Table 1.

Criteria and grading system for positioning, attachment and suckling among lactating mothers in Gidan District, North-East Ethiopia, 2021 (n=760)

Criteria for correct body positioning:
Baby’s body is close to the mother’s body
Baby body and neck are straight
Baby’s face is towards the mother’s breast
The whole body is supported by the mother

Criteria for grading body positioning:	Grade	Score
None or only one out of four criteria has been fulfilled	Poor	0–1
Any two of the four criteria have been fulfilled	Average	2
Three/all the four criteria for body positioning have been fulfilled	Good	3–4

Criteria for correctness of attachment:
More areola is seen above the baby’s top lip
Baby’s mouth is wide open
Baby’s lower lip is turned outwards
Baby’s chin is touching the breast

Criteria for grading of correct attachment:	Grade	Score
None or only one out of four criteria has been fulfilled	Poor	0–1
Any two of the four criteria have been fulfilled	Average	2
Any three or all the four criteria have been fulfilled	Good	3–4

Criteria for correctness of effective suckling:
Slow suckling
Deep suckling
Sometimes pausing

Criteria for grading of effective suckling:	Grade	Score
None or only one of the three criteria has been achieved	Ineffective	0–1
Any two or all three criteria have been achieved	Effective	2–3