Top 10 Nursing Essentials I Couldn’t Live Without

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I will be honest and say that I did not have an easy time nursing my baby. It was a struggle for both of us. There were some nursing essentials that made the process a lot easier for both of us though. Some of these things I used daily and couldn’t live without. I had registered for a lot of my nursing essentials but there were some things I didn’t even think I would use and really wish I had thought of them beforehand. I hope this list helps you get prepared for your little one’s arrival.

Breast pump 

This is a must have. I didn’t want to spend the $250 on a pump so I thought I would just nurse my baby from the breast all the time. Boy, was I wrong about that. I didn’t realize how engorged I would get, especially in the middle of the night. It got painful! So the second night we were home, I made my fiancé run to Target and get one. I didn’t care how much it cost at that point!

I used the Medela Pump In Style and it was a lifesaver! It worked great and was easy for me to take with me on trips. I loved that I could pump extra milk to have on hand in case I wasn’t home and someone else needed to feed her. This also allowed me to get some much needed sleep; someone else could give her a bottle during on of the night feedings so I could get an extra hour or two of rest.

Lanolin Cream

Another thing that I didn’t realize was how sore I was going to be! I luckily did register for some Lansinoh lanolin cream to have on hand. I would use this after every feeding and it really helped with the pain and soreness.

Breast Therapy Pads

Like I said before, I became very engorged. Not only was it painful for me but it made it harder for my baby to latch on. I used breast therapy pads to help with the pain. I really like the Lansinoh Therapearl Breast Therapy pads. You can use them cold to help with the pain or warm to help with milk let-down. They are also available at Target.

Breast Pads

You will want to get some good name brand breast pads. You will leak, a lot, and you don’t want it coming through your top. I tried the store brand kind but they just didn’t stick to the inside of my bra as well as the Medela Nursing Pads did. You can also get reusable nursing pads if you want to save money or be eco-friendly. You can actually get 10 free pairs here when you use code ENBABY (you will have to pay shipping costs).

Comfortable Glider or Chair

When you are shopping for a glider or chair for the nursery, make sure you really test it out. You will be spending a lot of time in it so you want to make sure that it is very comfortable. This may be an item that you want to splurge on. I don’t nurse now but we still use the glider as our “reading chair” where I read books to my daughter everyday.

Nursing Pillow

I loved my Boppy Nursing Pillow. It made nursing a lot more comfortable for myself and my baby. It really gives your arms a much needed break because it does most of the supporting for you. I do suggest having at least 2 pillow covers because they will get dirty. That way you can use one while the other is in the wash. You can get a free one here with code ENBABY ( you will have to pay shipping)

Nursing Bra

You want to have at least 3-5 nursing bras on hand. Make sure they are comfortable and supportive. I was able to find several that were actually pretty. You still want to feel feminine even when you are nursing. I really liked the sleep bras or bralette style to wear at night. They were very comfortable!

Nursing Tanks

I really loved my nursing tanks; I wore them all the time. I would wear them over everything. I had 3 that I would rotate throughout the week. This is a lot cheaper then buying nursing tees, sweaters, tops, etc. Most of the nursing tanks have bras built in so it helps cut down on the laundry.

Kindle

I spent hours nursing my baby and it was the only time I had to relax and read. I have a little pocket on the side of my glider so I would just stick it in there and pull it out when it was time to nurse. You don’t have to have a Kindle but you will want something to pass the time like an iPad, smartphone, or book.

Fenugreek

This is something that you might want to have on hand. Fenugreek is an herb that helps with milk production. It comes in many forms like powder, pill, or even tea. During my 3rd month of nursing, I started to have problems with my milk supply. Fenugreek was recommended for me to take. I think it works differently for different people but it did help my supply for a little while.

I hope this list of nursing essentials helps you have a wonderful nursing experience. If you are a nursing mom, I would love to hear which products helped you the most. I love when experienced moms share their wisdom to help out all the new moms out there.