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How to choose and use nipple cream

First published on Monday 1 August 2016 00:00 BST Last modified on Tuesday 19 January 2021, 11:10 GMT

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Breastfeeding may be the most natural thing in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

In the first weeks, as your baby gets used to latching on, it’s very common for your nipples to feel extremely sore, and even to crack and bleed, before they toughen up.

A decent nipple cream is one of those affordable little breastfeeding products that can make your nursing journey more successful.

What to spend
Nipple creams are generally inexpensive, and start from around £3 for a supermarket or chain store’s own-brand product.

Branded nipple creams usually cost around £10, with organic and natural balms available from this sort of price too. If you’re looking for a luxury nipple cream, high-end brands can cost between £15 and £20.

Key features
Nipple creams are designed to relieve soreness in several ways.

Some simply moisturise and hydrate dry, chapped skin; others also allow air to circulate to the skin as well.

Some also provide a barrier on the surface of the skin, which helps to soothe pain by covering the many nerve endings in the nipple area with a protective coating.

The common ingredient in most nipple creams is lanolin, a natural, hypoallergenic substance that helps the skin to heal and stay supple and moisturised.

Other ingredients may include cocoa butter, vitamin E, shea butter and aloe vera, all of which are renowned for their skin-soothing properties.

Strongly fragranced creams can also be off-putting to your baby when it’s time to feed.

One of the most important things to look for when choosing a nipple cream is whether it needs to be washed off before you feed your baby.

The majority are completely non-toxic and so don’t need to be removed before feeding, which is a definite benefit if your baby is clamouring for a feed.

Some, however, do contain ingredients or fragrances that are not safe for ingestion, and so need to be wiped off first.

Strongly fragranced creams can also be off-putting to your baby when it’s time to feed.

Some nipple creams are very thick and sticky, while others are more like normal body moisturisers.

Deciding which sort to use is a personal preference, but although the thicker creams can feel less pleasant to apply, they do tend to be more effective and provide a better barrier on the surface of your skin.

For best results, nipple creams should be used after every feed until your skin heals, and again if the soreness returns.

You should make sure your nipples are clean and dry before you apply the cream, for example by wiping them with a soft cloth.

You’ll probably want to wear breast pads to stop the cream from staining or sticking to your nursing bra.

Some nipple creams can also be used on other areas of dry skin, such as chapped lips or hands, or as a nappy cream for your baby.

Need to know
Alongside nipple creams, your own breast milk is one of the best natural treatments for cracked nipples.

Expressing a few drops and rubbing it into your nipples after a feed can help your skin to heal, especially if you can also spend some time topless to let the air circulate to your skin.

If your nipples are extremely cracked or painful, or if you have red, inflamed patches or lumps on your boobs, shooting pains in your breasts or white spots, you should see your GP, midwife or health visitor or a breastfeeding counsellor, as these could be signs of a condition such as thrush or mastitis (an infection of the milk-making tissues) which could need medical treatment.

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