When Your Baby Has a Shallow Latch But it Doesn't Hurt
Trying to figure out if your baby has a good latch can be surprisingly tricky—especially when they’re gaining weight, it doesn’t hurt, and everyone is telling you everything looks fine.
But what if it doesn’t feel fine to you?
Today, we’re talking about why your baby might have a shallow latch—even if there’s no pain and they’re gaining weight beautifully.
It Doesn’t Hurt… But It Still Doesn’t Feel Right
One of the most common pieces of latch advice you’ll hear sounds something like this: “If it doesn’t hurt and your baby is gaining weight, the latch must be fine.”
And sometimes, that’s true. But other times? That’s not enough to go on.
Pain and weight gain can be helpful signs—but they’re only part of a full latching assessment. In fact, pain is a one-way clue. If it hurts, something is off. But if it doesn’t hurt? That doesn’t automatically mean all is well.
What a Functional Latch Actually Means
A “good latch” isn’t just about transferring milk. It’s about function. A truly functional latch means your baby is using all the muscles inside their mouth as effectively as they can.
The jaw, tongue, cheeks, and lips all have a job to do. When everything’s working as it should, feeding feels comfortable, your baby is active during feeds, and milk flows well because of that muscle engagement.
Some Babies Are Passive Feeders
Let’s talk about one of the sneakiest reasons a latch might look fine but isn’t fully functional: passive feeding. Some babies aren’t actively drawing milk—they’re just drinking what’s already flowing out.
This often happens when you have a fast letdown or make a lot of milk. If your baby doesn’t need to work very hard to get milk, they may not use their muscles much at all. You’re doing all the work. And because they’re just swallowing what you’re pushing out, feeding doesn’t hurt—and they still gain weight.
But that doesn’t mean the latch is functional.
Expert Tip: A functional latch should feel like a partnership—your baby is actively doing their part, not just passively receiving milk.
When the Wheels Fall Off
In the early months, milk supply is often high. Your body hasn’t calibrated yet, so you’re producing more than enough. That oversupply hides a lot. A poor or shallow latch might go unnoticed because your baby doesn’t need to work hard to gain weight.
But around 3 to 4 months, your supply levels out. If your baby hasn’t developed the muscle function to pull milk efficiently, weight gain can stall—and it often takes parents completely by surprise.
Why Weight Gain Isn’t the Whole Story
Weight gain means your baby is getting calories—but it doesn’t show you how. Are they working for those feeds? Or are you overproducing and doing the heavy lifting for them?
Many babies with a shallow latch grow well early on, only to hit a wall when your supply drops to normal levels. That’s when things like shorter feeds, fussiness, or unexpected weight dips can start to show up.
And you don’t need to panic or assume something will go wrong at four months—especially if things are going well now. But if you’re already wondering about your baby’s latch, looking a little deeper is always worth it.
How to Know If It’s a Functional Latch
If you’re getting that gut feeling that something is off—even if everything "looks fine"—it’s worth exploring.
A functional latch means your baby is actively sucking, maintaining suction, using their jaw rhythmically, and staying engaged through the whole feed.
One of the easiest ways to tell if your baby has a deep and functional latch is to make sure that they start with a wide-open mouth. If your baby or newborn won't open widely before latching, then they will always have a shallow latch, whether or not it hurts.
If you're unsure, you can work with a lactation consultant who knows how to assess oral function. Or, if you want to start right now, take my quick self-assessment quiz below.
It’s so hard to find that middle ground when you're a new parent—wondering if you’re worrying too much… or not enough. And it’s made even harder when everyone around you is giving different advice, even when they mean well.
But that back-and-forth? That pendulum swing between second-guessing and trusting yourself?
It’s a normal part of learning how to be a parent.
It’s okay to swing one way and then the other. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just finding your balance point. Understanding why something is happening—and having the words for it—is the starting point to feeling confident and empowered.
And the fact that you’re here, asking questions and thinking critically, already tells me:
You're doing a great job.
Other Questions You May Be Asking
My baby won't open wide before latching, no matter what I have tried. What else can I do?
There are a lot of reasons a baby—or a newborn—might not open their mouth widely before latching. But the most common one? Their gape reflex hasn’t been triggered yet. If your baby’s chin isn’t well-planted before your nipple enters their mouth, they may not know it’s time to open wide. That tiny moment of setup makes a huge difference.
Click here to learn more about how to position your baby for the gaping reflex and get a deeper latch.
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