Feeding Essentials: What You Actually Need for Breastfeeding, Bottle-Feeding, and Pumping
- kaylieestrada2405
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
FEEDING ESSENTIALS
There are countless feeding product recommendations out there, but many are more about cute extras than actual necessities. That’s why we’ve created this focused checklist of feeding essentials you’ll truly use during those first few months. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or doing a mix of both, this guide covers the must-haves that make feeding your newborn more comfortable, manageable, and stress-free. From nursing pillows to bottle brushes and everything in between, these are the items that will actually make a difference. Click here for a printable PDF version of the list.
Comfortable chair
But there are some things that you will need to support this method of food service. The first and arguably the most important is a comfortable chair. This can be a rocker or glider or it can just be a cushy loveseat. The most valuable feature is that you are comfortable sitting in it. You will be there a lot. This piece of furniture is all about you.
Nursing pillow
Regardless if you are feeding from breast or bottle, your neck will be happier if you have nursing pillow. This is a "C" shaped pillow that sits on your lap and wraps around your waist on which you lay your baby. When breastfeeding, it supports your baby at the correct height to reach your nipple. When bottle feeding, it takes the weight off of the arm that is holding your baby while your other hand holds the bottle. Nursing pillows are worth the investment. Believe me.
Things that catch fluids that come out of your baby's face
You will need burp cloths because not everything that goes in a baby stays in a baby. Their digestive systems are immature at this stage so burping after feeding can end with the meal on your shoulder unless you have a burp cloth there. You need 12 because this will happen a lot. You will keep 2 in the diaper bag and 4 will be in your hamper at any given time. That will give you 6 clean ones to ensure that you are prepared for every feeding.
For the same reason that you need the burp cloths you need drool bibs. Your baby won't start drooling in earnest until they start teething. However, since your baby can spit up at any time, you need to keep one of those suckers around their neck while they are awake and not doing tummy time. This way you can wipe their face when fluids come out of their nose or mouth. You will need 12 of them. Four will live in your diaper bag. Four in the hamper and 4 will be available for the day.
BREASTFEEDING NECESSITIES
Nursing Bras
Ahh. Breastfeeding. I am here to let you know that your boobs are going to come to life once your milk comes in. No one will tell you this, but you cannot be away from your baby or a breast pump for more that 3 hours because your breasts will become engorged. This means that they will swell until they are rock hard and then start squirting milk. For this reason, you will need 7 nursing bras. You will likely need to change your bra more than once a day depending on your cleanliness threshold. Keep this in mind on Date Night. Get all of the milk out before you leave your home in order to give you the largest window of time. So leave time for 40 minutes of feeding/pumping - 20 minutes on each breast -before heading out the door.
Nipple pads
Another thing that no one tells you about breastfeeding is that when one breast is being sucked on, the other breast is activated and will squirt milk into your nursing bra. So unless you want to double your nursing bra inventory, you will need at least 12 washable nipple pads. These are also known as nursing pads. They are circles of cotton fabric that you will place over your nipples when you put on your bra to absorb any rogue breast milk. They make disposable ones, but that seems unnecessarily wasteful when you are doing laundry every day any how.
Nipple cream
Nipples can become sore and chapped. Especially in the beginning when your baby is relying on the Sucking Reflex to get food in their belly. Nipple cream will help with the chapping. At this to your bag of breast feeding tricks.
BOTTLE FEEDING NECESSITIES
Baby bottles
Even if you are breast feeding, if you want to be able to be away from your baby more that 3 hours for work or to attend an event, you will still need bottles so that someone other than you can feed your baby. I recommend 10 4oz & 8oz baby bottles - 5 of each. In the beginning, you will only use the 4 oz bottles. But after your baby becomes a monster-feeder, you will only use the 8 oz bottles. Bottles with nipples that are shaped like a breast are better because they better match the breast feeding experience.
