All mothers have had to deal with the pain and discomfort that comes after breastfeeding or pumping. Sore nipples are a result of a poor latch, a condition that can be corrected or avoided. Even as you try to get the best breastfeeding latch and get used to the constant wet and dry nipples, a sore or cracked nipple is inevitable. The condition is painful and annoying at the same time. If the cracks and the pain are not taken care of, they can exacerbate, leading to more pain.
A nipple cream gives you comfort and eases your pain while you are trying to get the latch right. Good creams should heal your cracks and pain within a few days. However, with so much nipple cream brands in the market, it is challenging to pick one. Of course, the first factor to consider is safety, but what are the other factors? Read on to learn more.
Organic Nipple Creams For Breatfeeding
1.Badger Organic Nursing Balm
The Badger Organic Nursing Balm is made of simple all-organic ingredients, making it safe for the baby to ingest. These ingredients include sunflower oil, beeswax, extra virgin olive oil, carnauba wax, and coconut oil. These enhance the performance of the cream, seeing that some of them are recognized for their medicinal value.
Each cream bottle is hypoallergenic, enhancing its safety for the baby and the mom. When applied, the cream soothes the nipple and eases pain while protecting it from cracks and dryness. It is formulated free of fragrances, parabens, dyes, GMOs, petrolatum, lanolin, and synthetics. Its can packaging allows it to be tossed in a diaper bag for ease of traveling.
When applied, the cream leaves the aroma of natural coconut oil and beeswax. This aroma is good for you and for the baby. The cream is smooth and light, though not runny, making it easier to apply. However, you will need to buy a few cans, seeing that each can carries only one ounce of cream.
2. Motherlove Nipple Cream
Motherlove Nipple Cream is another 100-percent organic cream, formulated with the safety of the mother and the baby in mind. The cream is certified USDA organic and cruelty-free salve. According to the manufacturer, the formula soothes the nipple, relieves pain, and reduces cracks.
The balm, according to the manufacturer, is both safe and effective in relieving pain when breastfeeding. The cream comes in a one-ounce jar. If you are not satisfied with the performance of the cream, the manufacturer allows you to return it. Application is easy thanks to the smoothness and softness of the cream.
The all-natural ingredients work fast to give results within a few days. The cream is packaged in a tall container. The container carries enough cream, allowing you to apply for a long time.
Natural Nipple Creams for Breastfeeding
3. Era Organics Soothing Nipple Cream
Era Organics Soothing Nipple Cream is an ideal choice if you are looking for natural products. The cream soothes, moisturizes, and reduces cracks on the nipple. It is certified for use on painful, cracked and irritated nipples. If the cream does not perform as the manufacturer claims, you are allowed to return it and get a refund. When applied on chapped and irritated skin, it boosts healing and protects the skin from chaffing. Even though it moisturizes, it reduces instances of excess moisture. Its formula has powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce soreness and skin irritation.
The formula is 100 percent natural with no parabens, alcohol, mineral oils, lanolin, and fragrances. This makes it safe for the mother and for the baby to ingest. The ingredients are hypoallergenic and food grade. They include sunflower oil, apricot oil, cocoa butter, arrowroot powder, calendula oil and chamomile extract among others. Each of these ingredients is included in the formula to offer unique benefits including killing microorganisms and moisturizing.
Era Organics Soothing Nipple Cream comes with a 60-day money-back-guarantee, allowing you to experience the benefits of the cream with confidence.
4. Medela Tender Care Lanolin Tube
If you experience discomfort when latching, the Medela Tender Care Lanolin Tube was formulated for you. It is a natural nipple cream with ingredients that have been proven to work for cracked, irritated, and painful nipples. It soothes and offers relief and protection to nipples that are tender.
Designed with all natural ingredients, this cream is safe for ingestion. This protects the baby and the mother. You do not have to remove before breastfeeding. The cream allows a no-mess application as it glides smoothly and gently on the nipple. However, if you or your baby are allergic to wool, you should reconsider using this cream thanks to the lanolin in its formula.
The cream comes in a 2-ounce tube, allowing you to apply until the cracks and the soreness have been rectified. It is offered in a soft tube packaging. You will need to press to get it and apply it the same way you would apply lotion.
