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The Best Nipple Creams for Breastfeeding Mamas

April 17, 2019

Rainy City Agency

The best natural nipple cream is a simple one with a short ingredient list, such as a homemade blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and beeswax. Baraka's shea butter is made by hand at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana. For sore, cracked or persistent nipple problems, ask a midwife, doctor or pharmacist.

Breastfeeding is a beautiful experience, a time when mama and baby truly bond. It is also a learning process, and it isn't always as easy as it looks. Dry, sore or cracked nipples are common in the early weeks, and many mothers look for a gentle, natural cream to use between feedings.

This page gives you two DIY recipes, what each ingredient does, how to make the cream firmer or softer, and when to get expert help. If you are not a new mum yourself, chances are you know someone who is, and a jar of homemade nipple cream makes a thoughtful gift.

What is the best natural nipple cream for breastfeeding?

The best natural nipple cream is a simple blend of a few plain ingredients you recognise: a butter or two, a soft oil and a little beeswax. Many mothers find that short ingredient lists feel better than long ones, because there is less to wonder about. Making it yourself means you choose every ingredient and you know exactly what is in the jar.

Here is what to look for when you choose or make a nipple cream:

Few ingredients. Butters, oils and beeswax are enough.
No fragrance and no essential oils. Do not put essential oils on the breasts or nipples while breastfeeding. Leave them out of any nipple cream.
No water. A cream made only from butters, oils and wax has no water in it, so it is easy to keep clean.
A soft, spreadable texture. You want a cream that melts at body temperature and goes on in a thin layer.

Many store-bought nipple creams use lanolin, a wax from sheep's wool. Some mothers prefer a plant-based option, and that is where a shea butter blend comes in. Shea butter is rich and creamy, and it naturally contains vitamins A and E. Women in Ghana have long used it as an everyday skin butter, including during motherhood.

This is DIY advice, not medical advice. No cream is a treatment for sore or damaged nipples. Many mothers use these simple blends to moisturise between feedings and are happy with the results. If your nipples are cracked, bleeding or painful, ask a midwife, doctor, pharmacist or lactation consultant.

Homemade nipple cream: what goes in it and why

Each ingredient in these recipes has a job. Knowing what it does helps you change the recipe to suit you.

Shea butter makes the cream rich and creamy. It melts easily on warm skin and spreads smoothly. It is also a source of vitamins A and E.
Cocoa butter makes the cream firmer. It is hard at room temperature, so it helps the cream hold its shape in the jar.
Coconut oil makes the cream soft and easy to spread. It is solid in a cool room and melts as soon as it touches skin.
Beeswax makes the cream hold its shape. A small amount turns a loose blend into a balm you can scoop.
Olive oil makes the cream soft and light. It is used in the second recipe as the oil you infuse with herbs.
Calendula and marshmallow root are dried herbs traditionally used in homemade skin care. Many people like them for their gentle, soothing feel.

A simple rule of thumb: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape.

Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding Moms

This is the easy recipe. It takes about ten minutes and uses four ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 tsp (5 ml) Beeswax
1 tsp (5 ml) Shea butter
2 tsp (10 ml) cocoa butter
3 tsp (15 ml) coconut oil

Directions:

Measure all the oils, butters and beeswax into a small pan.
Turn it on low heat and let it melt completely.
Pour the melted butter into a container of choice. This should make around 1 oz (28 g).
Let it cool completely and put on the lid. Place in a cool, dry location.

Buy the ingredients now

This recipe uses three Baraka ingredients. One click takes all three straight to checkout.

Baraka Raw Shea Butter, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for several batches
Baraka Cocoa Butter, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for five batches
Baraka Virgin Coconut Oil, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for three batches

Buy all three now

Beeswax is not a Baraka product; use your usual supplier.

Use a clean, dry spoon or clean fingers to take out the cream. This keeps water out of the jar.

