How do you get your baby to start breastfeeding

The first time you hold your baby is a great time to start breastfeeding. Don’t worry if your new born seems to have trouble latching on at first. Breastfeeding requires patience and lots of practice. Here are some tips that can help:

  • Hold your baby’s whole body close with the nose level with your nipple.
  • Let your baby’s head tip back a little so that their top lip can brush against your nipple. This should help your baby open his mouth wide.
  • When your baby’s mouth opens wide; the chin should be able to touch the breast first, with the head tipped back so that the tongue can reach as much breast as possible.
  • With the chin firmly touching, the nose clear, and the mouth wide open, there will be much more of the darker skin visible above your baby’s top lip than below their bottom lip – his cheeks will look full and rounded as he feeds.