If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would still be breastfeeding my second son, 22 months in, I wouldn’t have believed them.
This feels like a big accomplishment for me. Actually, it is, considering I quit breastfeeding my first son at barely 2 weeks old.
So, today, I thought to write about my favorite breastfeeding must haves, so you know everything you need to buy for breastfeeding.
If you, like me, are struggling to breastfeed a tongue-tied baby, you can read my top tips here. Both my sons were tongue-tied but I’ve successfully breastfed my second.
Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of this page.
A little disclaimer, a lot of people say you only need the boobs to breastfeed a baby. While that is literally true, I’ve found that having some breastfeeding accessories make nursing much easier and comfortable.
And it’s from this perspective that I write today’s post.
Just before we get into this, I highly highly recommend that you take a breastfeeding class. It’s a BIG GAME CHANGER!
This Milkology Class by Stacey is very affordable. It can be completed in under 90 minutes in the comfort of your home! Double win.
So, go ahead take the class and get prepared to nurse your baby even while still pregnant.
Ok, let’s get into my top 10 breastfeeding products.
My Favourite Breastfeeding Must-Haves For New Mums
1. Silicone breast pumps
Silicone breast pumps are cylindrical-like containers that you attach to one breast while nursing your baby on the other breast.
Like the name implies they are made from silicone. They work by asserting a little pressure on the other breast to collect the milk that would have otherwise been wasted.
I bought this silicone breast pump when I had my first son. I got so much value out of it that it’s easily one of my top 3 breastfeeding tools. In my opinion, this one is just as good as the famous Haakaa.
Truth be told, I didn’t like this silicone pump initially. I couldn’t figure out how to get it to stay latched onto my boobs. It wasn’t until I watched the video below that I realized what I was doing wrong!
When I did though, I understood what all the hype was about! Now, it’s one of the very best breastfeeding accessories I ever bought and a must-add to your breastfeeding survival kit!
I was able to store and freeze so much breastmilk. This helped loads when my son started cluster-feeding and my boobs seemed like they couldn’t satisfy him.
If you don’t get any other product on this list, make sure you get this one! It’s that good!
2. Breast milk storage bags
After using your Hakkaa to catch extra breast milk, where do you store them?
The answer? Breast milk storage bags. They are sterile and come in customizable packs.
These are the exact ones I used. You can label the bags with date, name and so forth.
Labeling is important because breast milk can be stored in the freezer for only up to 6 months. So, knowing the dates will help you know which milk bag to start using first.
Storing breast milk is also great for when you go back to work. You can keep giving your baby your milk even then.
So, don’t forget to stock up on milk storage bags before your baby is born!
3. Nursing pillow
My midwife recommended I get a nursing pillow with my second son.
Best decision ever!
Because my son was tongue-tied, my nipples didn’t hurt as much when I nursed him in the football position.
I can’t begin to tell you how much easier this nursing pillow made things!
It supported my baby, such that the weight of carrying him wasn’t on my arms but on the pillow. It also made other nursing very comfortable.
My nursing pillow was my constant companion. I took it downstairs, upstairs, everywhere!
One time, we had a one-night stay in a different town and I took it along! That’s how important my nursing pillow was to the success of my breastfeeding journey.
Please, do yourself a favor and get one.
You’ll find several breastfeeding pillows out there. But this is the one I used and vouch for!
4. Nipple Cream
I wish I could tell you that you wouldn’t need a nipple cream but I can’t.
The majority of breastfeeding mums will have some sort of nipple pain (cracks, sores, etc) initially (and sometimes later on).
A good nipple ointment will help to soothe your nipples and relieve the pain.
I used the Lansinoh nipple cream. And it worked great for me. It got the job done, although my nipples didn’t heal as fast as I would have liked and it was a bit sticky.
If you’d prefer organic products, you can try this one. It has really good reviews.
5. Nursing bras
Where would I be without nursing bras?
By my 3rd trimester, my boobs were way bigger. Those underwires were beginning to really dig in and get super uncomfortable. So, I got some nursing bras on Amazon.
But once I started breastfeeding, these nursing bras were super handy and made it quicker to get the girls out to nurse my impatient baby.
In case you didn’t know, nursing bras have a catch on the straps. This helps you quickly unhook the bra, let the cup down, and feed your baby.
I have large breasts and found it difficult to find comfy bras in my size. I found post-surgery bras very comfortable for that last trimester when your boobs balloon!
6. Nursing Pads
I leaked a lot in the early weeks of breastfeeding. Heck, I still leak on occasion.
