Breastfeeding your new baby creates a closeness that is indescribable — but the reality is that it's also very painful! Whether your little one latches on perfectly straight out of the womb, or fumbles trying to get used to the new feeding arrangement, your poor nipples will go through a rough adjustment period.
When it comes to choosing the right nipple cream to ease your pain, it's important to consider texture, smell, and ingredients. All nipple creams are not created equal, and many can have a thick, greasy, or sticky texture that is off-putting for your nursing baby while also leaving oil stains on your clothes. Choose a smooth cream or balm that glides over your sore nipples without leaving behind a grease trail.
Since your little one is likely going to ingest small amounts of the nursing cream during each feeding session, the ingredient list is super important. Opt for an organic, nontoxic formula that won't irritate your baby's skin or tummy. Whole, plant-based ingredients like calendula and olive leaf extract help to heal the skin, not just numb the pain — so you can continue your nursing journey with your sweet babe.
Every breastfeeding and pumping mom is faced with her own set of nursing hurdles. Sore and painful nips don't have to be one of them. We've rounded up the best nursing balms and nipple creams that can soothe sore nipples, restore cracked skin, and encourage that sweet bond between mom and baby without the ouch.
This no-frills nipple cream might be just what you need. The formula contains soothing ingredients, including cocoa butter and B-5, which help restore and revive dry, cracked skin.
Lanolin is a waxy substance that's harvested from the fat of sheep's wool. Still reading? Good, because it's proven to be highly effective for soothing and protecting nipples that are sore and cracked from breastfeeding. This Lansinoh formula is 100% pure lanolin — no fillers, no preservatives, no extras.
Has nursing your baby on demand and pumping milk in between feedings left your nipples tender? It's time for some Motherlove. This all-natural salve utilizes a blend of moisturizing, organic shea butter and healing calendula flower to provide almost immediate relief. While it's perfect for your nipples, the Motherlove Nipple Cream can be used to restore moisture to your chapped lips too!
This food-grade, plant-based formula is safe for both you and your baby. After breastfeeding and pumping sessions, it's normal for your nipples to feel like a skinned knee. This nipple butter is packed full of skin-soothing, vitamin-rich ingredients — including shea butter and olive oil — that encourage healing and ease the pain.
5
Best Petroleum-Free Formula
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter Breastfeeding Cream
Packed full of healing organic ingredients that are safe for your babe to ingest, the Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter soothes and restores your sore nipples to encourage a long-lasting breastfeeding relationship between you and your babe.
The certified organic beeswax-based butter coats your aching nipples while the powerful olive-leaf extract and calendula heal and soothe cracked skin. The formula is so gentle that it is safe for your baby to ingest and doesn’t need to be wiped off before nursing.
During the first few weeks (or even months) of breastfeeding, your nipples can feel like they've just been tossed in a cyclone. The nontoxic formula of the organic Boobease Nipple Balm moisturizes and heals cracked skin while easing the pain away to make the next nursing session bearable. With just five simple ingredients, the balm is perfect for the mama with sensitive skin.
This natural, soothing balm helps to heal the skin of cracked nipples. With a blend of coconut oil and aloe, skin will feel moisturized, and you’ll be able to withstand another day of nursing. Safe to use before nursing and after, this will be a a go-to during those first few months of breastfeeding.
Heading back to work or exclusively pumping? This nipple cream is for you. Breast pumps can wreak havoc on nipples, leaving them raw from the powerful suction. Apply this ointment to nipples and inside of breast shields before you pump for an added layer of lubrication.
Putting your hungry little one on your nipple all day long becomes challenging when your nipples are sore and swollen. Slathering on E-ra Organics Mommy Balm between feeding and pump sessions can help make each feeding a bit easier.
With anti-inflammatory and healing ingredients, your nipples will feel less irritated after each application.
Too often, nipple creams can leave a sticky residue that stains the inside of your nursing bra cup or T-shirt. Not this one! The only thing this mixture of natural healing herbs and organic moisturizers leaves behind are pain-free nipples.
Dana BaardsenSenior Editor at BestProducts.comDana is the former Parenting Editor at BestProducts.com, where she’s been using her degree in nutrition and food science and experience in parenting editorials to cover trending topics in the family and fitness industries since 2012; Her work has been featured on Fit Pregnancy, Refinery 29, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Men’s Health, Parents, and more.
Latifah MilesParenting EditorLatifah is the former parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she spent her time researching and testing the latest, greatest, and coolest products created to make parenting a breeze; her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan, Romper, and Elite Daily.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io