<<I've been using the cross-cradle hold with mothers for several years. In my opinion, it solves many more problems than it creates. I very carefully teach mothers the cross-cradle hold in breastfeeding classes and in person.>> I agree. I like teaching the cross-cradle hold, usually when a mother is having sore-nipple difficulties using the cradle hold. But I find that I have to teach it in person, rather than on the phone, as I often do when teaching the cradle hold. << I think these mothers are using their wrist and hand to support the weight of the baby's body and head when they are positioning the baby at the breast. When I am assisting a mom, I always tell her to use her forearm along the back of the baby to keep him in the correct position for nursing. All of the baby's body weight should be placed on supportive pillows. >> When I teach the cross-cradle hold, I usually ask them to use their *upper arm* as well - tuck baby's rear under her upper arm. This gives mom more room to reach across baby's back even if she has relatively short arms or large breasts (either of which can make the cross-cradle difficult) and get rather easily to baby's neck & ears with her hand. Tucking baby's rear snugly between mom's upper arm and the side of her body takes some of the load of the baby's weight off her hand & wrist. Mom's thumb goes on baby's ear (on top of his head), and the other fingers wrap around the neck to the other ear. <<I use the cross-cradle position as a learning tool and tell mothers that it is only necessary to use this technique for a couple of weeks, until the baby knows exactly where to go to locate the nipple and latch on deeply without much assistance>> Agreed again. In addition to what you've just said, I also tell them to go ahead and switch arms (back to cradle hold), gently & slowly so as not to disturb baby, a few or several minutes into the feeding, *if* they want to. My main interest in the cross-cradle hold is in using it to achieve a good latch-on. I often find that moms who are experiencing sore nipples appreciate being able to better control the baby's head. It can be difficult to move a baby effectively & deeply onto the breast, if all she has to control his head with is her elbow! Such mothers tend to love using the cross-cradle for the first several minutes of a feeding, and act like I've just invented sliced bread :::grin::: But after the feeding has gotten off to a good start, it's easy and probably even preferable, IMO, to switch to a cradle hold....... Regina Roig Lane, BS IBCLC for Miami-Dade County WIC *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html