Laid-back Breastfeeding or Biological Nurturing
Laid-back breastfeeding, or Biological Nurturing, means getting comfortable with your baby and encouraging you and your baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts.
Dress yourself and your baby as you choose. You and your baby skin-to-skin is a good option too. If you are concerned about you or your baby becoming too cold, a light wrap or blanket can be placed over both of you to keep warm.
Position yourself comfortably in bed, on the couch, or in a recliner with back support, and pillows to support your head, shoulders, and arms. Lean back, with the pillows for support. When you comfortably lean back, and put your baby on your chest, gravity will keep your baby in position with their body molded to yours.
Let your baby’s cheek rest somewhere near your bare breast. Rub your nipple on your baby’s upper lip to encourage them to open wide. Bring your baby close. Have their chin touch your breast first, and then their nose will touch your breast.
Position your baby close to you, with hips flexed, so that they do not have to turn their head to reach your breast. Your baby’s feet need to be supported by your body so they don’t dangle in the air.
Use one hand to hold your breast as needed and the other hand to support your baby’s thigh or bottom.
If you feel pain, detach your baby gently by using your finger to touch the corner of your baby’s mouth and try again.
Relax and enjoy each other.
This breastfeeding position is also great for other situations too. If you are having latching problems in other positions, laid-back breastfeeding can be a stress-free way of reassuring your baby that they are not going to be “forced” to latch, which is really upsetting for some babies. Enjoying being together without the pressure of “success” (an actual breastfeed) often leads to babies self-latching correctly.
This video gives an example of Biological Nurturing, also known as laid-back breastfeeding.
Published May 2026.
*Adapted from La Leche League International information.
Dress yourself and your baby as you choose. You and your baby skin-to-skin is a good option too. If you are concerned about you or your baby becoming too cold, a light wrap or blanket can be placed over both of you to keep warm.
Position yourself comfortably in bed, on the couch, or in a recliner with back support, and pillows to support your head, shoulders, and arms. Lean back, with the pillows for support. When you comfortably lean back, and put your baby on your chest, gravity will keep your baby in position with their body molded to yours.
Let your baby’s cheek rest somewhere near your bare breast. Rub your nipple on your baby’s upper lip to encourage them to open wide. Bring your baby close. Have their chin touch your breast first, and then their nose will touch your breast.
Position your baby close to you, with hips flexed, so that they do not have to turn their head to reach your breast. Your baby’s feet need to be supported by your body so they don’t dangle in the air.
Use one hand to hold your breast as needed and the other hand to support your baby’s thigh or bottom.
If you feel pain, detach your baby gently by using your finger to touch the corner of your baby’s mouth and try again.
Relax and enjoy each other.
This breastfeeding position is also great for other situations too. If you are having latching problems in other positions, laid-back breastfeeding can be a stress-free way of reassuring your baby that they are not going to be “forced” to latch, which is really upsetting for some babies. Enjoying being together without the pressure of “success” (an actual breastfeed) often leads to babies self-latching correctly.
This video gives an example of Biological Nurturing, also known as laid-back breastfeeding.
Published May 2026.
*Adapted from La Leche League International information.
