Breastfeeding tips: all you need to know about breastfeeding your newborn

From surviving those early days of non-stop feeding through to dealing with ‘nip-lash’ from easily-distracted babies and tips on tongue-tie, we’ve got the top (and sometimes surprising) tips for making breastfeeding a breeze.

There's no sugar-coating it: getting started with breastfeeding can be hard for many new mums. But there are so many health benefits to breastfeeding your baby, including:

Benefits for your baby

• breastmilk gives your baby the exact nutrition they need
• it helps to protect your baby from catching infections
• it can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and may reduce the risk of childhood leukaemia
• it's easier for your baby to digest than infant formula
• babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop diabetes or become overweight in later life

Benefits for you

• breastfeeding helps your womb contract back down to size after the birth
• exclusive breastfeeding burns about 300 calories a day
• it reduces your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• it's a great way to bond with your baby

Our tips below will help you get breastfeeding off to a great start, and help you find solutions for the most common breastfeeding problems.

1 Confidence is key

There are lots of myths surrounding motherhood (orgasmic birth, we’re looking at you!), but none more so than: ‘breastfeeding comes naturally to everyone’.

We’re sure there are a lucky few women and babies who get the hang of it straight away, but for most of us it’s a skill to be learned. And, importantly, there’s no shame in that. Don’t think that because it doesn’t come naturally you have somehow failed as a mother. You haven’t.

Instead, get the support of a breastfeeding counsellor, watch videos to check your baby is latching on correctly, chat to other mums, and don’t be afraid to keep on asking for help for as long as you need it. The more confidence you have in what you’re doing, the easier it will be.

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You can also get expert answers to your specific breastfeeding questions in our breastfeeding drop-in clinic. Specially trained Parent Supporters are available every weekday evening to answer your queries.

2 Stock up on breastfeeding essentials

There are a few products that can really help make your breastfeeding journey easier. You may want to invest in:

• Breast pads are essential for preventing leaks. You can buy disposable ones, or reusable and washables ones.
• Nipple cream is something many mums swear by, for protecting and soothing cracked or sore nipples.
• Some good nursing bras will help keep your boobs comfy and make feeds a whole lot easier. You may also want to invest in some front-opening shirts, or specially made breastfeeding tops that offer easier access.
• If you want other people to be able to feed your baby when you're not around, a breast pump is a must-have.
• Muslin cloths are an essential for any new parent. Perfect for catching dribbles of milk after a feed.
• You may also want a breastfeeding pillow to help keep you comfy and reduce any new-mum backache.

Discover the top brands to choose in our guide to the best breastfeeding buys.

Got sore breasts, block ducts or mastitis? Lansinoh's Therapearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy can be heated or cooled to provide instant relief. See more details here at Amazon.

Need advice?

Our health visitors and nursery nurses are online Monday to Friday evenings to answer your queries on feeding, sleep and child health.

Ask our experts now

3 Biscuits at the ready

As well as the essentials above, you'll want a few bits and pieces to make your breastfeeding sessions more comfy and less boring for you ...

In the early weeks, you'll spend a great deal of time just breastfeeding. Most newborns need to feed at least eight times in every 24 hours, and each feed can last anything from five to 40 minutes.

The last thing you want to do is disturb your baby when they've just perfectly latched on – with a possible 40-minute feed ahead, it’s a good idea to set up a breastfeeding station with everything you need to hand, including:

• a big bottle of water to keep you hydrated (a reusable straw is great for drinking even if you're feeding at a funny angle)
• a supply of snacks (yes, healthy is best, but remember you’re burning an extra 300 cals a day by feeding, so we won’t judge if you want to have a couple of biscuits, too!)
• your phone (put it on silent if you’re worried the ring might disturb your little one)
• something to entertain you – this could be a book or magazine (although free hands can be an issue here), Kindle, Netflix or iPad for chatting in our Netmums forums

Of course, large amounts of time can also be spent just gazing at that little face!

4 Loo first

For reasons outlined above, it’s best to go to the loo before you start feeding!

5 Join a group

Look for a breastfeeding support group in your area. It’s a great way to get advice from other mums at the same stage, and also those that are slightly ahead of you. Plus you can bond over shared tales of leaky boobs and nipple flashing.

6 Read your baby’s signs

Firstly, you'll need to learn how to spot when you're baby's ready for a feed. Signs that your baby is hungry for milk include:

• becoming restless
• sucking their fist or fingers
• making little murmuring noises
• turning their head and opening their mouth

Try to feed your baby as soon as you notice these early signs. If you wait until your baby is crying, they may be too distressed to latch on well.

