Best nipple cream for breastfeeding

Lanolin, a fat obtained from sheep’s wool, is the only ingredient recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for nipple pain. It’s also the only ingredient in Lansinoh’s budget-friendly nipple cream. And it’s purified lanolin too, which means it's safe for your baby to ingest and doesn’t need to be washed off before breastfeeding. 

Moms say that Lanisoh's cream glides on easily once you warm it up a little in your hand — no need to rub or tug already sore nipples. They also note that the cream creates a bit of a barrier, keeping your breast pads, nursing bra, or shirt from sticking to nipples. Though, many moms warn that this cream leaves residue and yellowish stains on undergarments. Fortunately, a little goes a long way: Just a dab or two a few times a day or whenever you need it is effective. 

"I used the Lansinoh cream religiously at the beginning of my breastfeeding journey,” Sarah Darby, BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist, says. “I would apply it before and after nursing and it helped a lot with the soreness and cracking." She loved that she didn't have to remove it before breastfeeding, and even found it did triple duty as a hand moisturizer and lip balm. 

Heads up
This cream comes in a mini version that's easy to tuck into your go-bag while the full-sized version stays at home. 

Moms say
"Lansinoh lanolin has been a godsend for me. I tried Medelas nipple cream first but it was really sticky. Lansinoh is much better imo."

"I use the lansinoh nipple cream! It is a life saver!!"

"Use lansinoh nipple cream, your nipples will thank you for starting early once baby is nursing."

Specs

• Emollient ingredient: Lanonlin
• Size: 1.41 or .25 ounces

Earth Mama’s plant-based nipple cream is both lanolin- and gluten-free (which can be important to moms with allergies). The formula contains beeswax and plant butters like mango, shea, and cocoa to provide moisture to your sore, cracked nipples. It also contains calendula, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to ease swelling and help ward off potential infections. Perhaps that's why so many BabyCenter moms swear that Earth Mama’s nipple cream was fundamental in easing their transition into breastfeeding.

Karen Sly, Senior Finance Manager of Everyday Health Group Pregnancy and Parenting, says that Earth Mama's cream was essential for her feeding routine: "I used Earth Mama with my first baby, and kept on using it once I began exclusively pumping," she says. "I was very fortunate to never have a lot of pain, but I used it from day one in order to prevent any cracking/soreness."

Moms say that this nipple cream spreads easily and has a nice faint chocolatey smell: Karen says it wasn't as thick as lanolin, so she felt it was easier to apply, and she didn't perceive any smell at all. Moms also say that it soothes dry skin better than lanolin, and has a buttery feel that's similar to petroleum jelly, so it stays put and keeps providing a skin barrier rather than absorbing quickly like lotions. BabyCenter moms particularly appreciate that you don't have to remove this cream before breastfeeding, as there's nothing in it that's harmful for your baby. 

Heads up
Some women say that the butter’s texture is inconsistent: sometimes smooth and creamy, sometimes oddly grainy. 

Moms say
“Earth Mama nipple butter is AMAZING!  It helps tremendously with keeping the milk knobs moisturized, and prevents cracking and bleeding. Also I find that it really helps with the toe-curling pain of baby latching on.” 

“The only thing that has worked for me is Earth Mama nipple butter. My nipples cracked and bled with my second baby and nothing healed them except Earth Mama.” 

"I've been using it since day one and haven't had any cracked nips."

"100% Earth Mama. You can also use coconut oil but Earth Mama is awesome and works really well."

Specs

• Emollient ingredients: Olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango seed butter
• Size: 1 or 2 ounces

Owens says you can use plain coconut oil purchased from grocery stores as a nipple balm, but it's awfully greasy and rarely available in a portable size. Instead, opt for Honest Company’s nipple balm, which  contains coconut oil and comes in an easy-to-squeeze tube!). Unlike some creams that are hard to dispense without shaking the tube and squeezing hard, moms say this cream comes out with just a gentle squeeze. 

This hypoallergenic unscented balm is made with USDA-organic ingredients that are safe for a nursing baby, so you don’t have to worry about wiping it off every time you nurse. Moms like that it spreads easily right out of the tube; you don't have to warm it up before attempting to spread. 

The texture is another thing moms rave about. While lanolin-based and other creams can be a bit thick, this balm is more like a rich lotion, adding to its soothing abilities. 

Heads up
The cream is unscented, but some users say they detect a slight “chemical-y” odor. 

Moms say
“I’ve been using the Honest nipple balm and it has saved my nipples!”

“I used the nipple balm from the Honest Company and it was a lifesaver. Breastfeeding was painful at first until I started using that and then my nipples got used to it.”

Specs

• Emollient ingredients: Canola oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, jojoba seed extract, soybean oil
• Size: 1.75 ounces
   

Moms praise Motherlove’s nipple cream for moisturizing their skin and speeding up the healing of sore, cracked nipples. This is due largely to the ingredients. Mother Love’s cream contains a number of anti-inflammatory ingredients, including certified organic calendula and organic marshmallow root, as well as moisturizing components like olive oil, beeswax, and shea butter. "Motherlove cream saved my cracked chapped nipples!!" says one fan on BabyCenter's Community; "[When] applied very generously, [it] really helped when I had cracked nipples in the newborn days," says another BabyCenter Community mom. 

Moms like that they don't have to remove this cream before breastfeeding, and appreciate that it’s free from parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fillers. They also love the silky texture, as most creams can be grainy. 

Heads up
This cream is typically not sold in stores; you'll have to order online. 

Moms say
"Motherlove Nipple Cream is what everyone in my nursing group loves. My nipples also just cracked for the first time at 2.5 months and it has helped a lot."

“Motherlove nipple cream worked way better than lanolin for me.”

“Motherlove Nipple Cream is wonderful. The lactation consult approved it and it also smells nice too. Most importantly, it heals.”

"My daughter had tongue tie. I didn’t realize it until my nipples were ready to fall off. It was sweet relief after applying motherlove. Had my cracked and bloody nipples healed in 2 days."

Specs

• Emollient ingredients: Olive oil, beeswax, shea butter
• Size: 1 or 2 ounces
   

This soothing nipple balm is the mess-free care you’ve been looking for. Thanks to the twist-stick applicator, the balm glides on like deodorant, leaving your hands completely clean. Women who have very sore nipples appreciate that they don't have to rub it on, which can cause further pain. They say that the balm has a "buttery" texture that it kept their skin soft, which helped them feel less irritated as they healed from any damage. 

The balm itself is made with plant-based ingredients that are free of lanolin, petroleum, and artificial fragrances; it's fine to leave it on for breastfeeding. 

Heads up
Though the stick form is great for application, it’s not quite as convenient to take along in a purse or diaper bag as a small tube. 

Specs

• Emollient ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, rice bran oil, sunflower seed wax, sunflower seed oil
• Size: 1 ounce