What to Look for in a Nipple Cream

Consider the ingredients. Natural and organic options are always a good option, since baby may ingest traces of the product while breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using medical-grade lanolin products to soothe sore nipples. Stay away from creams that have hard-to-pronounce ingredients or (major red flag!) need to be wiped off before feeding—these likely contain artificial ingredients and aren’t safe for baby. Other harmful ingredients to look out for include: petroleum, parabens, mineral oil and triethanolamine. Alcohol is another no-no, particularly for Mom: It’s extremely drying and can worsen skin quality over time.

Test out the texture. Some balms and salves can be surprisingly tough to rub on, and you don’t want to use any extra pressure in an area that’s already super-sensitive and sore. And who wants to be left a sticky mess? Soft and smooth is the way to go.

Avoid added fragrances. The scents don’t enhance the nursing process, and baby—who’s sensitive to fragrance—may even refuse to feed because of them. Your best bet: a nipple cream that’s simple and unscented.

Skip the numbing agents. While they may seem ideal if you have sore nipples, numbing creams are not suitable for nursing moms. Ingredients like lidocaine could numb baby’s mouth enough to affect their sucking abilities and even stop them from feeding.

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