Self attachment

[little_O]

How do they get enough breast in their mouth without us putting it in there? I'm so scared to just try it because of all the damage had last time.

For a baby that has been attached by its mother, what age do they normally attach themselves? My Cousin's baby is 9 months and she pops herself on, but my cousin can't remember when she started.

[onthefly]

there are some links here
As mammals, we are programmed to seek out and attach to the breast from birth. These instincts remain intact for at least the first 3-4 months.
You know how babies tend to stick their hands in the way and grab at the breast when you're trying to attach them? And how they kick with their feet. And their head falls back if you don't hold them in tight...? and they lick their lips and stick out their tongue, bob their heads and turn them side to side? these are all things babies do to find and latch to theh breast that work really well if you lay back and put baby on your breast. if you're sitting upright, they all work against the feeding process, requiring mum to override her baby's instincts and do it for them.
On your chest, using gravity to hold them down, they use their hands and feet to move into position - they crawl - and locate your breasts, then lift their heads and using their tongue and mouth and cheek they find the nipple and latch. just like that.

[Arcadia]

My dd damaged my nipples lots in the early days too but I remember when she was around 10 weeks I was talking to Dh and she just sucked the nipple in herself. So from then on I just let her self attach.

The other two have self attached from birth.