Next up, you'll want to know the signs that your baby is feeding well. These include:

• Frequent wet/dirty nappies (after about the first five days, there should be at least six heavy, wet nappies and two poos in each 24 hours).
• Taking regular feeds (average 8-12 feeds in 24hrs in the early weeks).
• Your baby is active, alert and has a good colour and firm skin.
• If you look in your red book you'll find guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which outline the optimal growth for breastfed children. These are the standards your health visitor will use to make sure your baby is thriving. In general, if your baby is gaining weight steadily after the first two weeks, that's a good sign.

The following are not good ways of judging:

• Your breasts don’t feel full.
• Your baby starts sleeping through the night.
• Your baby cries after feeding.
• Your baby suddenly starts feeding more often.
• You can only express half an ounce of milk.

If you have any concerns about the amount of milk your baby's getting, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.

7 Find a comfortable breastfeeding position

There are lots of different positions you can use for breastfeeding your baby. The main thing is to make sure their head and body are in a straight line. Experiment to find what feels right for you. You could try:

• Cradle hold: probably the most familiar position. Lie your baby across your lap, and cradle their head on your forearm.
• Side-lying: lie down on your side with your lower arm under your head, and place baby lying facing you. Pop some cushions or blankets behind you for support. This position is great for night feeds, and for mums who've had a C-section.
• Rugby hold: sit down with a pillow next to you, and pop baby on the pillow, so they're under your arm with their hips close to your hips and their nose level with your nipple. Support their neck with your hand.

8 Keep calm and carry on

Feeling tense can delay the let-down reflex (when your baby’s sucking causes milk to be squeezed down the ducts towards your nipples). Your baby can also pick up on your tension affecting feeding, so make sure you feel comfortable.

Bit awkward feeding in front of visiting relatives? Then move to the bedroom or, better still, ask them to move rooms (and preferably make you a cup of tea/dinner/clean the kitchen) while you feed. Worried about flashing your nipples in public? Then invest in a top designed for breastfeeding, or use a strategically-placed muslin.

But equally, don’t feel ashamed – it’s your right to breastfeed your baby, so don’t feel you have to scuttle off to the toilets if you’d rather stay sat at the table. There is no right or wrong, the key is to do whatever puts you at ease.

9 Let it all hang out

Let sore or cracked nipples heal more quickly by sitting topless for a bit each day. We suggest drawing the curtains first, of course.

Rubbing a little breastmilk into the nipples can also help aid recovery. It’s important to remember that breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful, so make sure you get some advice if it is, as it could indicate your baby isn’t latching on correctly.

10 Just as you’ve got the hang of it, everything changes

Hurray, your baby has finally settled into a fairly steady pattern of feeding. But before you can feel smug, your baby will choose this moment to shake things up a bit. Just to keep you on your toes, they'll suddenly start feeding much more often – hey, how about every hour?! Here’s what could be causing it:

• A growth spurt These can generally be expected when your baby is about three weeks, six weeks, three months and six months, though they can happen any time. Each growth spurt may last several days. Respond to your baby’s additional demands by feeding as often as they want. This will maintain your milk supply – as well as giving opportunities for extra cuddles! Ensure that you are eating enough, drinking plenty of water and getting extra rest so your body can cope with the extra demand.
• Your baby is getting a cold Increased breastfeeding can provide valuable protection from illness, as your baby will be receiving antibodies and immunities that your amazing body has made specially for your baby during this time. Clever, huh?
• Just because Some babies also pick up their breastfeeding for other reasons – a house move, a holiday, teething, new stage in development, or visitors in the house? So, yes, most likely you will never really know why they've done it, but rest assured it won’t last forever. The best thing is to just go with it.

According to the NHS, 'it's not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby'. So don't worry; just give your little one as much as they want.

11 Partners can do it, too!

Dads and other family members needn’t feel left out of the bonding experience just because you’re breastfeeding! One option is to express some breastmilk so someone else can give it to your baby in a bottle.

But even if you choose not to express, there are lots of things your partner can do – in fact, some families say that their baby can be lulled to sleep much quicker tucked in against dad's chest, listening to the deep relaxing rumble of his voice.

Many non-breastfeeding parents find it lots of fun to give their baby a bath. This gives them important skin-to-skin contact and gives you a chance to rest.

