A Badass Breastfeeder's Top 6 Picks for the Best Breastfeeding Products

From breastfeeding an infant all the way to a toddler, I've found that this nipple cream works really well. There’s a lot that gets uncomfortable when breastfeeding; the rubbing, chafing, and the pain when they start teething. For me, this nipple cream always dealt with it quickly. There’s no toxic chemicals in it, and they choose herbs they know to be healing and moisturizing.

I’ve found that other nipple creams are really good at moisturizing or creating a barrier. But the Motherlove cream actually heals your nipples. Some peoples’ nipples get so bad, they crack and bleed. And when something like that happens, you’ll want something that’s non-toxic because you have open sores. Also, if it has toxic chemicals in it, you'll need to wash your breasts before you feed your baby.

This is my favorite breast pump. It is 100% Swiss made, so it's very high quality. It also has 64 different settings, so you can customize it to match exactly how your body most effectively releases milk. It's also the quietest pump on the market, and they have done tests to prove this. If you’re pumping at work, you don’t want this loud motor humming in your face that everybody can hear.

It's also really small and lightweight. One time, I connected it to my belt loop and put it on with a hands-free nursing bra, and I was just walking around my house, pumping. And by the time I had my second child, I had a three-year-old running around and three-year-olds don’t let you just sit. I could still do what I needed to do and get the pumping out of the way.

These are really cute teething toys that have been made into jewelry. There’s a silicone ring that's strung onto a necklace, and if your baby is teething or is on your lap and wants to play with something, they can grab this. A lot of times, babies bite your nipple because they’re teething. The best thing to do then is to take the baby off your breast and give them something to chew on.

Also, while they’re nursing, they like to stick their hand down your shirt and play with your other nipple. Most people are driven crazy by this. My first son did that, and for a while, I was okay with it. But then with my second son, I couldn’t deal with it at all. When you wear this, it gives them something to play with so they’re not tugging on your nipple.

This is an insert that you stick inside your bra. It’s got a little hole that you stick your nipple through and it collects your breast milk if you’re leaking. When you first have a baby, a lot of us leak breast milk. So you put a breast pad in to soak up the milk. Some people leak a lot and you waste all that breast milk. This allows you to collect all that breast milk that you would normally lose.

You can wear it while you’re nursing because when you have a let down and your baby’s nursing, you have a let down on both breasts. A lot of times, that other breast is just leaking. So, you can collect it, put it into a freezer bag, and feed it to your baby in a bottle later.

Everyone who is going to pump should have a hands-free pumping bra. Otherwise, you’d have to sit there with both of your hands and hold the pump up to your breasts. And if you’re at work, you could eat, write a book, write some emails, anything—because it’s hands-free.

The Dairy Fairy stuff is inspired by lingerie, so it’s really pretty. Everything has a lace trim and there are really nice colors. Just because you have a baby doesn’t mean you have to wear the hospital diaper panties the whole time. You can still wear things that are pretty and that make you feel good.

It’s a loose-fitting, fashionable tank top that comes in several different colors. The clothing comes with an insert along the front so you can pull it down underneath your bra. It's almost like 2 shirts, except it's not. It's just a layer that hangs down. When you pull your shirt down under your breasts, there’s still a piece above your breasts, so it’s very discreet.

When you’re done nursing, the insert snaps right out and it’s a regular, nice shirt. And so it’s a good investment; you’re buying a shirt for now, but you’ll still have it for when you’re done nursing.