Breastfeeding can feel both natural and brand-new, especially in those early days. And while all you truly need is you and your baby, a few helpful tools can make the experience far more comfortable.
As a doula, childbirth educator, and mom who has supported hundreds of breastfeeding families, these are the essentials I recommend most.
Key Takeaways
- Breastfeeding is easier with supportive tools that improve comfort and milk flow.
- Essentials like nipple cream, a breastfeeding pillow, and a pump help prevent common issues.
- Simple items, such as a water bottle, nursing pads, and burp cloths, make feeding more manageable.
- Apps, lactation tea, and a lactation consultant provide added support when needed.
Top Breastfeeding Essentials for New Moms
These breastfeeding essentials can make those early weeks smoother by improving comfort, supporting milk flow, and helping you feed with confidence.
Quick Tip: If you’re preparing for birth, pack a few of these essentials in your hospital bag so you’re ready from day one.
1. Comfortable Place to Sit
The first thing you need when breastfeeding is a comfortable place to sit. Getting comfortable and in a good position is everything. For experienced breastfeeding moms, you can breastfeed almost anywhere. However, for new moms, feeling anxious and uncomfortable or being in an awkward position can affect their let-down (important) and prevent them from getting a good latch. Find a spot where you have good back support, and it’s even better if you can put your feet up.
Related: 7 Breastfeeding Positions To Try
2. Nipple Cream
You may think you don’t need nipple cream. Maybe because you’re going to use coconut oil or breast milk as your “ointment.” However, using the correct type of cream or ointment can prevent the drying and cracking of your nipples. It can help speed up the healing. Nipple cream is definitely a must-have for breastfeeding.
Remember, your baby will ingest anything you apply to the nipple area while nursing, so it’s essential to use products that are known to be safe for breastfeeding.
Some people swear by lanolin, yet many products now claim to be “lanolin-free.” So what’s that all about? If you don’t know, lanolin is the discharge from a sheep’s sebaceous glands. It is used in many cosmetics, ranging from lip balms to breastfeeding creams.1 Although it has been proven highly effective in soothing and healing chapped skin, researchers have found that lanolin contains pesticides.2 This is because the wool is soaked in chemicals to remove parasites before the lanolin is scoured out of it. Currently, there are no truly organic lanolin options available.
Thankfully, lanolin-free nipple creams are easily found these days. I highly recommend these nipple creams.
3. Breastfeeding Pillow
Breastfeeding pillows are a breastfeeding mom’s best friend because they relieve your back, neck, spine, and arms. A breastfeeding pillow is definitely a top essential for breastfeeding. The primary function of the pillow is to bring your baby close to your body and your breasts. This is important if you want your little one to get a good latch and keep you comfortable during the process. It can also be a great option if you are recovering from a C-section. It protects the incision site and keeps direct pressure off it, which helps your incision heal more quickly.
4. Breastfeeding & Feeding Tracker Apps
It’s essential to know how often you feed your baby and for how long. Your pediatrician will ask you how often your baby eats and how many wet and dirty diapers your baby makes a day. Since mom brain can happen, you may forget the details if your baby isn’t making enough wet and dirty diapers. You may forget when you started your baby’s last feeding and which breast you ended with.
Recording these things in a notebook is always nice, but having an app on your phone is way more convenient if you are out and about with your little one. You may not remember to bring your notebook or forget where you last put it. (I’ve had this happen to a few moms I’ve worked with.) And if a family member gives your baby a bottle, some apps provide them with access to the app so they can document the feeding they gave to baby.
I recommend these apps:
- Breastfeeding Central
- Baby Connect
- Nursing Timer
- See more of our favorite baby apps for new parents.
5. Water Bottle
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Mothers who don’t stay hydrated tend to have a lower breastmilk supply, so it’s essential to drink enough water throughout the day. You should drink approximately six to eight glasses of water a day, but avoid overhydration. Consuming more than six to eight glasses will not help you make more milk or provide additional benefits. Drinking excessive water has been shown to drop a mother’s milk supply.3 A big reason for this is that excess water can fill you up. If you fill up on so many fluids that you’re not hungry, you may not eat enough food to get the calories and nutrients you need when breastfeeding to help build your milk supply.
6. Milk-Savers and Haakaa for Milk Collection
As your baby nurses on one side, it also causes the other breast to leak. Since I’ve worked with many mothers experiencing milk supply issues, I’m all about saving every drop. I love the Haakaa and Milk-Saver from Milkies because they do just that! Many mothers have cried over their spilled breast milk or because they are not producing enough breast milk. These products help you collect as much of your milk as possible. Two thumbs up, and definitely a breastfeeding essential!
