Learning how to get a deep latch is one of the biggest game-changers for a comfortable breastfeeding journey, and it’s something almost every mum I see in the Perth northern suburbs asks me about in those first sleepless weeks. A shallow latch is the number one reason feeding hurts, nipples crack, and mums start dreading every feed instead of enjoying it. The good news is that a deep latch is a skill, not a talent, it can be learned, practised, and troubleshot. This guide walks you through exactly what a deep latch looks and feels like, why shallow latching happens, and the step-by-step technique to fix it, plus when it’s time to bring in some extra support.
What Does a Deep Latch Actually Look Like?
A deep latch means baby has taken a big mouthful of breast tissue, not just the nipple. You’ll usually notice their chin buried into the breast, lips curled outward like a fish (not tucked in), and cheeks that stay rounded and full rather than caving in with each suck. The nipple itself should end up well back in baby’s mouth, close to the soft palate, so it’s cushioned from the friction of sucking.
It also helps to map out your actual day: when you’ll pump, where, and how often, based on your baby’s usual feeding pattern. Most working mums pump roughly as often as their baby would normally feed during that stretch, which for a baby under 12 months is often every three to four hours.
What You Should Feel
A deep latch generally feels like a firm tug or gentle pulling sensation, not sharp pain. Some mild sensitivity in the very first days is common as your nipples adjust, but genuine pain throughout a feed is a sign something needs adjusting.
You’ll also hear the difference: deep latches produce slow, rhythmic swallowing sounds, while shallow latches often produce clicking or smacking noises as baby loses suction.
Why Does a Shallow Latch Hurt So Much?
When a baby latches shallowly, they’re essentially chewing on the nipple tip instead of drawing in breast tissue, which is exactly where correct latch breastfeeding technique makes the difference. The nipple gets compressed against the hard palate with every suck, which quickly leads to pain, cracking, and sometimes bleeding.
A shallow latch doesn’t just hurt, it also makes feeding inefficient. Baby has to work much harder for much less milk, which can mean longer feeds, more frequent waking, and slower weight gain. This is why fixing the latch early matters so much, both for your comfort and for your baby’s nutrition.
Shallow latching often happens because baby’s mouth wasn’t open wide enough at the moment of attachment, or because they were brought straight onto the breast rather than allowed to lead with their chin and nose.
How to Get a Deep Latch: The Step-by-Step Technique
Here’s the deep latch technique I walk families through during home visits across Perth:
- Get comfortable first. Support your back, bring baby to you rather than leaning down to them, and keep their body facing yours, tummy to tummy.
- Line up nose to nipple. Position baby so their nose (not their mouth) starts level with your nipple. This encourages them to tilt their head back and open wide, chin-first.
- Wait for a wide, gaping mouth. Tickle their top lip with your nipple if needed. Don’t rush this part, a wide gape is essential for a deep latch.
- Bring baby to the breast, not breast to baby. Once their mouth is wide open, quickly bring them onto the breast chin-first, aiming your nipple toward the roof of their mouth.
- Check the asymmetric latch. Baby’s chin should be touching the breast, with more areola visible above their top lip than below their bottom lip. This asymmetry is a hallmark of a truly deep attachment.
- Listen and watch. You should hear swallowing, not clicking, and feel a strong tug rather than pain.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association notes that a good attachment is one of the most important factors in comfortable, effective feeding, if something doesn’t feel right, unlatch and try again rather than pushing through pain.
Need personalised help? Tracy is a Perth-based IBCLC offering home visits across the northern suburbs. Call 0432 422 816 or book a consultation online.
📞Call Tracy: 0432 422 816 | Email: [email protected] | Book : Home Visit
Common Latching Mistakes and Myths
Myth: “You just have to get used to the pain.” Ongoing latch pain is not something to tough out, it’s almost always fixable, and pushing through it can lead to damaged nipples and a baby who isn’t feeding efficiently.
Mistake: Leading with baby’s mouth instead of their nose. This often causes baby to latch onto the nipple tip rather than taking a deep mouthful, resulting in a shallow, painful attachment.
