Breastfeeding your baby is supposed to be a beautiful, natural, and nurturing process between a mother and a child. It’s times like these that all the challenges a woman goes through because of pregnancy finally begin to make sense. The love you feel when your baby suckles on the breast, is definitely worth the 9-month wait.
But any mother who has been through these stages of parenting can agree that the first weeks of mastering this nursing process are definitely not a child’s play. Achieving the perfect latch is challenging, and identifying a position that does not cause discomfort to you both is not easy either!
I know one thing though: that breastfeeding is not as stressful as it may seem. You just need to find the right position that will suit you both. Once that’s sorted, you’ll be able to get nicely comfortable and enjoy these special bonding moments called breastfeeding. You know, the ones that are free from millions of distractions, toys being thrown around, emotional breakdowns, and all that.
That is why I am outlining 10 breastfeeding positions that should prove helpful to every new mom who is nursing her not-so-tiny baby to feel comfortable every time.
10 Must-Know Breastfeeding Positions For Older Babies
According to the latest guidelines by the Academy of American Pediatrics (APA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is advised that mothers should breastfeed their babies for at least 12 months. To make this easy for you, you need to put some things in place. You can check out my top breastfeeding and pumping gear recommendations, as well as my other free resources.
However, as your little one grows bigger and more actively attaching to the breast, finding comfortable breastfeeding positions becomes an ever-evolving event. These five holds are perfect for keeping that nursing bond strong with your older baby:
Laid-back Breastfeeding
Perfect for: babies of any age, but especially great for easily-distracted older babies.
What to expect: You'll recline, and the baby will lie tummy-down across your body, using their natural instincts to latch on and feed calmly. It encourages longer, more relaxed nursing sessions.
How to: Get cozy and recline with your head and shoulders slightly elevated by pillows. Hold your baby horizontally, tummy-down, in a perfectly snug position across your body. Let them nuzzle in and self-latch.
Koala Hold
Perfect for: babies around 5–6 months of age and up who want to be upright.
What to expect: With the baby straddling your lap and facing you, this hold mimics their natural climbing position. It's great for eye contact and bonding while allowing independence.
How to: Sit upright and slide the baby's legs around your thighs, pulling your baby close so their belly presses against yours. Support their back or use a nursing pillow if needed.
Dancer Hold
Perfect for: very wiggly babies who are always eager to move around.
What to expect: This hold will ensure your baby is both unrestricted and well-attached to your breast. It’s also suitable for easily-distracted babies.
How to: You need to stand upright, while slightly leaning forward at the waist. This way, your baby will be straddling you while facing your body. Then, support their back and hips while they "dance" on you.
Side-Lying Position
Perfect for: nursing mamas recovering from C-sections or just wanting to relax.
What to expect: You and the baby will snuggle side-by-side, with the baby lying perpendicular to you and feeding from the breast closest to the bed or couch.
How to: Lie on your side and pull the baby in closely so they're perfectly horizontally spooning you, using a pillow between your knees if needed.
Cross-Cradle Hold
Perfect for: bigger babies and multitasking moms.
What to expect: The cross-cradle hold gives you more control over baby latches while still freeing your hands. It also offers relief for moms with large breasts.
How to: Sitting upright, place the baby across your torso and hold their back or shoulders against you with the hand opposite the feeding breast.
Cradle Hold
Perfect for: nursing moms with large breasts or when babies need help latching.
What to expect: The cradle hold gives great breast support and latch visibility. It's cozy, but it also prevents your arm from falling asleep.
How to: While semi-reclined, cradle the baby lengthwise up along the same side as your nursing breast. Support their head near your breast with that arm.
Upright Nursing
Perfect for: on-the-go feedings or babies who need entertainment.
What to expect: You'll sit up straight while supporting baby stomach-to-stomach, giving you both freedom of movement.
How to: Sit up tall and bring the baby close, chest-to-chest and skin-to-skin. Use a pillow for support under the baby if needed.
Tandem Feeding Hold
Perfect for: breastfeeding two children at the same time.
What to expect: It enables you to feed an older nursling and a newborn at the same time with ease while in a side-lying position.
How to: Lay down on your side and place the older child at the level of your body so that they have access to one breast as the newborn feeds on the other.
Two-Pillow Football Hold
Perfect for: feeding twins or after delivery by C-section.
What to expect: The position of the pillow gives back support, presenting the baby in a comfortable feeding position.
How to: Have one pillow positioned slightly at your back and another placed at your front. Place your baby in front of the small pillow in the football position by adjusting and holding it with your arms.
Breastfeeding with a Sling
Perfect for: nursing on-the-go or with an older baby
What to expect: It is versatile and provides convenience as it comes with a sling that enables movement of the baby from place to place while still being well-secured.
How to: This can be on your front, back, or chest with the baby sitting upright in a ring sling. Unzip or unhook a sling discreetly at the tail to expose your breast and help latch your baby on.
Your hold is your bond, and you have a variety of breastfeeding positions to choose from.
There you have it 10 tried-and-true breastfeeding positions to keep that nursing bond strong as your baby grows and explores their wiggly-wobbly ways. From the laid-back position to breastfeeding with a sling, each hold allows you to get comfortable and connected while giving your big baby plenty of freedom to do their thing.
Because really, that's what breastfeeding an older nursling is all about rolling with those punches, adapting to their ever-changing needs, and discovering what works best for you both at that moment. It's a beautiful intimacy that evolves over those first years. And I'm hugely passionate about supporting mamas in whatever way works for their family.
That's why I've put together a couple of fantastic offerings to make this whole breastfeeding thing easier. My signature Ultimate Pumping Course is a total gamechanger, covering every tip and trick for maintaining milk supply, mastering positions, pumping on-the-go, and so much more. You can read more on how to increase milk supply here.
Or maybe you're looking for an even more personalized experience? My small group pumping classes and quarterly live workshops provide the perfect intimate setting to get your most pressing breastfeeding challenges sorted, questions answered by real pros, and connect with other mamas.
But that's not all! I've also rounded up my personal top picks for the best pumping gear and other free resources to make breastfeeding and pumping at work, home, or on-the-go a million times easier. From versatile nursing pillows to catch-it cups for those surprise letdown moments, having the right tools is game-changing!
