This information is part of Virtua’s Breastfeeding resources collection. Please see our Breastfeeding Support Resources page to view the entire series.

Here are six tips to make breastfeeding work well for you and your baby.

Learn your baby's hunger signs

When your baby is hungry, they become more alert and active. They may put their hand in their mouth, make sucking motions, or turn their head, looking for your breast. If anything touches your baby's cheek, they may turn toward it, ready to eat. This is a sign of hunger called rooting.

Offer your breast when your baby shows rooting signs. Crying can be a late sign of hunger, and it may be harder to latch once the baby is upset. Over time, you will be able to learn your baby's cues for when to start feeding.

Follow your baby's lead

Make sure you’re both comfortable and follow your baby's lead after they latch on well. Some babies take both breasts, and others only take one breast at each feeding. Help your baby finish at the first breast, as long as they’re still sucking and swallowing. This ensures the baby gets the hindmilk, the fattier milk at the end of a feeding. Your baby will let go of your breast when they’re finished and may fall asleep. Offer the other breast if they seem to want more.

Keep your baby close to you

In the few weeks after birth, your baby adjusts to life outside of the womb and benefits from being close Skin-to-skin-to-skin contact reduces crying and stabilizes your baby’s heart and breathing rates.

Avoid nipple confusion

Avoid using pacifiers, bottles, and infant formula supplements in the first few weeks unless there’s a medical reason. If you need to supplement, try giving expressed breast milk first. However, to make milk and keep your baby from getting confused while learning to breastfeed, it's best to feed them at the breast whenever possible.

Sleep safely and close by

Put your baby to sleep in a crib or bassinet in your bedroom so you can breastfeed more easily at night. Research shows babies have a lower risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) when they room in with their parents.

Know when to wake your baby

In the early weeks after birth, wake your baby to feed if four hours have passed since the beginning of the last feeding. Some tips for waking the baby include:

• Changing your baby's diaper
• Placing your baby skin-to-skin
• Massaging your baby's back, abdomen, and legs