Breastfeeding Essentials

Hi Mommas! I had several ladies ask for breastfeeding advice and information regarding the products I absolutely loved. My son and I just concluded our breastfeeding journey after he self-weaned at 16 months. We were so lucky to breastfeed this long and I enjoyed every moment of our magical journey (even those early moments when I felt like my boobs were going to fall off – just sayin’).

I have linked all of the products pictured above and provided some insight on each item below.

1. Aden by Aden + Anais Musy Squares – We absolutely love these as burp clothes. They are large and can be folded over and used multiple times before needing washed. They are also unbelievably soft and come in cute subtle patterns. I will say that these have become hard to find in stores but we also have these which are a thicker material and like them!
2. Freemie Collection Cups – These were the BEST purchase of my entire breastfeeding/pumping journey. These collection cups slide into your bra (no need for a hands free pumping bra!) and are incredibly discrete and so much more comfortable than flanges. So many of my coworkers have purchased these after seeing me pump at my desk (yes – you read that right!) at work and now swear by them! Because they fit into your regular bra you can place them under your clothing and continue working if you choose. Simply put, these things are the tits. (See what I did there? Too far?)
3. Reusable Ziplock Bags – These were essential for me. I used them to store my pumping accessories in the fridge between pumping sessions. I started out with a Sarah Wells “Pumparoo,” bag. Although these bags are beautiful, they are impossible to keep clean. I washed mine daily with soap and water and turned it inside out to dry and it still ended up moldy. I finally switched over to reusable ziplock bags and never looked back.
4. Gratlin Women’s Racerback Maternity Nursing Bra – I ordered these on a whim one day and loved them! They are very comfortable and you get two for 26.99$!
5. Medela Tender Care Lanolin – I used this in combination with breastmilk whenever my son was going through stages of cluster feeding.
6. Nursing Cover – This can also be used as a carseat cover! I really enjoyed the simple stripe design and found that it was much more light weight and breathable than other covers I had tried. My son seemed comfortable and it provided the necessary stomach coverage I was seeking for public nursing sessions.
7. Dr. Brown’s Bottle Cleaner – My husband gave our son bottles during the day when I was at work and loved this bottle brush.
8. NUK Seal N Go Breast Milk Bags – Durable and easy to pour!
9. Dr. Brown’s Bottle Lids – I used these to seal and store pumped milk in bottles while at work. I found that storing my pumped milk in bottles led to less leaks.
10. Boon Drying Rack – You can use any drying rack/mechanism you would like, this was just our personal favorite!
11. JJ Cole Bottle Cooler – Again, you can get any cooler you would like! We liked this one because it had a snap on the handle that made it easy to attach to a diaper bag etc. I also recommend purchasing two coolers! My husband would utilize one during the day when running around and I took one to work with me to store my pumped milk.
12. Sarah Wells Pumping Bag – Loved this bag! I will admit it is more of a splurge item but it made pumping so much easier! The bag has compartments for your pump, cord, accessaries etc.
13. Dr. Brown’s Bottles – Disclaimer: I do NOT know how these bottles match up to others out there as we were incredibly fortunate that our son took to these immediately with little to no nipple confusion, therefore they were the only ones we purchased. The reason I included bottles on my essentials list is surprisingly for pumping reasons! I found that I preferred to store my pumped milk in bottles while at work to prevent leaks. I would later transfer milk to storage bags for freezing.
14. My Brest Friend Pillow – Also a favorite! I started out with a Boppy pillow and noticed that my son seemed to sink into it. When I tried the Brest Friend Pillow I immediately liked it more because it buckles around your body. This allows for mom and baby to have more support, better positioning and baby won’t sink! (Kind of important, right?)

What are some of your breastfeeding essentials and go to items? Feel free to share in the comments below!

This post was not sponsored in any way and all opinions are my own.