The Ultimate List of Breastfeeding Supplies

UPDATED MAY 7, 2019

If you are planning to breastfeed your baby, you are not going to want to miss this list of essential breastfeeding products.

There are so many products on the market for breastfeeding, some that are extremely useful, and some… well, not so much.

I have compiled a list to make your breastfeeding product hunt a little easier. Giving you a list of the supplies I think are the best and most useful to help you with your breastfeeding journey.

(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Meaning I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase something through one of my links)

Essential Breastfeeding Products

Electric Breast Pump

Breast pumps are an important breastfeeding product for some, and for others it isn’t a necessity to have one.

Here are some reason why it is a good idea to invest in a breast pump.

Going back to work while still breastfeeding
A night out without babes
Other individuals can help with feedings
Build up a breastmilk stash
If you have a low supply a pump is very useful for help building your supply back up.
If you have an upcoming medical procedure that will not allow you to breastfeeding for a few days. (this includes medications you may be prescribed)

These are the main reasons why it would be a good idea to invest in a breast pump.

There are so many different breast pumps on the market that it makes it hard to choose which pump to get. But here are some suggestions to help you make a decision.

If you are going back to work or if you are planning to pump a lot, I suggest you go with a high quality pump like the Spectra S1 or the Medela Sonata
If you are only planning to pump here and there, than I recommend getting a cheaper pump like this one.

Manual Breast Pump

You might be thinking, why would I need a manual pump if I have an electric pump?

Manual breast pumps come in super handy if you are engorged and you want to quickly express some milk for relief, they are also convenient to travel with, and they are very useful if you have a clogged milk duct.

Easy Access Bra

During the first few weeks of breastfeeding your boobs are going to be engorged with milk. making it extremely uncomfortable to wear a bra.

I went without a bra for as long as I could. But when I need to go out, and when I was less engorged and could tolerate a bra I went for comfy nursing bras, or sports bras. Try and stay away from ones with underwires.

Nipple Cream

Girl, don’t forget the nipple cream. Seriously a nipple saver.

My favourite to use was lanolin, I found that it worked quickly to sooth and helped with chapped nipples. The only downfall of this product is that it will stain shirts or bras. Try and let the cream soak in a little before putting on your bra or shirt.

If you would like a more natural/organic nipple cream this one would be perfect fo you.

Other Essential supplies

Breastmilk storage bags. Needed if you are pumping
Bottles, if you plan to pump and feed.
Pump cleaning brushes

Not Essential But Extremely Useful Breastfeeding Supplies

Nursing Pillow

If the first few weeks of breastfeeding I found my Boppy pillow to come in handy. Using a nursing pillow really helps with positioning. When you first start to breastfeed positioning can be a little awkward, especially if you are anything like me and are afraid to break your baby. So I found the bobby pillow to be helpful achieve the right position every time.

The other great thing about the Boppy pillow is that it can be used for tummy time activities and to help baby sit up.

Breast Pads

I leaked like sieve! So breast pads were a HUGE necessity for me! They defiantly help stop leaks from going through your shirts. You can get disposable ones or reusable ones.

Other Items

Nursing shirts and tanks
Nipple shield– this could also be an essential item if you baby is struggling with a good latch
breastfeeding cover

Breastfeeding Products That You Didn’t Know You NEEDED

Breastfeeding Class (Online)

If you would like to further prepare yourself for your breastfeeding journey I highly recommend this e-course The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Stacey Stewart. Stacey is a lactation educator and has a maters degree in teaching.

Her course The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class goes over topics such as:

Benefits for mom and baby
Mastering your milk supply
Latching and positioning
Expression and storage
Finding support networks
plus lots more

Stacey has even included bonus items with her course:

Tips from pumping moms (ebook)
Troubleshooting guide: common breastfeeding issues
Breastfeeding milestone photo cards
Little black book of breastfeeding secrets (ebook)

Check out her e-course webpage if you would like to learn more about the course!

Haakaa Breast Pump

When I first started breastfeeding my son I had no idea that the side he wasn’t feeding on would leak so much. So so much. It would spray half way across the bed! That’s liquid gold that was being wasted, leaking all over the place, getting the bed wet and what not. Shame. The Haakaa breast pump is the best thing to combat wasting your milk. It’s a silicon pump that just suctions to your boob and collects milk while you feed off the other side. Because if you have a strong letdown, the other side that you are not feeding from will leak like cray. I highly recommend getting the Haakaa breast pump especially if you are trying to make a stock pile for your freezer, every little bit helps.

Burp Cloth

If you do not have a Haakaa pump or something else to collect the milk in I would recommend keeping a burp cloth or another absorbent cloth near you. There is nothing worse than starting to feed and finding a huge wet spot on the other side of your shirt. I used to just stuff a burp cloth in my shirt as a fed and that helped with any leakage.

Water

Every time I would breastfeed it was like I was walking through a desert and haven’t had water in days. I’m not sure why it can make you so thirsty but it does. So it’s always handy to have a water bottle close by! Plus drinking lots of water helps increase your supply so it’s a win win.

Freezer Meals

It is a great idea to have pre-made meals, made up and ready to go before you have your baby. Nursing makes you hungry and trust me you will not feel like preparing a meal every night for dinner. Pre-made meals for the crockpot are a great and convenient for the first few weeks.

Netflix & Cellphone/ Entertainment

For the first few weeks after I had my son I hardly left the bed. Partly because he was cluster feeding and it was the comfiest spot to feed and because really who wants to get out of bed when you just had a baby?

Netflix and my cell phone where the bomb to keep my boredom in check.

*Disclaimer there’s a very good chance you will drop your cell phone on your babies face. Don’t feel too bad it happens to the best of us.

Support

I can not stress enough how important it is to have support through all of this. Breastfeeding can be difficult, stressful, and extra demanding, but it is so worth it. You are going to need people who support you to help you through your breastfeeding journey. Whether it be your husband, family member, or support groups, don’t go at this alone.

I would love to have you join my facebook group support group. A place where moms can come from judgment-free tips and advice. No mom shaming here. We are a growing group and would love to have you join the community!

Leave a comment below with your favourite breastfeeding products that you couldn’t live without!