5. Lansinoh Breastfeeding Salve
Lansinoh Breastfeeding Salve is a natural cream formulated for the safety of the mom and the baby. When applied, the cream reduces cracks on the nipple, reduces soreness and soothes the breasts to ease pain. Each tube carries 100 percent organic and hypoallergenic cream. The formula is free of fragrances, parabens and other harsh chemicals. It contains lanolin, an ingredient extracted from sheep wool, which has a horde of healing properties.
Besides soothing the skin and healing cracks, the cream moisturizes the skin, protecting it from cracks. The manufacturer recommends its use on eyebrows, heels, elbows, lips, and cuticles as a moisturizer.
You can choose from different package sizes to suit your needs. If you need value for money, choose a large package. This will let you use it for a long time.
Nipple Creams without Lanolin
6. Honest Organic Nipple Balm
The active ingredient in the Honest Organic Nipple Balm is olive oil. The oil is known for its soothing and hydrating properties. This cream’s formula has all-natural ingredients. As olive oil deeply hydrates the skin, Shea Butter, Tamanu and Aloe ensures that the nipples are soft, resilient, and supple. This protects the breasts from cracks and pain that might result from dryness. All the ingredients in this cream are safe for ingestion. No need, therefore, to wipe them off when breastfeeding.
The cream is hypoallergenic and has no lanolin or other animal based ingredients. Mothers and babies can enjoy a product with no mineral oils, petroleum, Vitamin E, parabens, gluten, fragrances and flavors, dyes, and phthalates.
Other ingredients in this cream include Helianthus Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Oil, Cera Alba, Butter Oil, Aloe Vera and Officinalis Oil. You should apply the cream on the nipple after feeding and as often as needed.
7. Bamboobies Lanolin-Free Nursing Balm
The Bamboobies Lanolin-Free Nursing Balm was formulated to keep new moms from cracks, dryness, and sores. When applied, the cream keeps you safe from conditions that might affect your nipples, resulting from dryness. Better yet, the formula kills microorganisms to prevent infections on the cracks. Its all-natural formula keeps the nipples soft, healthy, and supple. This eases pain within a short period and reduces cracking.
This is a lanolin-free nipple cream, which is safe for you and your baby. If you or your baby have eczema, the cream is safe for you. Some of the ingredients include extra virgin oil, marshmallow root, shea butter, beeswax and calendula flower.
Bamboobies is a company run by a woman who experienced painful nipples when nursing and ended up creating a product that would help all mothers get past the cracking and soreness problems.
8. Green Goo Organic Nursing Comfort Cream
Green Goo Organics is a family-owned business that has been in business for a long time. The company is known to create natural products for mothers and babies. Their product, Green Goo Organic Nursing Comfort Cream, is a blend of natural oils to soothe, moisturize, and hydrate the nipples to reduce tenderness. It features hydrating butter to relieve an itchy skin. Its lanolin free formula keeps it safe, seeing that it does not have pesticides.
The formula is free of petroleum, parabens, and mineral oils. Its organic nature means that the baby can ingest it and you, therefore, don’t need to wipe it before breastfeeding. To apply, you need to warm a small amount of the cream in your hands and apply it on the nipples.
Some of the ingredients include olive oil, chamomile flowers, calendula flowers, beeswax, and marshmallow root.
9. Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Cream
Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Cream is soothing, non-sticky, and natural. This lanolin-free cream comes as an organic herbal salve to soothe sores. It is created for chapped, blistered and sore nipples. The cream has been clinically tested to ensure it is non-irritating and dermatologically safe. It is made with food-grade organic herbs and plant butters. You need to apply this balm after feeding or as needed.
Each cream is non-toxic and natural with no artificial fragrances, flavors, and dyes. This is a vegan cream with no animal ingredients. This reduces allergens and makes it safe for mums and babies. Therefore, there is no need to wash it off before nursing.
10. Camille Beckman Mom and Baby Natural Nipple Cream
The Camille Beckman cream was formulated to help reduce stretch marks that appear on the breasts and nipples during pregnancy. It also reduces dry spots, chapped nipples, and lips. Besides using it on the nipples, the cream can be used on lips and on the sensitive skin of the baby, making it supple and moisturized.
