using (AAP).
Your hand supports your baby's neck and upper back, rather than their bottom (AAP).

Good for: Newborns and small babies still learning to latch (UNICEF) · A baby who's having difficulty latching on (AAP)

Football hold

Also called the clutch hold (AAP) or rugby hold (NHS).

Tuck baby at your side, under your arm, like a handbag or football held close to your body (AAP).
Baby's legs point behind you, toward your back.
Support baby's head and neck with your hand, and bring them to the breast.

Good for: C-section recovery — keeps baby's weight off your abdomen (NHS, AAP) · Twins — feed both at once, one on each side (NHS, AAP) · Larger breasts or flat nipples (AAP) · A premature baby (AAP) · Engorged breasts or sore nipples (UNICEF) · A blocked milk duct (Germany's gesund-ins-leben.de)

Side-lying position

Lie on your side (AAP).
Hold your baby close, on their side and facing you, with your arm around them (AAP).

Good for: A c-section or difficult delivery (NHS) · Night feeds, or when you're tired or unwell (NHS, AAP) · General comfort for you and baby (UNICEF)

Keep in mind: If you feed lying down, you might fall asleep together. The NHS says you should never co-sleep with your baby if you are extremely tired, and that co-sleeping is not safe if you or your partner have been smoking, drinking alcohol, taking recreational drugs or taking medicine that causes drowsiness. Falling asleep on a sofa or chair with your baby can increase the risk of SIDS substantially (NHS).

Laid-back position

Also called biological nursing (NHS) or biological nurturing.

Lie back in a comfortable, semi-reclined position (NHS).
Your baby lies stomach-to-stomach on top of you (AAP).

Good for: C-section — baby lies away from your incision (NHS) · A fast or overactive let-down, or an oversupply of milk (AAP) · A baby who has trouble latching, or who's restless and crying (UNICEF)

Keep in mind: The NHS suggests a comfy sofa or bed for this position, but also says falling asleep on a sofa or chair with your baby can increase the risk of SIDS substantially. If you think you might doze off, don't feed on a sofa or armchair.

Upright hold (straddle position)

Sometimes called the koala hold or straddle hold, though that isn't an official NHS/AAP name.

Sit baby upright, straddling your leg, facing the breast.
Support your baby's back very well, with your hand or a nursing pillow (Germany's gesund-ins-leben.de).
Keep baby upright during the feed, and afterward too if you're using this hold for reflux (NHS).

Good for: Reflux: the NHS says to hold your baby upright during feeding and for as long as possible after · Palate problems or cleft lip/palate, a small jaw (retrognathia), or low muscle tone, for example with Down syndrome (Spain's Ministry of Health and the Spanish Association of Paediatrics) · Bigger babies (Germany's gesund-ins-leben.de)

Keep in mind: Babies need very good support at the back in this position, from your hand or a nursing pillow (Germany's gesund-ins-leben.de).

Double football hold (for twins)

Use the football hold on both sides at once — each baby tucked under an arm, legs pointing behind you (AAP, NHS).
Support each baby's head and neck with the hand on that side.
Bring both babies to the breast together.

Good for: Feeding both twins at the same time, which saves time and reduces fatigue (NHS, AAP; Spain's AEP)

How do you know your baby has a good latch?

A large mouthful of breast, not just the nipple — you'll see more of the darker nipple skin (areola) above baby's top lip than below their bottom lip (NHS, UNICEF).
Baby's cheeks look full and rounded while feeding, not sucked in (NHS).
It doesn't hurt — the first few sucks may feel strong, but feeding itself shouldn't be painful (NHS/UNICEF).
You can hear baby swallowing (NHS).
Feeds start with a few rapid sucks, then settle into long, rhythmic sucks and swallows with occasional pauses (NHS).
Baby comes off the breast on their own, looking content and satisfied (NHS/UNICEF).

How do you know your baby is getting enough milk?

In the UK (NHS/UNICEF): only 2-3 wet diapers (nappies) in the first 48 hours, rising to at least 6 every 24 hours from day 5.
In the US (CDC): wet diaper counts build from 1 on day 1, to 2, then 5, then 6 by day 4, staying at 6 or more through days 5-7.
In the UK (NHS/UNICEF): black, tar-like meconium at first, turning lighter and greenish by day 3, then at least 2 yellow poos a day from day 4.
In the US (AAP): 1-2 dark, tarry stools on days 1-2, turning greenish-yellow by days 3-4, then at least 3-4 yellow, loose stools a day by days 5-7.
Weight: in the UK, back to birth weight by 2 weeks is the marker (NHS/UNICEF); in the US, the AAP says losing no more than 8-10% of birth weight before regaining it is normal.
Feeding often — 8 to 12 times in 24 hours — is itself a good sign of an effective feeding pattern (CDC, AAP).