Breastfeeding pads helped me avoid embarrassing situations. I bought these disposable nursing pads and used them a lot!
I have to say though, I found that they itched and never seemed to really stay in place, especially after a feed.
I think that’s a problem with all disposable nursing pads. I tried another brand and itched as well.
This one was better at absorbing the milk without feeling bulky in my bra.
You can try reusable nursing pads but I didn’t want the extra work of having to wash them on top of everything else.
7. Nursing Tops
Breastfeeding is a tricky business, especially in the early weeks.
Nursing tops make breastfeeding less awkward. More so, when you nurse in public.
Having a shirt, top or dress specifically cut out for breastfeeding will make you more confident about breastfeeding in public.
Also, you’ll be able to pop out your boobs faster and easier. This is what you want when your impatient baby is hungry and crying.
I love these nursing tops because they help you breastfeed discreetly if modesty is important to you.
I also got some lovely breastfeeding tops from eBay that were suitable for winter because I found the popular ones didn’t quite work for the cold season.
On a budget? You can get very affordable nursing tops on Pat Pat.
8. Electric Breast Pump
As good as the Silicone breast pump is, I would still recommend any new mum get an electric breast pump.
I regret not buying an electric breast pump when I had my first baby. Now, I consider an electric breast pump an essential item to help with breastfeeding!
I believe it would have greatly helped me keep up my supply and still be able to breastfeed when I struggled with the pains of breastfeeding my tongue-tied baby.
The truth is, you might not use an electric pump much (or you may end up using it loads). But having one on hand will be reassuring for those times when you might need it (e.g. during cluster feeds).
Electric breast pumps are quite expensive so I understand your reluctance to buy one. Thankfully, there are some low-priced alternatives to consider.
The Medela brand has a good quality range of breast pumps but they may not be very affordable for you (here in the UK, we don’t get it free with medical insurance like in the US).
I used this particular Medela pump, it was effective, not too pricey, though a bit noisy.
For budget-friendly options, I’ve heard great reviews about this breast pump. It’s more affordable and seems to work great!
You can also try out this range (spectra). It’s gotten very popular in recent years and a lot of new mums rate it highly.
9. Nursing Chair
Being comfortable is so essential to breastfeeding success. And having a good nursing chair will help keep you comfortable while nursing.
I don’t think it has to be a traditional nursing chair like this one. I personally find those types old-fashioned, bulky and ugly. You could go for a more modern one like this pretty one or just a good, solid armchair.
The nursing chair my husband got me as a push present was an ordinary armchair but it served the purpose. What’s more, we still use it in our living room to this day!
10. Breastfeeding Cover
There’s a reason this is the last item on my breastfeeding essentials checklist.
After 22 months of breastfeeding, a nursing cover has been the least breastfeeding “essential” for me!
I won’t lie, at the beginning of my breastfeeding journey, I was very nervous about breastfeeding in public or amongst extended family members. So, I tried to cover up with a breastfeeding cover.
I got an extra-large muslin square (amazon link) that did a pretty decent job of keeping me and my girls covered.
RELATED POST: 30 Incredible Uses of Muslin Squares You’ve Never Thought Of!
But for a new mum still trying to get a hang of breastfeeding, I found it difficult to get my son to latch with a cloth covering him and the boobies.
Needless to say, a few months down the line, breastfeeding covers became a thing of the past for me.
However, I think having one will make you more confident about nursing in public especially in the early days till you develop more confidence or you simply don’t care anymore who sees what as long as your kid is fed!
So, for new mums, I recommend getting this nursing cover.
As I conclude this, I realize there are more than 10 breastfeeding supplies that I consider must-haves. A few other important things you need to buy for breastfeeding and add to your breastfeeding essentials kit are:
- Water bottle to keep you hydrated
- Muslin squares or burp clothes to catch baby’s spit-up
- Healthy extra snacks to keep you nourished and help your milk supply
To wrap up,
Breastfeeding is such a beautiful experience but a lot of work! I’m a big advocate for getting anything that will help new mums succeed at breastfeeding.
Whether that’s a breastfeeding course or products that are must-haves for breastfeeding moms, I say go for it!
I am confident that these top breastfeeding accessories will help new mums enjoy a successful breastfeeding journey.
So, if you’re an expectant mum, get your breastfeeding survival kit ready and stock up.
Related breastfeeding posts: 5 Tips for breastfeeding a tongue-tied baby How to get rid of breastfeeding guilt How to prepare for breastfeeding while pregnant 10 things to put in a breastfeeding gift basket 7 brilliant breastfeeding poems for moms
I pray you enjoy a successful breastfeeding journey!