Nursing holds

[EmilytheStrange]

So, I can pretty much only do football. Which is getting inconvenient. He's long and it's a hard hold without a pillow.

But cross cradle sucks. That's a lot of work and weight on my arm in a strange spot and he falls asleep and is dead weight.

Any tips?

[momneedssupport]

Originally Posted by EmilytheStrange So, I can pretty much only do football. Which is getting inconvenient. He's long and it's a hard hold without a pillow. But cross cradle sucks. That's a lot of work and weight on my arm in a strange spot and he falls asleep and is dead weight. Any tips?

I pretty much only use cradle. Not sure why it works so well. I use a boppy at home.

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If i dont edit, it loads sideways:/

[Yarnjess]

Originally Posted by momneedssupport I pretty much only use cradle. Not sure why it works so well. I use a boppy at home. Attachment 142256 If i dont edit, it loads sideways:/

Me too! Cross cradle was always weird to me. Football hold only worked when she was tiny.

Edit: To the OP, the Dr Sears site has a section on different nursing positions. I found it helpful in the early days.

[USNsis]

Can you side lay or put him on your stomach (parallel with your body)?

[EmilytheStrange]

Maybe the issue is I have to try hard to latch him? Maybe other holds are easier with a baby that can self latch? If I let him, I think he'd just suck the nipple.

[RunawayBunny]

Can you start with cross cradle and switch to cradle? Nate needs help latching so I have to start with cross cradle. About half the time I can switch to cradle without screwing up his latch.

[mibarra]

Originally Posted by RunawayBunny Can you start with cross cradle and switch to cradle? Nate needs help latching so I have to start with cross cradle. About half the time I can switch to cradle without screwing up his latch.

This is how I learned cradle too

[birdinhand]

Originally Posted by mibarra This is how I learned cradle too

Yep, was going to suggest this. Ezra is a bad latcher, too, which I am sure is his tongue-tie. on the right side I have to do football if we are sitting up, on the left cradle. I start in cross cradle to help him latch, and then I change to cradle.

[canadianbakers]

Agree with starting with cross-cradle to easier help latching, then switch to cradle once he's nursing. I always found my babies were too long for my arms to do cross-cradle for more than just latching.
One thing about cradle - baby's head shouldn't be resting in your elbow, but instead, down on your forearm. Not like in the movies, lol.

[EmilytheStrange]

I try that every time

His latch is so precarious, I can't even let go of my breast with the other hand most times without paying for it.

He really really doesn't want to open wide. And first chance, he seems to slide down to just the nipple.

I didn't think I had large nipples, but now I'm wondering. He has a tiny mouth too