Whether by breast or by bottle, you’re going to be doing it every few hours for the first several months so you definitely want to have the right gear. My ten-month-old still nurses regularly but since I work, she has to take a bottle as well. Here are my top picks to help you get the job done no matter how you choose to do it.

#1 – The MVP: My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

At home in the nursery, in the car and everywhere else, this is the one thing I could not have done without. I know some moms swear by their Boppy pillow, but you would never convince me to trade my Brest Friend. This pillow becomes feeding central with a strap that fastens all the way around you, built-in lumbar support, a broad, firm cushion with perfectly positioned mounded head rests on either side and a handy pocket to hold anything you need to keep handy. Whether you nurse or bottle feed, this pillow keeps you and your little one perfectly positioned and comfortable.

The Essentials

While the My Brest Friend pillow was, by far, my most favorite product for feeding, there are a few things that you have to have. No, seriously, you HAVE to have them. From preventing leaks to keeping things flowing, here are some of my favorite essentials.

#2 – Lansinoh HPA Lanolin

All of the doctors and nurses at the hospital where I delivered where obsessed with this stuff. Every single time someone new came into the room, they would rattle off the same questions: “Did someone tell you about the cream? Are you using the cream? Do you need more cream?” It got to the point that I didn’t want to hear another word about “the cream” but it didn’t take me long to understand why they were so fixated on it. If you’re going to nurse, this is a must-have for preventing drying, cracking and other nasty business that can put a serious damper on an already challenging activity. I used it every time I nursed and then right before getting in the shower. And the best part is that there’s no need to wipe it off to nurse—it’s completely safe for baby.

#3 – Johnson’s Nursing Pads

Now you might think, “A nursing pad is a nursing pad, right? What’s the difference?” Well, I found out the answer to that question first-hand. One of the great things about all the prep classes I took at the hospital was the swag. It allowed me to try out a lot of different products without having to invest in them. I must’ve had samples for at least five different brands of nursing pads to try out and they all paled miserable in comparison to good old Johnson’s. If you plan to nurse, stock up on these babies!

#4 – Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

I was positively lost when it came to nursing bras and being a well-endowed woman independent of all of the sizing changes that come with nursing didn’t help. I wandered aimlessly through the intimates section at Target at about eight months pregnant trying to determine what I needed for my impending arrival. Not wanting to spend the time required in the fitting room (it was hard enough to put my shoes on once a day let alone having to go through the changing required to try on bras!), I grabbed three different kinds of nursing bras and took them home where I could try them on in my own sweet time. I returned the molded cup bras. They would fit at one point and then, right around feeding time, let’s just say the cups “runneth over.” I wish I had returned the second kind. It was a soft cup BUT it was the sort that forms a circle all the way around the breast with a hole in the center. I couldn’t stand this type of bra in the end. As my breasts would enlarge, that little circle of fabric would tighten and tighten. The Bravado seamless bra is the best thing ever. I went out and bought several more and now this is the only type of nursing bra I wear. I know some reviews have claimed that they lack the adequate support to be used as an everyday bra, but I haven’t found this to be the case at all. I sleep in them, nurse in them, I LIVE in these bras!

#5 – Dr. Brown’s BPA-free Bottles

If you have friends that have used these, you’ve probably heard it before—these are the best bottles! We tried a few different bottles in the beginning and now these are the only bottles my husband will use. Go for these the first time and you won’t be disappointed.

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