If we’re to believe all the highly targeted advertising to breastfeeding parents, we would be buying all the nursing bras, nursing clothes, and breastfeeding accessories. When I had my first kid, I purchased all the things for breastfeeding.
With my fourth child, I pretty much only needed a nursing bra/tank for easy access, my breasts, and a baby. Wherever you end up landing on the spectrum, here are some must-have nursing accessories to consider.
Invest in these items for your – and your baby's – comfort while nursing
Breastfeeding items to make your life easier
8. Water bottle
Breast milk is 88 to 90% water and being properly hydrated will make both milk production and breastfeeding much easier. Treat yourself to a nice water bottle — maybe even a “smart” one that reminds you to take a few sips.
9. A basket for entertaining toddlers or preschoolers
For parents with multiple children, sometimes the hardest part of breastfeeding is dealing with the older children. “When my second and third sons were born, I not only considered things for me, but items to help entertain a toddler or preschooler,” Laura O’Neill recommended to Mom.com. “I had a basket next to me holding some books and toys that they only had access to when I was nursing. Not that I didn’t sometimes use the TV to keep them quiet!”
10. Phone and apps
Whether it’s to text someone to help you with or retrieve something for you, or to read e-books or scroll through social media, our phones are many breastfeeding parents’ lifelines. “Texting my friends for support helped me get through the tough moments of breastfeeding and motherhood,” mom of four Whitney Cornelison confided to Mom.com.
Use that phone to download a few apps to make breastfeeding easier. Apps like Baby Connect and Baby Tracker can help you keep track of feeding and pumping sessions, while apps such as Mamava and Moms Pump Here will help you find a location where you can feed and pump in private if you’re heading out.
