As a mother you want to do the very best for your baby. Only you know what is best for your child and your family! Whether you decide to bottle feed or breastfeed your new baby, there are always obstacles to overcome and having the right products to help is SO important! I have breastfed all five of my munchkins and I am super proud of that! (Yay!) With each one I learned and grew and found what products really worked the best so I wanted to great this list of 10 breastfeeding must-haves to make your experience easier!
TOP 10 BREASTFEEDING MUST-HAVES
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1. Medela Pump-In Style Advanced Breast Pump with On The Go Tote
This baby is magic. I didn’t have one with my first but when I had Milo I quickly learned this was the way to go…especially for pumping at work and when you have to be away from the baby. The cost is higher then some but so worth it…plus, doing the quick math you realize it won’t take long to pay this baby off with the money saved in baby formula! Even now as a SAHM I would still have this on hand for nights out and days away from baby!
2. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
These are great for storing and freezing your expressed milk. With the double zip seal you don’t have to worry about spills or leaks and they even come with a places to write your name, date and ounces! I love to freeze them flat so they are easy to store!
3. Medela Tender Care Lanolin
This stuff is amazing for sore nipples. Even the most experienced nursing mothers know sore nipples are a very real thing and nothing to mess around with! Baby won’t even notice this light, all natural product!
4. Hudson Baby Swaddle Blanket
I have had and used a nursing cover before and they are nice but these large swaddle blankets are what I found to work best! They are perfect for tightly swaddling your new baby but with their large size, it is nice to just throw over the baby when you are out and about! So light and soft you don’t have to worry about the baby getting too hot under there. Plus they are multi-purpose as a spit rag, car seat cover, swaddler and snuggler! Vayda loves her ‘blankies’ and we never leave the house without them!
Read baby #5’s birth story here!
5. Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra
I didn’t have one of these until I had Vayda (my 4th) and once I got it I wondered how I ever pumped without it! Hands free anything is a winner in my book!
6. Medela Contact Nipple Shield
This one goes right along with the lanolin. With each of my kids I had periods where sore nipples just about did me in. These nipple shields were a life saver! They allow you to still breastfeed naturally but the thin shield protects your skin and gives it time to heal.
Mommy Tip: Sore nipples can be a sign of a poor latch so always contact your lactation consultant for help!
7. Lansinoh – Disposable Nursing Pads
Nursing pads are a must, especially in the beginning and Lansinoh’s are by far my favorite. They are the most discrete I have found and they even have adhesive on the back side to help keep them in place inside your bra! I had these babies stashed everywhere!
8. iloveSIA Seamless Nursing Cami Tank Top
I ordered these nursing camis for my youngest son Kip and they are seriously all I ever wore! I would wear these in place of a bra. They are comfortable and sleek enough to wear under clothes and made any outfit breastfeeding friendly! I always liked that they covered my tummy…no new mommy likes how her tummy looks post baby!
9. BabyTime App
This iPhone app helps you track your feedings with ease! I don’t know about you but I always had my phone in hand during nursing and pumping sessions just in case! This app allows you to start and stop the time for feeding sessions as well as log sleep time and diaper changes!
10. Boppy Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow is a great purchase for a new mom. It helps you get that baby into a great position and help’s them stay there. These pillows are great for propping baby up on the floor or starting tummy time later on!
Support each other
These are my top 10 must haves for breastfeeding moms but I would say the most important thing we all need is support! We need support from our friends, family and other nursing moms! Breastfeeding can be trying at times but with the right tools and support you can do it! Good Luck!
Are there items that you’ve found you can’t live without that didn’t make my list? I would love the hear about them!
