Don't be scared to mix it up with your feeding positions as your baby grows and becomes more distractable/fidgety etc...

Perhaps you cradled your newborn happily but your now-1-year-old is just not fitting comfortably in your arms that way...maybe try a koala hold or laid back and get those cuddles in!

Get creative! Find what works for you now! 

There are some feeding positions that are much more widely shared about and more widely seen out and about: cradle, cross-cradle and rugby holds...

However not everyone finds these positions work for them and their baby and they aren't the only options...we want you and baby to be comfortable.

So, here's 3 positions you may not have seen or considered...

• Laid-Back/Biological Nurturing - this position enables you to be laid back comfortably with support and baby to be able to be laid on you, tummy to tummy, with gravity on their side (so less of an issue if there's a fast flow!) And in line with how their reflexes at birth expect to explore and seek out the breast.

• Side-lying - this is a great position for night feeds as it allows you to feed baby while remaining in a comfortable lying down position. By rolling baby onto their side so, again, you're tummy to tummy, baby can feed and then simply be rolled back onto their back to sleep safely.

• Koala - much like you might be picturing, this is a great upright position where baby can be sat on your lap, the opposite or the same knee to the breast. Some use this kind of position to feed older babies while being held or babies in a carrier (although this would probably be worth visiting a babywearing consultant to work on as a technique safely). This kind of upright position is useful for babies struggling with reflux as gravity is on their side to keep the feed down.

It's also useful to remember: you can keep changing up how you position baby for feeds as they grow and develop! A tiny newborn needs a different level of support than a sturdy 2 year old! So get curious and try things out! And, if you're stuck or not sure, get in touch with some local (or online) support!

Have you tried any of these? What's your go-to position? Does it vary based on where you are? 

AND

For those who feel that little bit too exposed when breastfeeding out and about, and normally resort to feeding alone somewhere or covering boob (and baby) with a muslin...try a sun hat instead. 

The last thing you or anyone would want (particularly in a heatwave) when they're eating is a blanket thrown over their head. So a sunhat, with a brim of some kind, can be a great way to both protect baby from the sun and give you more confidence to feed as and when baby needs it! 

I'd love if if you didn't feel you needed any form of cover but I know some do so, next time, try a hat! 

Alternatively, with the right support (certain babywearing consultants/supporters - but not me yet - are trained in this) you can learn to feed while baby is in a sling. With the sling as an extra layer, passers-by would have to put a lot of obvious effort into noticing that your little one was having their mid-morning snack in there. Have a look online perhaps for local babywearing support Facebook groups, meet-ups or sling libraries to safely explore this as an option if you're a babywearing fan like me!