This is an all-natural vegan balm that is easy to apply. When applied on the belly, the balm enhances elasticity and reduces stretch marks. This comes as a lotion alternative for the soft skin of the baby. The product is made of seven natural ingredients including olive oil, shea butter, natural plant waxes and plant butters. It softens dry skin with ease when used immediately after feeding
Factors to Consider when Shopping for Nipple Creams
Ingredients and Performance
With all the commercial hype, each cream claiming to be the best, checking the ingredients that make up cream is invaluable. Note that, the baby will have to ingest some of the salve. Granted, choose a cream with all natural ingredients to ensure your safety and that of the baby. If, on the ingredients list, the cream is written ‘remove before breastfeeding’, this should be the first sign to avoid it.
Nipple creams are supposed to soothe and heal your nipples. Any cream should do just that. You can tell the performance of a given brand by looking at users reviews. These creams are not created equal and you should not, therefore, expect them to perform equally.
Ease of Application
By the time you are going for nipple cream, your breasts are already sore and paining. You do not need a cream that is hard to apply and requires that you apply extra force. Granted, choose creams that are non-sticky and smooth. Instead of a hard salve or balm, you would rather have a runny cream as you only need to rub it lightly to apply.
The Scent
Nipple creams need to be odorless and unscented. When the creams have a smell, the baby may be sensitive to the smell and refuse to suckle. If you have to buy scented nipple cream, choose one with a natural scent or a scent that your baby can identify with.
Value for money
Nipple creams, just like any other product, are offered in a wide range of prices from the least priced to expensive brands. Expensive brands tend to have organic ingredients while the inexpensive brands offer value for money. It is up to you to choose quality over price or price over quality.
Nipple Creams to Avoid
In some instances, the price of product can mislead you to buy a poor quality nipple cream. While you may save a few bucks, you should avoid making a buying decision based on price alone. When looking at the ingredients of nipple cream, pay attention to the fine print on the side of the cream box.
Look out for:
Numbing Effect
Products that cause numbness are discouraged for use on breasts. A numb breast will not release milk as expected as numbness affects the milk’s let-down reflex. It could also numb the mouth of your baby, making it hard for them to breastfeed.
Ingredients that cause numbing are steroid based. When these ingredients numb the nipple, they give you an impression that the pain has gone away only for it to resurface later.
Avoid Alcohol-Based Ingredients
Alcohol is good when you need to disinfect bacteria from your nipple. However, when it comes in contact with the skin, it dries the skin, leading to even more cracks and pain. Ensure that in the ingredients list, there are no harsh chemicals such as parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, and triethanolamine.
If the ingredients in the cream sound foreign to you, with names you cannot even pronounce, avoid it. Again, if you have to remove the cream before breastfeeding, it is not worth it. It means that it is unsafe for the baby to ingest.
When Should You Use Nipple Cream
You need to use nipple cream right after nursing. This allows the cream to soothe the skin and reduce soreness for the next feeding session. When you need to feed, most of the creams do not need to be washed off as they are natural and safe for the baby. However, if you are a little worried about the safety of the baby, wash off the nipples with a washcloth. However, the cream is not meant to be washed off, washing it off might only aggravate the issue.
Lanolin and Lanolin Free
Lanolin is a common ingredient in nipple creams. It is highly effective on those who are not allergic to it. However, it is worth noting that lanolin is extracted from the sweat of sheep. If you have wool allergy, therefore, stay away from creams with lanolin. Pesticides are a concern in lanolin based creams. Seeing that lanolin is extracted from the wool of sheep, it might be contaminated with pesticides. If you still need to buy a lanolin based cream, ensure that the company you buy from has a clear refining process.
Besides its advantages, lanolin offers the same benefits as wool. It is antibacterial and antifungal. These qualities allow it to keep off bugs from cracked nipples. It is also water repellant, allowing it to keep the breasts dry when feeding, to hasten the recovery period.
Conclusion
Nipple creams are important in keeping your nipples comfortable. However, you have to choose the best brand to ensure that you get the best out of the cream. Like mentioned, ensure that the cream does not have harsh chemicals, allergens, and toxins. Some are created with only plant ingredients for vegans and others are created with a few animal ingredients.
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