7. Nursing Cover
I want all moms to feel comfortable breastfeeding, no matter where they are. Get one if you feel more confident and comfortable breastfeeding in public with a cover! You shouldn’t have to rush home, hide in a room or bathroom, or feel like you have to pump every time you are going to be in public and your baby needs to eat. These are some of the nursing covers that I recommend.
8. Lactation Tea
For mothers who see a drop in their milk supply, drinking certain teas may help increase it. A decrease in your supply can occur during illness, returning to work or school, or undergoing surgery, among other factors. There are teas on the market specifically made to increase your milk production and quality. Not every breastfeeding mom needs herbs to establish a good milk supply, but I appreciate that this is an option for women seeking alternative solutions. My absolute favorite brand, which I highly recommend, is Birds & Bees Teas. Their “Our Lady of La Leche” is terrific! Check out more of our favorite products to help boost milk supply.
Related: Tips to Increase Breast Milk Supply
9. Breast Pump
It’s unrealistic to think you will ALWAYS be able to nurse your child. That’s why having a breast pump is a crucial essential for breastfeeding. You may need to give your nipples a break from breastfeeding and pumping, or you may want to catch up on some sleep or run errands, and you may want your partner or a family member to help with feeding, etc. Thank goodness we have breast pumps so women can still give their babies breast milk even when they can’t nurse. Two of my favorite pumps (for purchase) are the Spectra S1 Breast Pump and the Motif Medical Breast Pump. Instead of owning your own, there are also hospital-grade breast pumps that you can rent.
10. Breastmilk Storage Bags
After pumping, you need to be able to store your breast milk. Instead of keeping each amount you pumped in a breastmilk collection bottle, I recommend purchasing breast milk storage bags. This way, you will be able to save much more for the future and emergencies. Additionally, you can donate extra breast milk if it is stored in bags. Breastmilk storage bags definitely have a spot on my list of essential breastfeeding items.
Related: How To Collect, Store, and Prepare Breast Milk
11. Nursing Bras and Tanks
Every breastfeeding mom needs a good nursing bra and tank. Actually, she needs a few! When you have a hungry/screaming baby, you can’t get to the boob fast enough. I really like Bravado Designs and Kindred Bravely nursing bras and tanks.
12. Hot and Cold Therapy Packs
Hot and cold breast pads will be your new best friend. These reusable, ergonomically shaped compresses provide hot and cold therapy to address common feeding and pumping ailments, including engorgement, clogged ducts, and mastitis. They can be heated or cooled to give you the perfect relief for sore/tender breasts. You will be so grateful that you have them!
13. Nursing Pads
Leakage happens. Instead of soaking your nursing bra and your tank or top before or after a feeding, you will want to have some nursing pads to absorb any extra milk. The last thing you would want to happen is to be out somewhere, and then suddenly, your breasts let down, and you start leaking through your shirt. That’s a little embarrassing. There are different nursing pad options available to help prevent this. There are also disposable or washable/reusable nursing pads that you can purchase.
14. Maternity Robe, Nursing Dress & Baby Blanket Set
Babies want to eat throughout the day and night. This is why it’s beneficial to have a comfortable robe and nursing gown, allowing you to feed your baby at any time of day or night in the comfort of your own home. You will most likely live in this robe and nursing gown after giving birth. I love that this robe is feminine, dark (to hide baby stains), and matches baby.
15. Burp Cloths & Bibs
Spit-up happens. Even when breastfeeding. It’s a good idea to have something on hand that will keep you and your baby clean if your baby just so happens to have a little spit-up. These muslin Burp cloths from Little Unicorn are one of my favorites. They are also thicker and more absorbent than most burp cloths. Their bibs are also super soft, absorbent, and perfect for feeding. Definitely a breastfeeding must-have!
16. Lactation Consultant
I know that a lactation consultant is not a product, but they’re someone who can turn your breastfeeding experience around if you’re having difficulty. Make sure you visit a local IBCLC if you are experiencing significant issues. You can schedule an appointment to see one, or you can arrange for her to visit your home. Another great option is to visit one of your local La Leche League groups for support.
Breastfeeding looks different for every family, and the right tools can make those early weeks feel much more manageable. I hope this list helps you feel prepared, confident, and supported as you begin your nursing journey. You’re doing an amazing job already.