When should you get help?

If you're worried about how much milk your baby is getting, ask for help early — talk to your midwife, health visitor, or a breastfeeding specialist (NHS).
Breast or nipple pain that doesn't go away needs a check — contact your midwife, GP, or NHS 111 (NHS).
Signs of mastitis (feeling ill as if you have flu, a high temperature, a hot, painful swollen area on the breast): contact your GP or NHS 111 if you feel worse at any time or are no better within 12 to 24 hours (NHS).
If baby hasn't had a dirty diaper in the last 24-48 hours, it may mean they aren't getting enough milk — speak to your midwife or health visitor (UNICEF UK/NHS).
In the US, the AAP recommends your baby's first pediatrician visit within 48 hours of hospital discharge, partly so their weight can be checked.

In the UK: National Breastfeeding Helpline, 0300 100 0212, 9:30am-9:30pm every day (named in NHS/UNICEF UK's Off to the Best Start leaflet). No verified free national helpline was confirmed for the US for this guide — ask your hospital's lactation service or your pediatrician for a local referral instead.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best breastfeeding position for a newborn?

No single position is best. UNICEF calls cross-cradle useful when you're first learning to breastfeed and a great option for small babies, and the AAP says it's good for a baby who has difficulty latching on. UNICEF also suggests the laid-back position as a calming one to try if your baby is restless or struggling to latch.

How do you breastfeed lying down?

Lie on your side and hold your baby close, on their side and facing you, with your arm around them (AAP). The NHS says it's a good position after a caesarean or difficult delivery, or for feeds in the middle of the night. If you might fall asleep, read the NHS co-sleeping advice first, and never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.

What's the best breastfeeding position after a c-section?

The football hold puts no pressure on your tummy and scar (NHS), and UNICEF and the AAP also suggest it after a caesarean. In the laid-back position your baby can lie across you, away from your incision (NHS). Side-lying is another option the NHS suggests after a caesarean.

How do I know if my baby has a good latch?

You should see much more of the darker nipple skin above baby's top lip than below their bottom lip, their cheeks stay full and rounded rather than sucked in, and you can hear them swallowing (NHS). It shouldn't hurt once feeding is underway, though the first few sucks can feel strong (NHS/UNICEF).

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk, and should breastfeeding hurt?

In the UK, at least 6 wet diapers and regular yellow poos a day from about day 5, with baby back to birth weight by 2 weeks, are reassuring signs (NHS/UNICEF). In the US, the AAP looks for a similar wet-diaper and stool count by day 5-7, plus a birth-weight loss of no more than 8-10% before baby starts gaining again. Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful once latch is established — ongoing pain is worth getting checked rather than living with (NHS).

Sources: NHS — Breastfeeding positions · NHS — Breastfeeding: positioning and attachment · NHS — Is my baby getting enough milk? · NHS — Breast pain and breastfeeding · NHS — Reflux (breastfeeding challenges) · NHS — Safe sleep advice for babies · UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative / NHS — Off to the Best Start (2022) · CDC — Newborn Breastfeeding Basics · AAP / HealthyChildren.org — Positioning Your Baby for Breastfeeding · AAP / HealthyChildren.org — How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby Is Getting Enough Milk · AAP / HealthyChildren.org — Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) & GERD · UNICEF (global) — Common breastfeeding positions · Ministerio de Sanidad, Spain — Posturas para amamantar (Anexo 3) · Netzwerk "Gesund ins Leben", Germany — Stillpositionen

Weekly parenting tips, no spam

Evidence-based guidance for your child's stage — straight to your inbox.

Whispie

Sleep prediction that learns your own baby, feeding and growth logs, vaccine reminders and week-by-week pregnancy — from expecting to toddler.

Download on App Store Get it on Google Play

Also from Whispie

Whispie Quest Screen-free activities, ages 0–6

MiloSnap The baby book that fills itself in

Flavor Agent Sensory play for picky eaters · Coming soon