How to get baby's mouth open wider for a proper latch

tbone_bride · June 2010

My baby is 10 days old and most times is not opening her mouth wide enough for a proper latch - and my nipples are pretty sore. When she does open wide enough its just pure joy - no pain at all! Any tips on getting her to open wide consistently???

cindyhow · June 2010

I had this problem in the early days too. DD had such a little mouth and my nipples were so large for her. Try tickling her chin/lower lip and watching closely. That open mouth comes quick. Also check out this site

https://www.mother-2-mother.com/latching.htm#openwide

katie.i.do · June 2010

what i was taught to do by a LC to get a wider mouth was to start by brushing the nipple lightly against the baby's nose as you approach the latch position. the rooting response should cause the baby to open wide when they sense that. i've had success with this.

then you stick that baby right on there (e.g. move the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby). and any time you feel like the latch is crap, go ahead and start over, it's good to correct a bad latch early on than to let it continue.

poppyweed · June 2010

DD has a tiny mouth and I have slightly flat nipples. I've always had to squeeze my nipple/areola and slide down from her nose to top lip, then pop it in her mouth. Once she's latched for a moment the nipple pulls out and she can get it on her own.

dusk42 · June 2010

Also, aim your nipple towards the baby's nose/upper lip, not directly into her mouth - you want them to get their chin lower on your breast for an asymmetric latch.