Disclaimer: I only recommend products that I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you.
Are you scrolling the internet looking for a list of minimalist breastfeeding essentials and thinking to yourself “why is this list still seem like so many items?” If it is, keep reading. I promise you I kept my list short and sweet!
The older I get the more I realize that I HATE STUFF.
With a relatively small house, I find that my spaces can look cluttered very quickly. And with two kids, that seems to be happening even faster these days.
So any time I have a chance to practice minimalism, I take it!
Minimalist Breastfeeding Essentials
It’s weird-you would think that the only thing you would need to breastfeed is your breasts.
And to be fair, if you really wanted to take it down to the bare bones necessities, this is 100% true!
The items on this list are just items that I’ve personally found make breastfeeding much easier. Feel free to tailor it to your lifestyle.
The Haakaa
New expecting mamas that are wanting to breastfeed: you may not know this (because I wasn’t told either) but when you feed on one boob, your other one will leak. Knowing this, you will need something to catch the milk so that it isn’t dripping all over you.
Now, if you don’t want to spend money and don’t need to create a breastmilk stash, a towel will work just fine. You can even cut some old clothes and make your own breast pads.
BUT, if you are wanting to store your breastmilk (for example if you are a working mom or are planning to put your child in daycare), the Haakaa makes it much easier to get started on that.
The Haakaa is a manual pump that suctions to your breast. You insert the Haakaa onto the breast that you aren’t using, and it collects your let down, which you can then use to kickstart your storage.
There are two variations of the Haakaa-the breast pump and the breast shells. If you don’t want to purchase both variations, I highly recommend the breast shells. They fit in your bra nicely, making it much easier to use than the pump.
Nursing Pads
Out of this entire list of minimalist breastfeeding essentials you need, this would be my pick.
If you were thinking about purchasing disposable nursing pads, I would recommend these reusable ones instead because they will save you so much money in the long run.
They are also surprisingly very absorbent, soft, and machine washable. This product now also comes with a little bag so you can put all your used nursing pads in it and just throw the whole bag in the wash.
Breast Pump
Breast pumps are expensive but your insurance may be able to cover some (or all) of the cost so definitely check with your provider before making a purchase.
I used a Medela pump when I was breastfeeding Austin and am currently testing out the Momcozy wearable pump with my newborn.
I’ve also gotten a chance to test out both the Willow and Elvie wearable pumps. To see which one I would recommend, click here!
Disposable Bags/ Reusable Bags
With all of the milk that you’re collecting from your Haakaa and breast pump, you will need a way to store it.
I like to use disposable bags because it is easier for my husband to just open up a bag and throw it away while I am at work. I don’t want to have him needing to wash anything during his limited time between classes.
However, if I was staying at home and just needed to store a little bit of breast milk for the next day, I would absolutely go with reusable breast milk storage bags.
Nursing Bra
Nobody tells you that when you’re breastfeeding that you are basically wearing a bra 24/7.
During the day, I like wearing bras with a lot of support. I need something to hold the puppies up! The Bravado! Designs bra is perfect for me because I can get the support I am looking for without feeling too restricted.
At night, I don’t even want to remember I am wearing a bra. I need something that feels like it isn’t even there and that I can take off easily to feed. My go to pick is the Hofish Maternity nursing bra.
Honorable Mentions:
Pain Relief
When my milk first comes in, I always feel really engorged. Personally, the feeling of engorgement is worse than labor.
To combat this, I like to keep some breast pads in the freezer ready to go. My favorite is the Lansinoh Breast Therapy Packs.
Another product I really like having on hand is nipple butter. I don’t have dry or cracked nipples often but when I do it’s usually during the newborn phase so it’s a nice product to have just in case. I use the Earth Mama brand because I love the clean ingredients and my kids don’t seem to mind the taste.
If you’re worried about having bleeding or cracked nipples, I highly suggest investing in Silverette nipple shields. These nipple shields will prevent your nipples from rubbing against your bra and clothes, giving you some much needed relief.
Nursing Cover
This is not a necessity in the slightest, especially because you can use a blanket or a shirt to cover yourself.
But, if you really want to buy one, do yourself a favor and steer clear of the Milk Snob. Not only does it get unbearably hot for you and baby during summer days, but you also can’t see what you’re doing unless your head is inside the cover.
Instead, I would recommend this Muslin nursing cover which has adjustable straps and is made with a more lightweight fabric.
Conclusion
When it comes to all things baby, it seems that companies try to prey on parents and families.
Between the infinite breast pump choices, nifty gadgets, and clothes trying to appeal to mothers, it can have you thinking: do I REALLY need all that?
Luckily, the answer is NO!
I hope you enjoyed reading my list of minimalist breastfeeding essentials, and give these products a chance!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out my list of minimalist baby registry items!