12 Be clear on medicines

Most medications that you take will enter your breastmilk, and some won't be safe for your baby, so always check with a healthcare professional before taking any medication when you're breastfeeding.

Common medications that aren't usually safe to use breastfeeding include:

• codeine
• decongestants
• aspirin
• herbal remedies

Generally, paracetamol is a safe painkiller.

This isn't an exhaustive list though, so always talk to your GP if you're taking any prescribed medicine, and check with the pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medication.

13 To dummy or not dummy?

It’s best not to give your baby a dummy in the first four weeks if you’re trying to establish breastfeeding, as it may interfere with their ability to suck well at the boob.

Be careful not to give your crying baby a dummy or soother when what they really need is a feed. This is especially important if you’re breastfeeding, as you could affect your milk supply.

You may have heard that using a dummy reduces the risk of SIDS. However, according to the NHS, the evidence isn't strong. Breastfeeding your baby will offer them much greater protection.

14 Express yourself

Your baby’s not the only one that can get milk out of your boobs. There are lots of reasons to express milk. Maybe you want a night out (or lie-in!) – once breastfeeding is established, having a store of breastmilk means someone else can take over for a bit.

Or perhaps you want a few drinks? According to the NHS, it's best to avoid breastfeeding for 2-3 hours for every alcoholic drink you have. If you express milk beforehand though, your baby can drink expressed milk until you're clear to breastfeed again.

You may also want to use a pump to help relieve engorged breasts.

Find the best breast pump for you.

15 Create breastmilk recipes

This may sound odd, but using breastmilk is a great way to help wean your baby when the time is right. Mix expressed milk into baby rice, mashed banana or pureed vegetables to help give them a more familiar flavour at first.

Check out our weaning recipes for more ideas of how to incorporate breastmilk into your baby's first food.

16 No more ‘nip-lash’

Newborns are generally pretty focused on their feeding efforts, with even the loudest noises going ignored. But once babies get a bit older, the slightest squeak can have them turning their head to see what’s happening (usually, and rather uncomfortably, with your nipple still clamped tight).

You can try feeding them in quieter places (at home, in the car, in breastfeeding areas in some shops), but clearly this isn’t always possible.

Some mums find draping a muslin over their shoulder and the baby’s head can help reduce distractions, while others find a breastfeeding necklace (specially designed with big, colourful beads) can be jangled to bring the focus back to them.

17 Get help with common breastfeeding problems

There are a number of different issues that can arise during breastfeeding, but don't suffer in silence! Here are some of the most common issues, plus what to do about them:

Tongue tie

If your baby seems to be having difficulty feeding, they could be suffering from a common issue known as tongue tie. This is where the little bit of skin that attaches the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter than usual.

Tongue tie is thought to affect up to 10% of babies .It's not always a problem, but can sometimes make breastfeeding more difficult.

Signs that tongue tie could be interfering with your baby's feeds include:

• having difficulty latching or staying attached to the breast
• feeding for a long time with short breaks between feeds
• being unsettled and seeming to be hungry all the time
• not gaining weight as quickly as they should
• making a clicking sound when they feed
• you may also have sore nipples or mastitis

The good news is that tongue tie is really simple to fix in the first few months of a baby's life. It's just a quick, tiny snip, and doesn't usually require any anaeasthetic, as it doesn't seem to hurt babies. There shouldn't be much bleeding, either.

If you think your baby could have tongue tie, speak to your midwife or health visitor.

Mastitis

Mastits can happen when too much milk builds up in your breast. It can make your breast feel hot and sore, and can sometimes lead to infection.

It usually affects just one breast, which may become swollen, red or painful to the touch. The pain may be worse when you breastfeed, and you may also notice some white or blood-streaked discharge from your nipple. If it gets infected you may also get flu-like symptoms.

There are some things you can do to soothe mastitis yourself, but if it doesn't get better within 24 hours, talk to your GP.

Thrush

If you suddenly start getting severe pain in both nipples or breasts that lasts for up to an hour after breastfeeding, thrush could be the culprit. You may also notice white spots in your baby's mouth that don't come off when you wipe them.

If you think you or your baby could have thrush, talk to your health visitor or GP.

Learn more about other common breastfeeding problems.

Take a look at

Preparing to breastfeed

From reading about breastfeeding to eating right, there are plenty of ways to prepare yourself and your body for breastfeeding your baby when he or she is born.

View gallery

Looking for more breastfeeding tips? Check out our articles below, or visit our drop-in clinic for expert advice.

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