The Perfect Latch Part 1: How We Drink

How we drink

Trying to acheive the perfect latch but struggling? In Part 1 of The Perfect Latch, let's look at the science behind drinking and swallowing to figure out how we can improve our baby's latch.

Step #1. Support- We start off by being supported, either by standing or sitting up straight. We aren't dangling off a chair, couch, bed, etc. Our head is higher than the rest of our body.

Step #2. Face the Cup Straight On - We hold the cup directly in front of us without turning our head sideways or droping our chin down. Our nose is about 1/2 way of the distance of the cup's diameter, near its center.

Step #3. Tilt Head Back, Bring Chin Forward- We tilt our head back, and as we do that our chin comes forward.

Step #4. Bottom Lip Touches First- Our bottom lip touches the cup before our top lip. Our bottom lip is back from the edge of the cup's rim than our top lip is.

Step #5. Mouth Opens, Tongue Drops- Our mouth opens and our tongue gets out of the way of the cup, but does not get pushed to the back of our mouth, nor does it go to the roof of our mouth.

Step #6. Continue to Tip Head Back- Our chin stays close to the cup. This makes it easier to get a mouthful of liquid, breathe, and swallow.