Bottle brush
You are going to need a way to clean the bottles. Therefore you will need a bottle brush. This is a device with a pipe cleaner like tip that will help you get breastmilk fat or dried formula out of the nipple before you wash by hand or put in the dishwasher. Add some dish soap to the tip before scrubbing.
Bottle sanitizers
There are bottle sanitizing equipment that are sold. I didn't buy any because I didn't want another appliance in my kitchen that was already short of counter space. If you have the money to buy one, knock yourself out. If not, you can do what I did and placed the bottles in a pot of boiling water for 8 minutes that I removed with tongs. It worked fine. Cost no money and took up no space. I would do this a couple of times a week or when you collect dirty bottles that sat out overnight, lived in the diaper bag all day, or rolled under the seat of your car for an indeterminate amount of time.
Bottle warmers
I have similar opinions about bottle warming equipment. They are certainly a nice to have. You will need a way to warm meals coming from a bottle, especially if it is frozen breastmilk. The idea is that you want the fluids that your baby is consuming to be body temperature like milk coming directly from the breast as some babies will reject cold liquids. I warmed frozen breastmilk for bottle feedings by putting the bottle in the pot of hot water on the stove. Check the temperature of the fluid before giving it to your baby by dripping a few drops on your wrist. If it is cold, put it back in the pot. If it is hot, take off the top and let it cool. You want it to be body temperature and not scorch your baby's throat.
Feeding your newborn is a full-time job, and it comes with its own set of challenges and joys. From sore nipples to spilled milk, no one really tells you how much gear and patience it takes to make it through the early months. But with the right essentials on hand, you’ll be better prepared to feed your baby with confidence and comfort.
WHAT YOU NEED IF YOU ARE BREASTFEEDING AND HAVE RETURNED TO WORK
Returning to work while breastfeeding adds a whole new layer to your routine—but with the right gear, it’s completely doable. Whether you’re pumping during lunch breaks, storing milk on the go, or juggling meetings with milk letdowns, this section covers the essentials to help you stay organized, comfortable, and confident as you transition back into work life.
Breast pump
If you have to return to work and you are breastfeeding, you will need a breast pump. I rented mine from the hospital where I gave birth to my son. I bought the doohickeys that cover the nipples and the storage containers. Since I owned my own business, I didn't need accommodations from management to pump every 3 hours. If you work in an office and don't have any privacy at your desk, ask your boss to see if they can find a private place for you to pump. It is the law in some states to make this accommodation.
Nursing cover
Regardless of whether or not you are pumping at your desk or in a private office, you will need a modesty drape of some sort. I used my nursing cover. Believe me, you don't want any one, especially co-workers or your boss, walking in and seeing you strapped into this oddly fetishy milking device. That will be burned into their brains for all eternity.
Pumping bandeau
You will need a bandeau with two holes in it that will hold the doohickeys in place for hands-free pumping, otherwise you have to hold them in place and that becomes tedious in short order. While you are pumping hands free, you can answer emails, eat a snack or lunch, read a book or listen to a podcast. Since I owned my own fashion house, I often sewed garments while pumping. Make sure you pay attention to how full the storage containers are. I made a mess several times when the containers were full and the milk sprayed out of the doohickeys because it had no where else to go.
Breastmilk storage containers
You will need storage containers that screw into the doohickeys for the milk and a fridge to keep them cool. Bring a cooler with icepacks to work, if your place of work doesn't have a fridge. You will need at least 6 containers. But it will depend on how quickly you fill them up and how often you pump. You may need many more if you are blessed with a lot of milk.
Other supplies
In order to order to clean up after pumping, you will need bottle brush, dish soap and towel to dry everything. In addition you will need 6 nipple pads to catch leaking and extra nursing bra just in case.
Balancing breastfeeding with work isn’t always easy, but having the proper tools can make it much more manageable. From hands-free pumping to discreet storage and cleanup solutions, these essentials help you keep up your milk supply while navigating your day. With preparation and a little patience, you’ll find a rhythm that works for both you and your baby.
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