Breastfeeding Basics—Tips on How to Breastfeed

By your third trimester, and especially once your baby is born, one of the first things that will come to mind is how you will feed your baby. This is an important personal choice that you should make based on your and your baby’s specific needs.

If you’ve decided to breastfeed, you can feel confident that your milk will offer many health benefits for both you and your baby. If you want to breastfeed but need help getting started, talk with your doctor for support—and read on!

For helpful hints and resources, download our Art of Breastfeeding Guide(PDF, 14.5 MB).

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. It requires practice and patience. We hope the following tips will help you on your journey.

Experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for around 6 months after birth. At that time, appropriate solid foods could be introduced with continued breastfeeding for as long as the mother and child prefer. 

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for baby?

Breastfeeding provides the best mix of nutrition to help your baby grow, and it can be easier for them to digest than infant formula. Your breast milk contains antibodies that support your baby’s immune system. The physical closeness that comes with breastfeeding is also a natural way to bond with your baby.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for mom?

When you breastfeed, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin that helps reduce stress and promote uterine contractions to help shrink your uterus after pregnancy. Breastfeeding also saves time and money because you won’t need to buy and prepare formula.

Breastfeeding requires even more energy and nutrients than pregnancy. So it’s important that you eat a healthy diet and, if directed by your doctor, continue taking your prenatal vitamins.

Most breastfeeding moms should consume about 500 calories per day more than before pregnancy. This will give you enough energy to help with breast milk production.

Foods to eat while breastfeeding 

What you eat and drink can affect the quality of your breast milk. So, proper nutrition plays a critical role in your health and the health of your baby. 

Here’s a guide for what to eat each day while breastfeeding:

• Grains (at least half as whole grains)—8 oz
• Vegetables (choose a variety)—3 cups
• Fruit (whole or cut up)—2 cups
• Dairy (low-fat or fat-free)—3 cups
• Protein (lean meats and beans)—6.5 oz

For 3 or 4 days after your baby is born, your breasts produce what is called colostrum. It’s yellow and is thicker than breast milk that is produced beyond these initial days. Colostrum is packed with nutrients your new baby needs, so make sure your little one gets this precious milk.

The flow of colostrum is slow and encourages your little one to practice sucking, swallowing, and breathing at the same time. At approximately day 5, your milk supply will likely increase to match your baby's growing appetite, and they may have mastered the rhythm required for breastfeeding. 

If they are still getting used to things after 5 days, that’s okay. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant for help until the two of you get comfortable with breastfeeding.

Crying is a late sign of hunger. Try to pick up on your baby's hunger cues before they reach this moment, and you may have a better breastfeeding experience. When your baby makes sucking movements or puts their fingers to their mouth—even while sleeping—your baby might be telling you they are ready to eat.

It is best to feed your baby when they are fully awake. You can help wake them by gently playing with them, changing their diaper, or talking to your baby before breastfeeding.

During the daytime, if 3 hours have passed since your baby’s last feeding or if your breasts are full, you might want to wake them to feed. It could take 5 to 10 minutes to wake your baby completely, but it usually will result in a better feeding. Talking, rubbing, patting, or undressing them will help.

If your baby shows signs of hunger—even if they just ate an hour ago—it’s OK to feed them again. Sometimes infants do what’s called cluster feeding—lots of short feeds over a few hours to satisfy their hunger. It does not mean your milk supply is low. This is normal breastfeeding behavior. 

It’s possible that one or both of your breasts will get uncomfortably full between feedings. If this happens, you can use a breast pump or hand express to help relieve the pressure.

Your milk supply is created based on your baby’s demands. As they grow, their need for breast milk or formula increases and may double during the first 6 months.

Cluster feeding is common when babies have growth spurts. During your baby’s first few months of life, this may happen several times. Frequent feedings, like cluster feeding, encourage your body to produce even more milk, so you'll have enough to meet baby’s growing appetite.

When you first start to breastfeed, you’ll know your newborn is getting enough milk when they stop passing stool called meconium, which is thick and black or dark green. After this, your baby may start to pass yellow, seedy, runny stools 3 or more times a day.

