The Best Nipple Creams for Breastfeeding to Help You Find Relief

When I took a prenatal breastfeeding class, I learned about the benefits of golden milk, how to get the baby to latch, and the different positions to hold a nursing newborn. What nobody told me — and perhaps was one of the most challenging parts of breastfeeding — was experiencing raw, cracked, sore and bleeding nipples in the early weeks. As it turns out, finding the best nipple creams were part of that solution. (It’s also highly recommended by experts to work with an IBCLC lactation consultant to fix the baby’s latch as it could be contributing to your painful nipples, too.) 

I breastfed each of my daughters for about a year, and relied on nipple creams to keep me going, because the skin on my areolas is super sensitive. As both a beauty and parenting editor, I have tested dozens of products during both postpartum periods and have found the best nipple creams that worked for me — and they’ve helped numerous breastfeeding parents in the What to Expect community, too.

How we chose the best nipple creams

It can be hard to know what the best nipple creams for your body will be, especially with so many options on the market. To learn what features and ingredients are most important in a nipple cream, we spoke to several dermatologists and lactation consultants, who advised on what to look for and avoid. We also used feedback from parents in the What to Expect community, in addition to my own experience with these items, to find products that worked best for a wide range of breastfeeding parents. Based on their comments, we made sure that all products selected met the following criteria:

• Safety: According to Amy Wechsler, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, the formula should be something you don’t have to remove before breastfeeding. “If not, you’ll be wiping your nipples and areolas all day long, on and off, and that’s irritating to your skin,” she explains. You should also avoid ingredients that baby can’t ingest, such as petroleum jelly and vitamin E. “Some [additional] ingredients to avoid include alcohol, petroleum chemicals, parabens, artificial flavors and anesthetics which can numb a baby's mouth,” notes Rebecca Agi, M.S., IBCLC, owner of Best Milk LA. 
• Moisturizing: Nipple creams feature a host of hard-working ingredients that heal, soothe and nourish the skin. You’ll want to make sure that the one you choose has moisturizing ingredients, one of the most popular being medical-grade purified lanolin, a wax secreted by wool-bearing animals such as sheep. “Lanolin is a great barrier ingredient,” says Dr. Wechsler. For those with lanolin allergies or seeking other types of formulas, try those with olive oil, beeswax and shea butter as the main moisturizing ingredients. “[These three ingredients] are essentially really good emollients so you’re putting something on that’s a good moisturizer and barrier,” she adds. Coconut oil is another popular ingredient, but it can also be an allergen for baby, according to Dr. Wechsler, so you’ll want to be careful when first using it.
• Ease of use: Just as you might prefer a lighter face cream over a heavier one (or vice versa), certain nipple product consistencies may appeal more to you. Some are greasier and require wearing nursing pads to avoid stains, while others are made to absorb fast (like a face serum). It comes down to preference and what works best for you, whether that’s a thick, heavy-duty cream for repairing damaged nipples or a lightweight moisturizer to use regularly.

Each of the nipple creams on this list has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the What to Expect community members for this criteria.