Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful and natural things we can do as new moms. But more often than not, the act is not without its challenges. It's fraught with hurdles that can make the process difficult or painful at best, and impossible at worst. We've compiled a list of tried and true products for mamas looking for extra help while breastfeeding or those who just want to be prepared for when it's time to get started.
Remember, it's all trial and error, but fed is best. These tools will just help make the process a little smoother.
Medela Symphony Breast Pump Kit
Breast pumps don't work for everyone, but they do help many moms in a multitude of ways. Pumps are great to pump extra milk so there isn't too much built up in the breast, and so production doesn't slow. It's also good to be able to store extra milk for baby to be fed by another parent or caretaker — a nice break for moms who need a pause from constant feedings.
Reusable Nursing Pads
In the mom circles online, especially Reddit, nursing pads came up again and again as a nursing tool that moms really got good use out of during their time breastfeeding. We can personally attest that they're great for protecting the nipple and soaking up leaks. There are both one-time and resuable kinds, but we recommend the reusable version, like these by Lansinoh.
Boppy Bare Naked Pillow
$35
from
BuyBuyBaby
The Boppy breastfeeding pillow is a crowd favorite for nursing moms. Sitting for minutes, sometimes cumulative hours, holding a not-so-light baby who may or may not be able to find a comfortable position, can make breastfeeding difficult. The Boppy pillow alleviates that by allowing baby to get in a better feeding position and mom to have some support.
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow
$47
from
BuyBuyBaby
While the Boppy pillow is great, it's not the only helpful nursing pillow on the market. Moms also like these pillows from the My Brest Friend brand. While the shape and structure of the two types are similar, the Brest Friend pillow has a pocket on the side that comes in clutch when in need of that lip balm or phone.
The Tit Kit
All the supplies needed for breastfeeding can be overwhelming. This Tit Kit, which includes several important breastfeeding tools, like warming and cooling packs and nipple balm. It's a great item for moms who just want to have everything at once and in a handy kit. It also makes a great gift for moms-to-be who aren't sure what they'll need when the baby finally comes.
Haakaa Breast Pump
$14
from
BuyBuyBaby
The Haakaa breast bump is simple, but don't let that fool you. Moms love this nursing tool and repeatedly recommended it as a breastfeeding item that's definitely worth buying. Many used it on the other breast that wasn't feeding to catch some of the milk leakage. It's also easy to pack for on-the-go quick pumping moments.
Lansinoh Breastfeeding Starter Set
The Lansinoah starter breastfeeding kit is another great beginners kit for moms who want a bunch of useful items in one neat package without having to do a ton of research on individual brands. This one comes with a tube of nipple cream, nursing pads, breast "therapy" packs for soothing relief, and a latch assister.
Mother Love Nipple Cream
$12
from
Motherlove
If you're looking for a highly rated nipple cream, this award-winning, organic, clinically tested and "clean" tub of "organic herbal balm" by Mother Love gets many five-star reviews. According to one breastfeeding mom: "I love the texture and softness, it's so easy to quickly apply. I used it on my lips, cuticles, and nipples!"
Earth Mama Nipple Butter
$13.5
from
Buy Buy Baby
Earth Mama is another brand that makes much-appreciated nipple cream. It has an overall rating of five stars with more than 270 reviews on BuyBuyBaby to back that up. It's tested by dermatologists and is made without petroleum, parabens, or lanolin. Some of the ingredients that are included are organic olive fruit oil, organic beeswax, and organic shea butter.
Nursing Sports Bra
$25
from
Kindred Bravely
The pandemic made sports bras our everyday bras, and that doesn't have to change when baby comes. These sports nursing bras are a great balance of support, comfort, and ease when it comes to feeding baby through the day. It is an actual sports bra after all, so it's perfect for staying dry during light exercise, too. It's available up to size 44I.
Nursing Wirefree Bra
There are other great nursing bras on the market, too, and this one from the brand Pepper is a hit with new moms. It's wire-free for maximum comfort and has features that make use easy, including a "one-hand clasp and drop-down cup" and "a wider hook and eye and ballet back. It has removable cup pads" to make it fit exactly to your body's needs and make it that much easier to navigate with one hand.
Big Water Bottle
$50
from
Hydroflask
Another nursing "item" constantly brought up by nursing mamas past and present: a good water bottle. Breastfeeding makes mamas incredibly thirsty and sometimes that leads to dry lips. Having water nearby, in a quality and cool bottle, will be so important during the breastfeeding process to make it a more comfortable experience.
Lansinoh Soothies Breast Gel Pads
While it's a beautiful thing, breastfeeding can often be so uncomfortable. But thankfully, some products help make things much less painful. Items like these cooling gel pads make the experience a lot more bearable. Maybe even soothing. According to Amazon: "Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads provide instant cooling relief from cracked, painful or sore nipples so moms can continue to breastfeed. The pads can be stored in the fridge to enhance cooling."
Hands-Free Breast Pump Bra
Breastfeeding is a lot of work. It takes a toll on the body, and can often be more time-consuming than you ever imagined. With a hands-free bra, you can get so much done, especially on the computer, while also pumping. Yep, the joys of endless multi-tasking start now!
Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags
These bags come in handy when it's time to store milk for later, especially as you prepare for your little one to start day care – or when you need to get out of the house for a while and your partner takes over. Sometimes nursing moms get a lot more milk than they imagined, and these little bags work well for donating. According to the item's description: "The Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags have been hygienically pre-sealed with durable material and double-zipper protection to prevent leaking. These bags safely store breastmilk in the freezer, fridge, or when traveling."
Medela Contact Nipple Shields
Nipple shields came up a few times among the moms in the Reddit threads discussing breastfeeding items they appreciated. They're great for moms experiencing "latch-on difficulties" or those who are running into this issue due to flat or inverted nipples. They're BPA-free and come with two shields and a handy travel/storage case.
Reusable Breast Warmers
Warmth is key for sore muscles and the same goes for sore breasts, which is a thing when breastfeeding. Reusable breast warmers can help give mama some relief. They're made in a shape to get maximum breast coverage and soothe soreness or relieve clogged ducts. It heats itself up in about three seconds and is "compatible with most breast pumps." Each pack has four warmers.
Breast Pump Backpack
Thanks to nursing travel bags like this one, breastfeeding on-the-go can be a thing that allows us mamas some freedom during the process, and extend breastfeeding time, if that's what we need. It helps keep everything together when we need to take our pumping supplies to work or when traveling. The cooler-style storage space means the milk can be kept cold for several hours.
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