Why Won't My Baby Latch? Fixes That Actually Work

Check positioning first

Most latch trouble traces back to positioning. Baby's whole body should face yours ("tummy to tummy"), not just their head turned toward the breast. Bring baby to the breast rather than leaning yourself toward baby, and aim your nipple toward their nose rather than their mouth — this encourages them to open wide and latch deeper, rather than shallow-latching on just the nipple.

What does a good latch look like?

A few signs point to a deep, effective latch:

• Baby's mouth opens wide, like a yawn, before attaching
• They take a large mouthful of breast, not just the nipple
• Their chin presses into the breast, near the edge of the areola
• Their nose is clear or just brushing the breast
• You can hear or see regular swallowing once feeding is established

Watch for a shallow latch

A shallow latch is one of the most common causes of pain and poor feeding. Signs include clicking sounds while feeding and a pinched, lipstick-shaped nipple after feeding. Pain that continues throughout the feed, gets worse, or doesn't improve after adjusting the latch is a reason to seek breastfeeding support — some tenderness easing as the feed goes on can be normal in the early days, but it shouldn't be the whole feed. If you notice these signs, break the latch gently with a clean finger and try again, aiming for baby to take in a large mouthful of breast tissue.

Could tongue-tie be affecting the latch?

If your baby continues to have difficulty attaching despite trying different positioning and attachment techniques, tongue-tie can be one possible factor — but seeing a frenulum under the tongue doesn't automatically mean it's causing a feeding problem. Signs like nipple pain, clicking, frequently slipping off the breast, or poor milk transfer can have several possible causes besides tongue-tie. Breastfeeding support organizations generally recommend getting help with positioning and attachment first — a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant can assess this and help determine whether tongue-tie needs further evaluation at all. If it's genuinely suspected, an in-person assessment is far more useful than trying to diagnose it from a checklist or photo.

Try different holds

If the cradle hold isn't working, the football hold (baby tucked under your arm, facing you) or side-lying position can sometimes solve latch issues that seemed stubborn in one position. Different holds change the angle baby approaches the breast from, which occasionally makes a real difference.

When to call a lactation consultant

Reach out sooner rather than later if: feeding is consistently painful beyond the first week, baby isn't gaining weight as expected, you're not hearing consistent swallowing during feeds, or you're simply exhausted and unsure what's normal. Your pediatrician or family doctor can refer you, or you can contact a breastfeeding support organization such as La Leche League directly. Lactation consultants specialize in exactly this — there's no need to "tough it out" before getting help.

When to seek medical help

Contact your pediatrician or family doctor if your baby is difficult to wake for feeds, is feeding poorly, or shows signs of dehydration (fewer wet nappies than expected, a dry mouth, or unusual sleepiness). Seek urgent medical care if your baby seems seriously unwell or is having difficulty breathing.

Worried about weight gain alongside feeding? Check the growth percentile calculator, and once feeding settles into a rhythm, our BabyQuil app can log it all automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions