Many mothers start breastfeeding in the cross-cradle hold as follows. Directions assume you are latching your baby on your left breast.

1. Make sure you are comfortable. Your back should be straight and well-supported, and your knees a little higher than your hips. Placing a small stool or pillow under your feet can help.

2. Choose a pillow that supports the baby at breast height.

3. Position the baby facing the nipple, tummy to tummy with you. (Exception: if your breast points downward then the baby will be slightly on his/her back.) The baby can be horizontally across the breasts or placed diagonally with baby's bottom resting on mom's right thigh. If the baby is placed diagonally, use a pillow or folded blanket so that the baby's head and shoulders are supported.

4. If the baby is horizontal, gently place the baby's lower arm along his or her side, not between the baby's chest and the breast. If the baby is more upright, place one arm each side of breast. A fussy baby may do better if firmly swaddled in a lightweight receiving blanket.

5. Compress the breast, behind the areola, between thumb and fingers of your left hand. Have someone check that you are squeezing the breast evenly. Your thumb should be beside the baby's nose and your index finger beside the baby's chin, parallel to the baby's lips.

6. Use your right hand to control the baby's head position. Place your fingers onto his/her lower cheek. Your thumb will be just short of the ear facing you. If your thumb is on your baby's upper cheek your fingers are not far enough onto the lower cheek.

7. With your ring finger, put gentle pressure under the baby's chin to tip the head back, extending the neck. His or her chin will now jut forward toward and touch the breast as you proceed to next step.

8. Push the tip of your nipple against the center of the baby's upper lip. Apply consistent pressure. The baby will reflexively open its mouth wide.

9. When the baby opens wide as if yawning, bring the baby to breast by applying pressure between his or her shoulders. Do not push on the baby's head!

10. Baby's nose should touch the breast lightly and the chin will be pushed into the breast.

11. The latch is most likely correct if it is comfortable and the baby is swallowing.

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