What is postural stability?

According to the dictionary, postural stability is the ability to control the body position in space for the purpose of movement and balance. What does this mean for babies? How can a baby control their body position and balance? What does this hav etc do with breastfeeding?

The easy answer is this has a LOT to do with breastfeeding. Think about it like this. You go out to dinner and due to crowds you end up at the bar. The stools don’t have a back or any rungs on the legs. It’s crowded and people keep brushing by you, making you feel less and less steady balanced on this stool. Your balance during dinner leads to indigestion and a headache. You can’t wait to get out of the bar.

When breastfeeding a baby that has their feet dangling out in space, when their body isn’t pressed tightly against the parents, baby feels like you did on that stool- unsteady, wobbly with a bit of indigestion. Babies need postural stability too.

The easiest way to get this is to breastfeed in the laid-back or biological nursing position. When feeding like this baby is laying on you, tummy to tummy, hands up at your breast (using their palmar reflex to help elicit a let down) head extended and feet planted on your body. Breastfeeding is meant to be body to body, not mouth to breast.

If you are feeding in cradle or cross-cradle position, make sure that baby’s legs and feet get tucked tightly again you, that baby’s feet are supported and not floating. Postural stability helps baby go from fight or flight into rest and digest- the perfect place to be during a meal.