Breastfeeding is not always as easy as it looks, but if you stay calm, and follow these steps it’s totally doable.

1. You want your baby to be directly in front of your breast - make sure he’s head-on so his nose is in front of your nipple.
2. Hold your baby with one arm rested along his back, and your other hand, or fingertips behind his ears and head.
3. Bring you baby in closer until his mouth finds your nipple.
4. Some babies will latch on right away, others need a little encouraging. You can tickle his mouth with your nipple, or try a trick my midwife showed me - put your pinky finger just inside your baby’s ear (the outer ear). Tickle his ear a little which stimulates his sucking reflex. I had a super lazy eater, and this ear trick always worked with Cedar.
5. Once your baby opens his mouth make sure that one his mouth is open as wide as possible, and that two his lower lip is situated towards the areola, not nipple. This will help your baby get as much milk as possible, and insure less breast and nipple pain for you.

To learn more useful breastfeeding tips read:

• Find a breastfeeding friendly hospital or birthing center
• How to breastfeed when you have a clingy toddler and a newborn
• Should you quit breastfeeding because of toxins in breast milk
• Is scheduled breastfeeding better?
• Painful breastfeeding: from normal to serious issues
• Should you breastfeed when you’re sick?
• Breastfeeding in public is your right
• Breastfeeding problem: you resent your partner (who does not have to breastfeed)