Breastfeeding is an exciting but sometimes daunting milestone for mummies. To help the beloved mums in our community through it, we’ve come up with a list of must-haves!
This list shows the most important items you need for the best breastfeeding journey. With these tools, you should find it much easier to tackle this next stage of mummyhood.
1. Nursing wear
Nursing wear is needed for every breastfeeding mum for privacy-on-the-go. Babies don’t always wait until you’re alone to demand the next session, after all.
Breastfeeding tops, bras, and other clothes can help you maintain your privacy regardless of location or company at feeding time. Most are also designed to be easy to clean!
Be prepared to buy them in a different size some time after starting breastfeeding, though. This is because a lot of mums go through weight changes during the nursing phase.
2. Nursing pillow
The back pain and support issues during nursing are real. Get yourself a nursing pillow to help with those!
The best breastfeeding pillows even serve multiple purposes. Some help you get into the right position while also lifting your baby to the right level for feeding.
To that end, consider looking at the convertible options here. The Doomoo buddy is a convertible choice that serves as both a nursing pillow and baby’s nest. No breastfeeding mum would turn down something that does those two things well, right?
3. Nursing chair or area
We’re only at number 3 in the list, but you probably already get the idea that nursing can involve a lot of items for the modern mum. So, think about how to set up a space where you can access all of those things!
You can get a nursing chair or designate part of your house as the nursing area. Place all of the items you use for breastfeeding around it and make it as comfortable as possible.
This will save you a lot of time and trouble during feeding. Instead of wondering where you put each item, you’ll have it within sight and easy reach.
4. Nipple cream and shields
Breastfeeding can take a toll on a lot of mums’ nipples. They may end up sore, which is worse when you consider the often-heightened sensitivity at this time. The friction from clothing alone can give you considerable discomfort!
But you can alleviate that with nipple creams. Generally, you should aim for the ones that are food-safe, so you don’t need to remove the cream before the next session. Lansinoh’s Lanolin is widely regarded as a top choice, along with Earth Mama’s organic option.
If the creams still don’t help or you find the skin starting to crack, you can also try nipple shields instead. They’re often made of silicone.
5. Breast pumps
Breast pumps let you collect your breast milk for later feedings. This obviously makes them one of the big heroes in any breastfeeding mum’s arsenal.
If you want a breast pump in Singapore, there are many types to choose from: manual, electric, and even wireless-electric. Generally, that list is in ascending order for convenience and as well as price.
We recommend getting what suits your actual lifestyle and needs best, if you can afford it. If you’re likely to be a mum on the go, for example, get a wireless-electric breast pump!
6. Milk storage options
If you have a breast pump, you have collected milk to store. Naturally, you also need storage bags or containers for easy freezing and later use!
Look for easy-use and easy-clean milk bottles that reduce the amount of work you can do. For example, try a Hegen bottle. They come with different lids that allow you to convert them from feeding bottles to airtight containers.
If you want to get a Hegen PCTO Basic Starter Kit with 2 of those bottles, by the way, we’re giving them out for free! Just follow the participation steps and terms on this page.
7. Nursing covers
Nursing covers offer another way to handle breastfeeding discreetly outside of your home. Depending on the nursing clothes you pick up, though, you may have this covered already.
Anyway, we recommend getting something machine-washable for easy clean-up later. Oh, and don’t be afraid to look around for something you find cute. They come in all sorts of designs now!
8. Nursing pads
Still want a good way to soothe your nipples post-feeding aside from nipple creams? Get yourself some nursing pads! They’re great for cooling down the skin. Many can even be placed in the fridge for better results.
Many of these are made of cloth and are disposable. However, you can also find other options like the popular Silverettes. Yes, they’re actually made of silver.
9. Water bottles and snacks
No, these aren’t for your baby. They’re for you! Mums need to hydrate and keep their energy up for optimal milk supply during the nursing stage.
Make sure you’re topped up so you’re always producing enough milk and feel up to breastfeeding. You can’t care for someone else if you don’t do that for yourself first, after all.
Get more breastfeeding tips!
That should get you started on your breastfeeding journey! Just note: while we do consider these must-haves for the best breastfeeding experience, some mums still do well without some of them.
Ultimately, it’s up to you what would make your breastfeeding journey as comfortable or easy as possible. A lot of the items we recommended should do that, but mums are individuals.
If you need more help with this stage of mummyhood, by the way, try checking out our other articles. We have a list of breastfeeding tips that other mums vouched for, as an example.
And of course, always feel free to browse our other guides. They’re all about making life easier and more rewarding for our beloved mums and their little ones!
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