Newborn Won’t Latch While Breastfeeding? Try These 10 Tips

Breastfeeding looks effortless in photos — baby peacefully nestled at your breast, everyone calm and content. Then your baby arrives, and the reality hits: she won’t latch, or can’t seem to hold on, or latches for a second and pulls away. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Latch difficulties are one of the most common reasons new moms struggle with breastfeeding in the first days and weeks.

The good news is that most latch problems are temporary and fixable. They don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, and they definitely don’t mean breastfeeding won’t work for you. Babies are born with instincts to feed, but those instincts need the right conditions to kick in — and sometimes it takes a little troubleshooting to get there.

There are several practical techniques that can make a real difference, from how you position your baby to how you prepare your breast before a feeding. Some of these you can try at home right now. Others may require the help of a lactation consultant. Either way, working through them one by one gives you the best shot at getting breastfeeding established.

1. Start With Skin-to-Skin Contact

Before you try to get your baby to latch, spend some time just holding her against your bare chest. Skin-to-skin contact — your baby against your skin, with or without a diaper — activates her feeding instincts in a way that nothing else can. It regulates her breathing and heartbeat, releases oxytocin in your body (which helps with milk letdown), and keeps her calm enough to actually attempt feeding.

This isn’t just for the first hour after birth. If latching has been a struggle, going back to basics with extended skin-to-skin time can reset the whole experience for both of you. Lay back comfortably, place your baby upright on your chest with her head between your breasts, and just let her be there. Don’t push her toward the nipple. Let her root around on her own terms.

2. Try Laid-Back Breastfeeding

Most women are taught to sit upright, hold the baby in a specific position, and guide the nipple into the baby’s mouth. That works for many, but it’s not the only way — and for a baby who won’t latch, it often isn’t the best way.

Laid-back breastfeeding, sometimes called biological nurturing, flips the script. You recline at a comfortable angle on pillows or a couch, and you place your baby face-down on your chest or belly. Her whole front side is against your body. From there, you let her find the breast on her own. Gravity helps keep her in place, and being pressed against you activates rooting reflexes. According to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health, this baby-led approach keeps both of you more relaxed and takes pressure off the mom to “make it happen.”

3. Feed Before She’s Starving

A hungry, screaming baby is in no state to work through a latch problem. By the time she’s crying hard, she’s stressed — and a stressed baby clamps down, pulls away, or refuses the breast entirely. Watch for early hunger cues instead: rooting (turning her head side to side), sucking on her hands, making smacking movements with her lips, or squirming.

Feeding on cue, before she reaches full hunger, gives you a much calmer window to work with. If she does get too worked up before a feeding, take a break. Hold her upright against your chest, talk to her softly, let her suck on your clean finger for a moment, and try the breast again once she settles down.

4. Check the Latch Position

A shallow latch — where your baby is only sucking on the nipple tip instead of taking in the nipple and a good portion of the areola — is the most common latch problem. It causes pain for you and means your baby isn’t getting enough milk. Getting a deeper latch is the fix.

Here’s how to encourage one:

• Hold your baby so her ear, shoulder, and hip are all in a straight line. No twisting.
• Bring her to your breast — not your breast to her. She should be at nipple height without you leaning over.
• Tickle her upper lip with your nipple until she opens her mouth wide, like a yawn.
• Aim your nipple toward the roof of her mouth, not straight in.
• Her bottom lip should land below the areola, with her chin touching the breast first.

When the latch is right, her lips will be flanged outward (not tucked in), and you should feel a pulling or tugging sensation — not sharp pain. If it hurts past the first few seconds, break the suction by sliding a clean finger into the corner of her mouth, and start again.

5. Try Different Holds

The cradle hold is the one most people picture, but it’s not always the easiest starting point, especially for newborns. A few holds worth trying:

Cross-cradle hold: You support your baby’s head with the opposite hand from the breast you’re feeding on. This gives you more control over positioning her head and getting a deeper latch.

Football hold: Tuck your baby under your arm like a football, with her body along your side and her head at your breast. This is especially useful for moms with larger breasts or flat nipples, and it’s a great option after a C-section because there’s no pressure on your abdomen.

Side-lying: You and your baby both lie on your sides, face to face. This is a good option for nighttime feedings or when you need to rest.

Experiment. What clicks for one woman won’t click for another, and what works on the left side might not work on the right.

6. Soften Engorged Breasts Before Feeding

When your milk comes in — usually two to five days after birth — your breasts can become so full and firm that it’s physically hard for a newborn to latch onto them. The areola gets tight and flat, which makes it nearly impossible for a small mouth to get a grip.

Before a feeding, hand-express or pump just enough milk to soften the breast. You’re not trying to empty it — just a minute or two of expressing can take enough of the edge off the fullness to make the areola more pliable. Another option is reverse pressure softening: use your fingertips to press firmly around the base of the nipple for a minute or so. This pushes the fluid back into the breast tissue temporarily and gives your baby a softer surface to latch onto.

7. Express a Few Drops to Spark Interest

Sometimes a baby pulls away from the breast because nothing happens fast enough. She latches, sucks, and when the milk doesn’t come immediately, she gets frustrated and gives up. A simple trick: hand-express a few drops of milk onto the nipple before you offer it. The smell and taste of your milk can encourage her to open up and try. Some moms also trigger a letdown by pumping for a minute before putting the baby on — so when she latches, she gets an immediate flow, which reinforces that breastfeeding is worth the effort.

