The first days and weeks of breastfeeding can sometimes lead to an interesting surprise; cracked and bleeding nipples. I was not prepared for it. I suppose I knew it could happen because I did have some nipple cream with me but I didn't know what it would be like, and I definitely did not give it much thought. Well, the good news is it does not last that long. And if you are lucky maybe it won't be too bad. It can be painful though and having a good nipple cream to soothe and heal can be a great help.
There are two types of nipple creams on the market, creams that contain lanolin and creams that are lanolin free.
One of the most popular lanolin creams is Lansinoh HPA Lanolin. It is probably the most recognized and well known. My other personal favorite is a lanolin free cream called Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. I didn't discover this one until my second baby but it is wonderful. There are other creams around but these are my two favorites that I have tried so far. If I try and review others in the future I will share my findings.
Whether you prefer lanolin vs lanolin free is a personal choice. Lanolin is an animal by product that is produced from the glands of wool bearing animals. I have heard and read that it may contain pesticides if the wool was treated with chemicals. Obviously that is not something we want our babies to consume! Lansinoh does claim it is pesticide free though.
Another reason to select one versus the other is if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. There are people with lanolin allergies. On the other hand lanolin is very effective at healing cracked nipples and soothing.
As you decide here is a summary of my two favorites:
Lansinoh HPA Lanolin
Safe and effective relief for breastfeeding moms. Only a tiny amount is needed after feeding to soothe sore nipples and protect.
Designed to be a 100% natural with a single ingredient. It contains no additives or preservatives.
Hypoallergenic.
The number 1 nipple cream recommended by lactation consultants in US. (According to the manufacturer).
It comes in a 1.41 ounce tube and you can find the best price on Amazon here.
It has over 1000 positive reviews and I can attest that it works great. There is no scent and it's easy to use. The consistency on this one is very thick, sticky and not that easy to spread. It does the job though.
The 1.41 ounce tube was more than enough for me and I used it through two pregnancies and breastfeeding.
If you are not feeling the lanolin or do not want to use it for any reason. My other favorite is..
Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter
Okay this stuff is delicious. I mean it smells like food and I admit that I like to rub it all over my hands, neck, stomach and wherever as a moisturizer in addition to using it as a nipple cream. So its got that going for it. It is a different consistency than the lanolin creams. It is thinner in a way and less sticky. It is easier to spread around. And like I mentioned, it smells delicious!
This is the first lanolin free nipple cream and the first verified non GMO nipple cream.
This is a natural nipple butter that is safe and toxin free. This is completely safe for your baby.
In addition here is some information I gathered from Earth Mama's website about their product:
- Certified by Oregon Tilth
- The first Non-GMO Project Verified Nipple Cream!
- Toxin free, rated 1 on EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
- Clinically tested
- Non-irritating
- Dermatologically reviewed
Ingredients:
Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Theobroma cacao (organic cocoa) seed butter, Butyrospermum parkii (organic shea) butter, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Mangifera indica (mango) butter, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) flower extract
You can find this on the Earth Mama site or from Amazon at a discounted price.
By the way Earth Mama has some amazing pregnancy, breastfeeding and gift products for moms as well. All of their products are luxurious.
As you can see there are good choices all around. If you are concerned about nipple cream being lanolin free and want an organic and natural choice then Earth Mama has it covered. If you prefer a one ingredient scent free thick heavy duty cream then Lansinoh will work well. I personally have used both and they both work well for me. I have gotten more use out of the Earth Mama pot because I also use it as a moisturizer.
Let me know if you have a favorite nipple cream or if you have any questions!