Mistake: Holding the breast too close to baby’s mouth before they’ve opened wide. This can trigger an early, shallow latch before baby is truly ready.
Myth: “A deep latch should look the same for every baby.” Every baby’s mouth, palate shape, and feeding reflexes are a little different. A slightly different-looking, comfortable latch that transfers milk well is a good latch, even if it doesn’t match a textbook picture exactly.
Mistake: Not breaking a painful latch immediately. If a latch hurts, gently slip a clean finger into the corner of baby’s mouth to break suction and start again, rather than continuing through the feed.
When to Seek Professional Help
If latch pain continues past the first few days, if your nipples are cracked, bleeding, or misshapen after feeds, or if your baby seems unsettled and isn’t gaining weight as expected, it’s time to get some hands-on support rather than trying to troubleshoot alone. These can be signs of an underlying issue such as tongue tie, positioning difficulties, or an oral tension pattern that’s harder to spot without training.
This is exactly the kind of thing I help with every week as an IBCLC. During a home visit, I can watch a full feed, assess your baby’s latch and oral function, and work through practical adjustments with you in your own environment. If tongue tie is suspected, I can also guide you through a proper tongue tie assessment and support pathway.
Perth Support Options for Breastfeeding Mums
Perth mums have several layers of support available. Child health nurses at your local clinic can offer a first check of positioning and attachment, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association WA runs a helpline and local groups for peer support. If you’ve given birth at King Edward Memorial Hospital or Joondalup Private Hospital, lactation support may also be available in the days after birth.
For more in-depth, one-on-one support, especially if pain or feeding difficulties persist, a private IBCLC home visit can save weeks of trial and error. Many northern suburbs families reach out to Breastfeeding Solutions once they feel they’ve tried “all the tips” without lasting relief.
Getting a deep latch can take a little practice, but you don’t have to work it out through pain and guesswork. Small adjustments to positioning and timing make a huge difference, and support is always available if things aren’t clicking (pun intended) after a few tries. The key takeaway: pain is a signal to adjust, not a rite of passage. You deserve comfortable, confident feeds.
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📞Call Tracy: 0432 422 816 | Email: [email protected] | Northern Perth Home Visits Available
Frequently Asked Questions
A deep latch is when your baby takes a large mouthful of breast tissue, not just the nipple, with the nipple resting near the back of their soft palate. Their chin digs into the breast, lips are flanged outward, and their cheeks stay rounded while feeding. A deep latch is comfortable for you and lets your baby transfer milk efficiently.
Many families find latching becomes more comfortable within the first one to two weeks as both mum and baby learn together, though it can take longer if there are underlying issues like tongue tie. If pain persists beyond the first few days or isn’t easing, it’s worth getting it checked rather than waiting it out.
A brief pinch as your baby first attaches can be normal in the early days, but pain that continues throughout the feed, or that causes cracked, bleeding, or misshapen nipples, is not something to push through. Ongoing pain almost always means the latch can be improved, and support is available to help.
Medicare rebates for IBCLC consultations depend on your circumstances, such as a GP referral under a chronic disease management plan or private health extras cover. Many Perth families also access free support through child health nurses or the Australian Breastfeeding Association, while private consultations with an IBCLC like Tracy offer more in-depth, personalised, one-on-one support.
Clicking or repeated slipping usually means the latch has broken down, often because baby is attached to the nipple rather than a deep mouthful of breast. Unlatch gently by slipping a clean finger into the corner of baby’s mouth, then re-offer the breast using the nose-to-nipple positioning described in this guide. If it keeps happening, a lactation consultation can identify the underlying cause.
A shallow or painful latch can sometimes be linked to tongue tie, but it can also be caused by positioning, breast shape, or baby’s feeding reflexes, so it’s not something to self-diagnose. An IBCLC can properly assess your baby’s oral function and latch, and refer on for further assessment if tongue tie is suspected.
Returning to work while breastfeeding is a big adjustment, but with a bit of planning and the right support, plenty of Perth mums make it work smoothly. The key thing to remember is that there’s no single “right” way to do this, only the approach that fits your job, your baby, and your supply.
