Lots of babies who don't latch on day 3 will latch on on day 4, or 6 or
12.  Just keep the mother encouraged, and make sure she gets a good milk
supply.  I use finger feeding for a minute or so before trying the baby
on the breast--to get the baby calm and also sucking well.  It often
works.

Even when the baby refuses every stratagem to get him latching on,
encourage the mother.  Even if it does mean giving the baby bottles
(though it is better to avoid this for a while).  Get her pumping so
that she has a good supply.  If nothing else, the baby will get
expressed milk by bottle.  But, and we have seen many mothers like this,
even if the baby is being fed by bottle, *if the mother has a good
supply*, many babies just latch on between 4 and 8 weeks after birth.  I
can get most babies to latch on much earlier than that, just with good
positioning and not trying to force the baby to take the breast (many
LC's and mothers are pushing the baby into the breast even though it is
obvious the baby hasn't taken it--that only makes the baby angry or the
baby will just go limp).  But, with that good supply, the baby usually
will take it even if everything else fails.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC