Healthy Children Project, Inc.’s LAT: Lactation Assessment & Comprehensive Intervention Tool
Pre-feeding
Skin-to-skin
O immediately prior to feeding
O for ____ minutes prior
O no skin-to-skin prior
State of baby
O deep sleep
O light sleep
O quiet alert
O active alert
O crying
Feeding cues exhibited
O rooting
O hand to mouth actions
O mouthing/suckling motions
O rapid eye movement (REM)
O body movements
O no feeding cues
During Latching-on
Baby’s body position
Ideal
O turned toward
mother
O shoulders
and hips aligned
O arms/hands
around breast
Observed
O turned toward mom
O head only turned
toward mom
O shoulders/hips align
O shoulders/hips do
not align
O arms/hands around
breast
O arms/hands not
around breast
Latching process
Observed
mouth opposite
nipple to start
O gape response
O no gape response
O head tilts back
O no head tilt
O forehead tilt
O bottom lip and tongue
reach breast first
O top lip reaches breast
first
O top lip and bottom lip
reach together
O nose and chin close
to breast
O nose and/or chin
away from breast
Ideal
O nose
opposite
nipple to start
O gape
response
O head tilts
back
O bottom lip
and tongue reach
breast first
O nose and chin
close to breast
Ideal
O 140°+
Observed
O 140°
O 91 — 139°
O 90°
140°
Mouth seal
Observed
O top and bottom lip
sealed
O top lip turned in
O bottom lip turned in
O rounded cheek line
O not rounded cheek line
O not dimpled cheek
O dimpled or indented
cheek
Ideal
O top and
bottom lip
sealed
O rounded
cheek line
O not dimpled
cheek
Observed
O bursts of 2:1 or 1:1
O 4 or more sucks
with ? number of
swallows
O no suck
O suck but no swallow
Ideal
O bursts of 2:1
or 1:1
Observed
O asymmetric
O symmetric
Ideal
O asymmetric
Observed
O rocker
O piston
Ideal
O rocker
Mother’s comfort level
Observed
O tugging
O little discomfort
O moderate discomfort
O great discomfort
O severe discomfort
Ideal
O tugging
feeling
Rhythm
Latch type
Jaw motion
Observed
O baby releases
O mom breaks suction
O baby unable to
sustain feed
Ideal
O baby releases
nipple
Observed
O soft body tone
O relaxed hands
O awake/seeking
behavior
Ideal
O soft tone
O relaxed hands
Observed
O similar to pre-feed
O shaped by latch
O discolored
O inverts after feed
O ________________
Ideal
O similar to
pre-feed
Notes
Post Feeding
Ending feeding
Baby’s tone
Mother’s nipple
completed by: __________________________________________________________________________ © Healthy Children Project, Inc., 327 Quaker Meeting House Rd., East Sandwich, MA 02537
508-888-8044 All rights reserved. Copying is a violation of copyright laws.
During Feeding
Facial proximity
Angle of mouth opening
Sample cannot be used for reproduction of this tool.
LAT 1