8. Look Into Possible Physical Causes

If none of the positioning adjustments are helping, it’s worth considering whether something physical is getting in the way. A few common issues:

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia): This is where the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or short, restricting how far your baby can extend her tongue. Since an effective latch requires the tongue to cup and pull the breast, tongue-tie can make it nearly impossible. It’s more common than many people realize, and it’s treatable — a pediatrician or specialist can assess it.

Flat or inverted nipples: A nipple that doesn’t protrude much can be harder for a newborn to latch onto. Nipple shields (thin silicone covers worn over the nipple during feeding) are often helpful here and can be a good temporary bridge while baby grows and gets stronger.

Prematurity: Babies born before 37 weeks may not yet have developed the coordination needed for effective sucking. This takes time, and a neonatal nurse or lactation consultant can guide you through feeding strategies in the meantime.

9. Consider a Nipple Shield

A nipple shield is a thin silicone cover that fits over your nipple and areola during feeding. For some babies — particularly those who are premature, who’ve been bottle-fed first, or whose moms have flat nipples — it can be the thing that makes latching possible. The extended shape gives the baby something more defined to latch onto, and some babies find the firmer feel easier to work with.

Nipple shields aren’t a forever solution, and they do come with some considerations (they can reduce milk transfer if not properly fitted), so using one with guidance from a lactation consultant is the smartest approach. But as a short-term bridge while you both figure things out, they can be genuinely helpful.

10. Get a Lactation Consultant Involved Early

If you’ve tried adjusting positions, feeding timing, and basic latch techniques and things still aren’t clicking after a few days, call in a professional. A certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) can watch a full feeding, assess your baby’s oral anatomy, evaluate your breast and nipple shape, and give you personalized, hands-on guidance that no article can replicate.

Many hospitals have lactation consultants on staff, and many insurance plans cover their services. You don’t have to wait until you’re desperate. Getting support early — even in the first few days — can prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones, and it can save your breastfeeding relationship entirely.

Keep Going — Most Babies Find Their Way

Latch difficulties in the first days don’t predict how breastfeeding will go in the weeks ahead. Most babies will latch effectively by four to eight weeks, even if the beginning is rough. The key is staying consistent: keep offering the breast, keep up skin-to-skin time, pump to maintain your milk supply if your baby isn’t transferring milk well, and get support when you need it.

Give yourself credit for working through this. Breastfeeding is a skill — for both of you — and it takes time to learn. The fact that you’re looking for solutions means you’re already doing right by your baby. Trust the process, ask for help without hesitation, and know that it does get easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why won’t my newborn latch even though she seems hungry?
A: A very hungry baby can become too worked up to latch well. Try catching her hunger cues earlier — rooting, hand-sucking, or squirming — before she starts crying. Also check that your breasts aren’t too engorged, which can make the areola too firm for her to grip.

Q: How do I know if my baby is latched correctly?
A: A good latch covers the nipple and a large portion of the areola, not just the nipple tip. Your baby’s lips should flange outward, her chin should press into your breast, and you should feel a tugging sensation — not sharp, stabbing pain. If you can hear clicking sounds or feel pinching, the latch likely needs adjustment.

Q: Is pain during breastfeeding normal?
A: Some tenderness in the first few days is common as your body adjusts. But ongoing pain or pain that lasts through an entire feeding usually signals a shallow latch. Break the suction gently with your finger, reposition, and try again. Persistent pain is worth evaluating with a lactation consultant.

Q: What is tongue-tie and how does it affect latching?
A: Tongue-tie means the tissue under your baby’s tongue is too short or tight, limiting how far she can extend her tongue. Since effective breastfeeding requires the tongue to cup and draw the breast in, tongue-tie can make latching very difficult or painful. A pediatrician or specialist can diagnose it, and it’s correctable with a simple procedure.

Q: Should I use a nipple shield?
A: A nipple shield can help in specific situations — flat or inverted nipples, premature babies, or babies who’ve been exclusively bottle-fed and are transitioning to breast. It’s best used with guidance from a lactation consultant, since an ill-fitting shield can reduce milk transfer.

Q: How often should I try to breastfeed if my newborn won’t latch?
A: Keep offering the breast every two to three hours, even if sessions are short or unsuccessful. Between attempts, pump or hand-express to maintain your milk supply. The more you stimulate the breast, the better your supply will be when your baby does latch consistently.

Q: Can I breastfeed if I have flat or inverted nipples?
A: Yes. Many women with flat or inverted nipples breastfeed successfully. Techniques like hand-expressing before feeding to draw out the nipple, or using a nipple shield temporarily, can help. A lactation consultant can give you a plan tailored to your anatomy.

Q: When should I see a doctor about latch problems?
A: If your baby isn’t gaining weight, has fewer wet and dirty diapers than expected, seems lethargic or hard to wake for feedings, or if you’re in significant pain, see your baby’s pediatrician or a lactation consultant promptly. These can be signs that your baby isn’t getting enough milk.

Q: Is it okay to supplement with pumped milk while working on latching?
A: Absolutely. Feeding your baby comes first. If she isn’t transferring milk well at the breast yet, offering expressed breast milk by spoon, cup, syringe, or bottle keeps her nourished while you both work on latching. Just continue pumping regularly to protect your supply.