Best nipple creams for breastfeeding mums

If you decide to breastfeed your baby, you may well find that the journey isn’t as smooth as you’d hoped. One of the main reasons for this can be nipple pain.

The best nipple creams are designed to ease pain and itchiness and prevent any dryness or cracked skin brought about through breastfeeding. The most popular nipple creams are usually made with lanolin due to its thick, moisturising quality.

But while lanolin nipple creams don't need to be wiped off before breastfeeding, this ingredient does come from sheep's wool so isn't suitable for vegans. However, there are plant-based or organic alternatives available, which we've recommended below.

While, generally, you don't need any extra equipment in order to breastfeed, we know that the right products can be a real lifesaver when you're caring for a baby. That's why Mumsnet writers obsessively research everything from the best breast pumps and best baby bottles to the best changing bags. Whatever parenthood throws at you, we've got your back.

There are simply loads of nipple creams available for UK mothers that can make feeding a little bit easier. With so much choice, it can be tough to find the right solution for you. Luckily, we've done the hard work for you, researching and taking advice from real breastfeeding mums on the Mumsnet forums.

We then put the top six best nipple creams through their paces with parent-testers who rigorously reviewed each cream in detail over a period of several months. With each cream ranked and rated for a range of factors including ease of application, effectiveness and value for money, the results are in. Here are the very best nipple creams of 2024: tried, tested and approved by Mumsnet.

Read next: The best nursing chairs for day and nighttime feeds

Nipple Creams: Our pick of the best of the rest

Motherlove Herbal Nipple Cream: lanolin-free and organic

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm: good for cracked nipples

Tommee Tippee Made for Me Nipple Cream: natural and affordable

When should I start using nipple cream?

If this is your first time breastfeeding, you'll likely experience some soreness, which is why most mums start using nipple cream as soon as they begin breastfeeding.

Stock up on nipple cream before you give birth so that you have some to hand as soon as you need it.

How often can I use nipple cream?

There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to the application of nipple cream but many of the mums on our forum said they chose to apply it after a feed to help relieve pain or discomfort after baby has latched.

Many of our recommended creams do not need to be washed off before feeding, but bear in mind that if you use too much just before a feed your nipple may become too slippery and prevent your baby from latching on properly.

Is it safe to use nipple cream?

As always, when it comes to little ones, consult your pharmacist, midwife or GP if there’s anything you’re concerned or unsure about and always read the label to check which ingredients are in the cream you intend to use.

Creams made of organic oils or medical-grade lanolin will almost certainly be fine for both you and your baby. Creams containing petroleum or parabens are safe for skin application, but are not meant to be swallowed so will need washing off before letting your baby latch.

Can you use Vaseline as nipple cream?

Short answer, yes. If you don't want to invest in a dedicated nipple cream then a dab of Vaseline can help. Some women prefer it, while others feel better with a lanolin, or other oil-based product. Just make sure you wipe it off your nipple before you start a feed.

Can you use olive oil as nipple cream?

Yes, applying a small amount of olive oil after breastfeeding can help prevent soreness and you don’t need to wash it off before breastfeeding. Like Vaseline, it provides a cheaper alternative, which some mothers prefer.

What to look for when choosing a nipple cream

• Price: You don’t need to spend loads to get good quality - our list is testament to that. But bear in mind that some of the cheaper products may be less concentrated, so you may need to use more.

• Breastfeeding-safe: Most of the products we’ve recommended in this article are safe to leave on before a feed. If you’re using a product with petroleum in it then you will need to wipe it off before your baby latches on. Always read the label and check in with a healthcare professional if there’s anything you’re unsure about.

• Fragrance: Some of our recommended creams are heavily scented whilst others are completely fragrance-free. Most fragrances are created through the inclusion of natural ingredients such as coconut and mango and, whilst they won’t do your baby any harm, some mums prefer to use something unscented so as not to interfere with baby’s feeding, particularly in the early days.

• Consistency: Nipple creams vary in consistency from a thicker balm to a more watery lotion. Whilst a thicker cream may act as a more intensive moisturiser, you may need to rub it in a little more which may aggravate sore and chapped nipples.

• Your needs: Such as if you need a cream that’s vegan, lanolin-free, organic, for sensitive skin etc.

What to do if you’re struggling with breastfeeding

As mums, we’re often told that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world and whilst this may be true, natural is not necessarily synonymous with easy. If you feel like you’re struggling with breastfeeding then rest assured you’re not alone.

Whilst it’s certainly a wonderful thing, it can be hard at times and we’re all in agreement that the best thing you can do is talk to someone. If you’re fortunate enough to have a support network of other mums, speak to them and we can guarantee others will have gone through the same thing. Our Mumsnet forums also have some insightful reflections and advice when it comes to feeding.

There are also numerous support networks and professional bodies who can help. Your midwife will be on hand to support you through those first few weeks and the NHS have an excellent comprehensive list of places where you can find support with breastfeeding.

On the trickier days remind yourself that it will get easier and that you are giving your baby a wonderful start in life. If things don’t go as smoothly as you’d hope they would, remember you’re doing a great job and as long as you and baby are happy and healthy, the rest will fall into place.

What’s the best nipple cream to buy?

It depends what you want from your nipple cream. We chose Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Nipple Cream as our best overall nipple cream because it’s really raved about, has natural ingredients, soothes and moisturises, and is hypoallergenic.

In case you're wondering, lanolin is a naturally occurring soft and waxy substance that comes from wool-bearing animals, usually sheep. Medical-grade lanolin is used in a wide range of skin and beauty products due to its excellent moisturising qualities. It's also the most common ingredient in popular nipple creams.

It’s considered safe to use during breastfeeding and you don’t need to wash it off before you start a feed. However, around 2% of people are allergic, so if you or your baby experience irritation when using lanolin-based products stop using them immediately and look for alternatives.

How we choose our recommendations

• We took to the Mumsnet forums to find the nipple creams that real mums recommended (and the ones they didn't), shortlisting products with overwhelmingly positive reviews across the board.

• We then put the top six best nipple creams to the test with independent, unbiased breastfeeding mums who reviewed them over a period of several months. During this time they ranked each cream for ease of application, practicality, versatility, value for money and overall feel/impression. Armed with this extensive research, we compiled our list of the top six best nipple creams currently available along with our pick of the best of the rest. As with all our Mumsnet Reviews and Buyers' Guides, we make every effort to regularly re-visit our recommended products to ensure all listings reflect a good range of affordable, trusted brands readily available.

• We consulted experts and healthcare professionals to ensure our recommended products are safe to use and approved by those in the know.

• We also looked out for any creams and balms recommended on other best buy lists and trusted industry review sites to ensure we were bringing you a list of the very best nipple creams on the UK market right now.

• Finally, we collated all of this research to bring you our list of the 10 best nipple creams for a variety of needs and budgets.

Why you should trust us

Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products.

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.