Check out our Diaper Decoder to help answer questions about your baby’s stools.

Once breastfeeding is established, your baby may have 6 to 8 wet diapers per day and 2 or more bowel movements per day. Your baby’s doctor will monitor your baby’s weight gain, which is another sign they are fed frequently enough.

Signs that your baby is getting enough breast milk

• They sleep for a couple of hours after feeding
• They breastfeed every 2 to 3 hours, at least 8 times in a 24-hour period
• They usually breastfeed for 15 minutes or longer per breast
• You may hear a rhythmic suck/swallow/breathe pattern during feedings
• Your baby usually breastfeeds at both breasts
• Your breasts feel full before a feeding and softer afterward
• Your baby appears settled and no longer hungry after feedings

It’s easy to track your baby's feedings with our Feeding Tracker(PDF, 24.3 MB).

Have more questions about feeding? Check out our Feeding Tools page.

There is no "best" position for breastfeeding. But feeding is always easiest when both you and your baby are comfortable and relaxed.

Because every mom and baby are different, some positions may work better for you than others. Another reason to try different positions: It can help reduce breast tenderness, if your baby isn’t latching on and applying pressure to the same spot every time.

Nursing position #1: the cross-cradle hold

This is a good position for new breastfeeding moms and babies, for moms with premature babies, and for those who have trouble getting their little one to latch on. This position makes it easier to see your baby latch on compared to the traditional cradle hold.

For this hold, your baby will be in the same position as in the cradle hold (see below), but you will use the arm opposite the breast from which they are feeding to cradle their back. With that hand, gently support the base of your baby’s head. The hand that’s on the same side of the breast from which your baby is feeding will be used to support the breast, either in a C-hold or U-hold.  Your baby should be level with your breast, with their body turned toward you. Some mothers find they can tuck baby's bottom into the crook of their arm. When your baby opens their mouth wide, pull them onto the breast far enough that the tip of their nose, their cheeks, and their chin are all touching your breast. 

Nursing position #2: the cradle hold

Sit in a comfortable chair that supports your arms and back. Try not to hunch your shoulders. Support your breast with your hand in a cupped C-shape. Place your baby across your stomach, tummy to tummy.

Your baby's head should be in the bend of your elbow, and their mouth should be directly in front of your nipple. Use a pillow to support your arm. Tuck their lower arm around your waist, out of the way.

If correctly positioned, your baby's body should form a straight line from their ear to shoulder to hip. 

Nursing position #3: the football hold

Like a football player cradles a football, cradle your baby over your arm with your hand supporting the base of their head with your thumb and fingers while you’re seated in a chair. This lets you see if they are latching on properly. Place pillows at your side to support your arm and your baby’s bottom. Then tuck your baby into the side of your waist with their head in the palm of your hand. When your baby opens their mouth wide, pull them onto the breast far enough that the tip of their nose, their cheeks, and their chin are all touching your breast.

Moms like this position best if they:

• Have large breasts
• Are concerned about latch on
• Have a small or premature baby
• Are sore from a cesarean birth

Nursing position #4: side lying

This is a comfortable alternative position, when sitting is uncomfortable.

Lie on your side, using one pillow to support your head and another along your back. Your head and neck should be comfortably propped up with pillows.

You can also lie on your side with one arm bent under your head and the other hand supporting your breast. Lay your baby next to you on the bed so their mouth is aligned with your nipple. Put a pillow or rolled-up blanket behind your baby's back.

Your breastfeeding position might change over time. Even if one position works at first, many moms find different positions work better for older babies than for newborns. You might find that as your baby grows, changing your breastfeeding position helps to relieve strains put on your body by repetitive motions. Using a footstool under your feet may also help to relieve back strain and support you better during breastfeeding.

While the breastfeeding experience may be unique for every mom and baby, we hope this guide helps you through your journey. Remember to be patient as you and your baby find your own rhythm.

If you have more questions about breastfeeding or need live, one-on-one feeding support, call the Similac^® Feeding Expert line at 1-800-986-8800.

You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions.