10 Styles of Breastfeeding

Did you know feeding styles vary from baby to baby depending on what the baby needs at the time. You may notice your baby prefers one of the following styles. (The first five names were coined by researchers at Yale University.)

Barracuda: Immediately latches on and feeds vigorously for ten to twenty minutes.  Barracudas seem simple to manage: They know what to do, and do it well. 

• Top Tip Make sure they’re latched on properly – sore nipples and the toe curling pain that goes with that can often make you want to stop.  If it’s not right, pop your finger in the side of babies mouth to release the suction, unlatch and start again – even if you have to do it a few times until it’s right.

Excited Ineffective: Goes wild at the sight of the breast, grabs it, loses it, and then screams.

• Top Tip Feed this baby at the earliest sign they’re hungry. Feeding this little one takes priority to prevent their cries of frustration. Skin to skin contact can help settle baby while feeding.

Procrastinator: This baby will wait for the real milk, thank you very much, and she'll pass on the colostrum. Later, they may cry for the breast, then latch on for just a suck or two before quitting. They may seem like "easy" babies (they sleep a lot and cry less) but need more attention to make sure they eat enough.

• Top Tip put her to the breast every other hour whether she's interested or not, and don’t let her go more than four hours without feeding.  A reliable sign of a well-breastfed baby is a bright-yellow, seedy poop – around day five.

Gourmet: This baby will take a delicate taste of the milk, roll it around in her mouth, and perhaps play with the nipple a little before getting down to business. She doesn't like to be rushed.

• Top tip Take your time - Yes, nipple-fingering and mouthing make breastfeeding in public difficult to do discreetly, but it also stimulates your hormones and encourages milk production. So even if you want to say "Drink it already!" take a breath and let him do his thing. Grab a magazine or a book -- or simply watch and giggle at this little nurser's lip-smacking and tongue-wagging -- and try to relax.

Rester: This baby likes to nurse a few minutes, rest a few minutes, nurse a few minutes more, take a nap, and then come back for more. Make sure you find a comfortable seat and surround yourself with books, snacks, or whatever you need to keep you happy for what can be a long feeding session.

• Top Tip Try undressing or unswaddling your baby so she's less cozy and more alert. Or play with her feet to interest her in drinking and delay her dozing. Give her whichever breast feels fuller. The other breast will let you know when it wants its turn.  In the first month change your mind-set to 'this is the only thing I really need to do today.' " Lying around with your baby is the most important thing you can be doing right now, so go with the flow and feel good about it.

Billy Goat: This baby butts, tugs, and pummels you while she feeds. She may be frustrated with your milk flow, which may be too slow or too fast for her taste.

• Top Tip consider expressing into a bottle for some feeds to help soothe her

Regurgitator: This baby nurses contently for about twenty minutes, then throws half of it back up on your shirt. Then, of course, she's hungry again.

• Top Tip – a muslin cloth is of course essential, express if you have chance and try taking a break half way for five minutes and then feeding again.

Barnacle: This baby latches on tightly and nurses constantly, almost around the clock.

• Top Tip  Invest in Lansinoh, which will help soothe over-worked nipples

Sightseer: This baby doesn't want to miss the passing scene, so her eyes and head wander about while she's nursing. If you have a sightseer, you'll be surprised by just how far your nipples can stretch. Sightseeing tends to emerge in the fourth or fifth month.

• Top Tip -  feed somewhere quiet with minimal distraction.  A feeding chair in a quiet corner of her bedroom often works well.

Desserter: About twenty minutes after a full nursing session, this baby comes back for a couple more sips — for dessert.

• Top Tip – Offer baby the breast again after winding.