If you are open to trying one that is a little more complicated, but equally gentle and moisturising, try this one inspired by a mama at Just Making Noise.

DIY Natural Nipple Cream

This second recipe takes longer because you first infuse olive oil or coconut oil with dried herbs. The result is a herbal cream that many mothers enjoy. Use dried herbs only, so no water goes into the oil.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup (60 ml) dried Calendula
1/4 cup (60 ml) dried Marshmallow Root
1 cup (240 ml) Olive oil and/or Coconut oil
1/8 cup (30 ml) Beeswax
2 Tbsp (30 ml) Baraka Shea Butter

Directions:

Scoop the herbs into a glass jar and pour the oil on top. Make sure there is at least a 1 inch (2.5 cm) gap between the mixture and the top of the jar. Screw the lid on tightly.
Set out a medium size slow cooker and line the bottom with a thick hand towel. Place the jar inside and fill the slow cooker with water up to the level of the oil in the jar, but keep the water level below the lid.
Turn the slow cooker on the "warm" setting and leave it on for 3 to 5 days, partially covered. Add more water into the cooker when necessary.
After 3 to 5 days, remove the oil infusion from the cooker and let it cool a little. Strain the oil through a fine sieve and/or cheesecloth into a small stainless steel saucepan. Squeeze with your hands or use the back of a spoon to release the finished oil. Throw the used herbs away.
Add the beeswax and shea butter to the saucepan and turn the heat on low. Stir until the wax and butter have melted. Pour the mixture into glass jars or tins. Allow them to cool completely before putting the lids on. Date and label the nipple cream. Keep it in a cool, dry and dark spot.

Always label and date your jars so you know when you made them. If the cream ever smells or looks off, throw it out and make a fresh batch.

How to change the texture

Every kitchen, climate and mum is different, so you may want to adjust the cream. Use the rule of thumb again: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape.

Firmer: add a little more beeswax or cocoa butter. Add 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) at a time, melt it in and test a spoonful on a cold plate.
Softer or runnier: add more coconut oil or olive oil. This is useful in winter, or if you want a cream that spreads with almost no effort.
Richer: add a little more shea butter. It makes a thicker, creamier feel.
Lighter: use more oil and less butter. The cream will absorb faster and feel less heavy.
Warm weather: use a bit more beeswax or cocoa butter so the cream does not melt in a warm room.

Change one thing at a time. That way you will know what made the difference.

How to use nipple cream between feedings

Use a thin layer. A little goes a long way, and a thin layer is easier to wipe away. Many mothers apply it after a feed, and especially at night before sleep, so the skin feels comfortable between feedings.

Because a baby may swallow a little leftover cream, many mothers like an all-natural blend with ingredients they know. Ask your midwife or lactation consultant whether you should wipe the cream off before the next feed. Wash your hands before you apply it, and keep the jar closed and in a cool place.

These are traditional, simple ingredients. Shea butter has been used on skin in Ghana for generations. Many mothers use blends like these with no issues. But everyone's skin is different, so start with a small amount and watch how your skin feels. Keep essential oils and fragrance out of the cream.

When to ask for help

Nipple cream can make you more comfortable, but it cannot fix the cause of the pain. Sore nipples are often linked to how the baby latches, so it is worth asking for a latch check.

Ask a midwife, doctor, pharmacist or lactation consultant if:

your nipples are cracked, bleeding or very painful
the soreness lasts more than a few days
you have a fever, a red or hot patch on the breast, or any rash
feeding hurts all the way through, not just at the start

Please do not wait. Help is available, and early advice often makes breastfeeding easier.

Make it your own

These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a small batch, write down what you did, and see how your skin responds. When you find a blend that works for you, make it again.

Many mothers use these recipes and enjoy the results. Lather it on and feel the moisture between feedings, especially at night. Enjoy this beautiful time with your baby, and use these easy recipes to moisturise between feedings. For sore, cracked or persistent nipple problems, ask a midwife, doctor or pharmacist.