Table 4 IBFAT scale (INFANT BREAST-FEEDING ASSESSMENT TOOL)

1. Baby’s state: asleep, drowsy, quiet, alert or crying

2. Readiness to feed or excitability: the observer should record whether the baby starts to feed effortlessly (3 points), needs mild stimulation to start feeding (2 points), needs vigorous stimulation (1 points) or cannot be awakened (0 points)

3. Rooting: at the moment the nipple touches the baby’s cheek, he/she turns his/her head towards the nipple, opens his/her mouth and tries to grab the nipple. If the baby is next to the nipple and effectively turns (3 points), if the baby need some help (2 points), if the baby does poorly despite the stimulus (1 points), if the baby does not turn (0 points)

4. Fixing: the observer records the time from the moment he/she was put on the breast until latching and feeding take place. Latching immediately (3 points), taking 3–10 min (2 points), taking more than 10 min (1 point), not feeding (0 points)

5. Sucking: the baby does not suck (0 points), sucks poorly (1 points), sucks fairly well but needs help (2 points), sucks very well on one or both breasts (3 points)

6. Ask the mother if she was feeling: very satisfied, satisfied, a little satisfied or not satisfied. This is then evaluated from 1 to 4; this is not within the scale values