Feeding
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I’ve Breastfed Two Babies—Here Are My Must-Have Products

written by AMANDA SHAPIN MICHELSON & STEPH ALLEVA CORNELL

The Everymom’s product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

breastfeeding mom"
breastfeeding mom
Source: Steph Alleva Cornell
Source: Steph Alleva Cornell

I breastfed my first baby for 14 months and my second for 13 months. Our nursing journey wasn’t always smooth sailing, but I learned so much during the last two years through trial and error. I also attribute a big part of our long-term success to all the stuff. While breastfeeding is, in theory, simply putting your baby to your boob and hoping they latch and eat, ask any breastfeeding person and they’ll tell you it’s actually way more involved.

While you’re dealing with a tricky latch, positioning your baby, and worrying about your milk supply, there are also likely a million other things going on in your life. Whether that’s caring for other kids, working in or out of the home, or simply trying to feed yourself while also feeding your baby, it can be complicated and downright draining. And that’s where all the stuff comes in. I don’t believe you need to spend a ton of money to make breastfeeding possible, but there are some products that simply make it easier and more comfortable, and therefore potentially more sustainable (if that’s your goal).

When I got home from the hospital with my first baby, I had no breastfeeding accessories. I had gotten a free (and not-so-great quality) breast pump through my insurance, and that was about it. After gathering recommendations from friends and placing more Amazon orders than I cared to count, I amassed a wide variety of nursing items to help me in my journey. After over two years of use, I can now share my favorites. They aren’t all necessary, but they sure can make the breastfeeding journey smoother.

breastfeeding mom
Source: Steph Alleva Cornell

Shop My Favorite Breastfeeding Products

nursing bra bodily
Bodily
The Everything Bra

I don't think I can do it justice to explaining how comfortable this bra is. It's so soft and the absolute best bra for the first few days and weeks postpartum, but also well beyond that. Plus, it provides gentle support, which is essential for the heightened breast sensitivity during this stage of nursing.

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hands-free pumping bra bodily
Bodily
The Do Anything Bra

The Do Anything Bra is an editor-fave because it's much thinner than other pumping bras. The fabric is buttery soft yet strong enough to hold up both traditional and hands-free pumps making it our top hands-free option. It also functions as a nursing bra, so you can easily do both. We recommend the three-pack.

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pull down nursing bra bodily
Bodily
The Effortless Bra

The ideal nursing solution for those late-night feedings when you're too tired to mess with clip closures. Its pull-down access makes feeding (and dressing yourself) effortless.

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Spectra
S1 Breast Pump

For the pumping mamas out there, I'm a fan of the Spectra S1. This may be covered by your insurance, so check before making the purchase. I recommend the S1 because you can plug it in or you can charge it so you can move about your house if needed.

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Elvie
Hands-Free Pump

And if you're pumping a lot, you might want to consider a wearable option like the Elvie, which fits into your bra. It's a splurge, but for moms who are pumping while on the go, it's pretty incredible.

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Amazon
Stasher Stand-Up Reusable Storage Bag

A little pumping trick is that you don't need to wash your pump parts after every use. You can instead put them in a bag in the fridge and wash them every 24 hours. If you're going for that approach (not everyone feels comfortable doing it, but I do), these giant reusable bags fit pump parts nicely. You can wash the bag and the pump parts every 24 hours.

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Amazon
MAM Easy Start Baby Bottles

We're a fan of these bottles from MAM, so if you're pumping or using formula, check these out.

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Target
Dr. Brown's Baby Bottle

And another bottle we loved, these Dr. Brown's bottles. They have a lot of parts to clean which is a little annoying, but both of my kids took to them easily.

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Amazon
Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

If you're freezing milk, these bags are my go-to. Pro tip: lay the bags flat in the freezer so they freeze into slim blocks for easier storage. I would stack each new bag on top of an older frozen bag after each pump.

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haakaa manual pump
Buy Buy Baby
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

This suctioning pump can be used while you're feeding baby on the other side. You simply put it on and it collects milk that might otherwise just drip onto your clothes and be wasted. Be warned though, once your baby gets a little bigger, they can kick it off. Seeing all that milk go flying is a sad experience. Even if you just use this for the first few weeks, it's inexpensive and worth it.

Additionally, Haakaa recently launched a new ladybug design that fits inside your bra.

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Target
Elvie Curve

Which brings me to my next product, the Curve. This is essentially a fancier (and therefore more expensive) version of the Haakaa. It actually fits inside of your bra so as your baby gets bigger and kicks, it will stay in place.

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bobbie organic formula
Bobbie
Organic Infant Formula

When I had my first baby, I was advised not to keep any formula in the house because, if breastfeeding got hard, it would be easy to just throw in the towel and grab the formula. I don't agree with this advice. Why put so much pressure on yourself? I say have a can of formula in your house so if you do want to use it or you're struggling with breastfeeding, you will have it as a backup. Also, it's very common to do combo feeding (breastfeeding and supplementing with formula), so having formula around is a good idea. This one from Bobbie is organic and is modeled after breastmilk.

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lactation powder supplement bodily
Bodily
Lactation Latte

Lactation powders are great for providing quick and easy production support. Incorporate into your morning ritual by mixing it into your favorite drink for warm and delicious sipping, or sprinkle into oatmeal or a smoothie to add a dash of lactogenic goodness.

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LMNT
Recharge Drink Mix

Breastfeeding can make you incredibly thirsty, and staying hydrated is important. While many drink powders brag about their low salt content, this one actually does the exact opposite and is a salt-fueled explosion. It might be an acquired taste, but I'm obsessed with it. Even if you're not breastfeeding but you're feeling sluggish or dehydrated, take one sip of this and you are instantly energized.

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I Formula-Fed One Child and Breastfed the Other—This Is What I Learned
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This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Bodily, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.