Lap Nursing
- Cradle Hold
- Oct 6, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 14
The Lap Nursing Hold is only effective for this specific body type;
Mother has a shorter torso and breasts large enough that when baby is laying across mother’s legs, he/she can reach mother’s nipple while his/her head rests on mother’s leg.
Note that baby is NOT being lifted to the breast by mother’s hand.
The Lap Nursing Hold is only for women who have this specific body shape. This hold works for women who have shorter torsos and large breasts that reach baby’s mouth as he lies on his side on mother’s lap. Her breasts are large enough to reach baby’s mouth as he rests his head on her lap. Baby is NOT lifted to the breast, he can reach the nipple comfortably with his head resting on mother’s legs.
In this position, baby is placed on his side facing mother, as close as possible, across mother’s lap. Mother pulls him in close to her breast by pulling his back towards her.
While this hold may look similar to the cross cradle hold it is very different. In the cross cradle hold the mother’s hand is lifting baby to her breast. Holding baby’s head/neck with her hand is what causes wrist and arm soreness and other problems.
In the lap nursing hold, baby is supported by mother’s lap. Since mother is not lifting baby with her hand, this breastfeeding position does not create the hand, wrist, and arm pain that the cross cradle hold causes.
The lap nursing position, is effective because it supports the baby’s head and body on mother’s legs and still allows enough flexibility so that the baby can make minor adjustments with his head and mouth for an effective latch. This way the baby is an active partner in latching.
Throughout our efforts to get help for mothers suffering from the HSH holds, other breastfeeding counselors have argued that the cradle hold doesn’t work for mothers with this specific body type. That is a reason why they say they teach the cross cradle or football holds.
But the problems of the HSH holds will happen for all mothers using those holds. They may not show up in the hospital while the baby is still getting over the effects of the birth trauma or medication, but in time they always show up. So we do not recommend using any HSH hold.
For this body type we recommend the Lap Nursing Position.
For moms using the Lap Nursing Position, much of the information about the
Cradle Hold Position also applies to breastfeeding in the Lap Nursing Position and the Lying Down Position.
I did not repeat each piece of information in each position.
So, please read the Cradle Hold Position article, even if your body shape directs you to using the Lap Nursing Position.
For example, in all positions, one needs to make sure that baby's lips are flanged out, not curled in.
In all positions baby needs to latch onto all the nipple and some of the areola.
Please also read the Cradle Hold Position article for in-depth information.
Understanding the supply and demand mechanism of breastfeeding helps moms to bring in a full milk supply.
Learn what products and techniques may interfere with natural breastfeeding.