August 11, 2026
Breastfeeding Hurts — Products That Actually Help
Reddit moms share the products that got them through cracked nipples, painful latches, and sore early weeks of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding pain in the early weeks is shockingly common — and shockingly under-discussed before birth. The good news: it usually gets better within 2-4 weeks, and there are products that can make those weeks survivable.
I combed through hundreds of comments across r/breastfeeding, r/ExclusivelyPumping, r/beyondthebump, and r/NewParents to find what helped.
1. Silverettes (Silver Nursing Cups)
The single most enthusiastically recommended product in every thread we read. These small silver cups sit over your nipples between feeds, using silver's natural antimicrobial properties to promote healing while preventing fabric from rubbing against damaged skin.
They're not cheap (~$40-$80 depending on size), but the speed of healing has parents calling them "life-changing." Multiple commenters said they worked when nipple cream alone did nothing.
Silverettes Silver Nursing Cups
Silver cups worn between feeds that promote healing and prevent chafing. Reddit's #1 recommendation for cracked/sore nipples — most parents report improvement within 24 hours.
Cream did absolutely nothing for me. Silverettes literally helped within hours and after maybe 24 hours my nipples were back to normal
At first I didn't want to buy them because they seemed expensive but I was so glad I did. In those early days, they saved me. Now I don't use them and rarely use nipple butter/cream but I do not regret the purchase. I'd do it ten times over.
Silverettes work great! Just put them on with a bit of breast milk. They work fast.
2. Earth Mama Nipple Butter
The most recommended nipple cream across every thread — beating out lanolin by a wide margin. Parents love that it's lanolin-free (important for those with wool allergies), doesn't need to be wiped off before nursing, and has a pleasant texture that doesn't feel sticky.
Multiple exclusive pumpers report using it for 13+ months with zero cracking, and it doubles as flange lubricant.
Earth Mama Nipple Butter
Lanolin-free nipple balm that doesn't need removal before nursing. Reddit's favorite cream for both breastfeeding and pumping — praised for texture and long-term protection.
I've been using the Earth Mama Nipple Butter. I didn't have a particular issue with the lanolin but I have NEVER had a cracked nip or pain when pumping for over 13 months while using it. Highly recommend.
I swear by the earth mama nipple butter! I was in the same situation as you with my wearables and this nipple cream was helping my sanity.
You might have an allergy! I'm allergic to wool and can't use lanolin. I use the earth mama butter.
3. My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
Pain isn't always about nipple damage — poor positioning causes strain on your back, neck, and arms that compounds the misery. The My Brest Friend pillow came up repeatedly as superior to the Boppy for newborns, especially after c-sections.
The key difference: a flat, firm shelf that keeps baby at nipple height (instead of the Boppy's rounded shape that lets baby roll inward), plus a buckle that locks it in place so you have both hands free.
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
Firm, flat nursing pillow with buckle strap and storage pocket. Reddit parents strongly prefer it over the Boppy for newborns and c-section recovery.
I have Boppy and My Breast Friend - MBF is GOAT. It's a little cumbersome; my family jokes that it's my inner tube. But I find it's well worth it. The best features: The flat and firm shelf (as you know baby falls into the middle of the Boppy) The little pocket (I can stash breast pads, lanolin) Turns well to support multiple holds (eg if you want to move from front position like cradle to side position like football)
I'm not sure what the professional one is but the normal My Brest Friend pillow is 100000% worth it over a Boppy. I would buy it over and over again even though I only used it for 2 months. It made a world of difference getting through the early months of BFing.
4. Lansinoh Soothie Gel Pads
When your nipples are cracked and raw, you need something that provides immediate cooling relief between feeds. These gel pads go in the fridge and sit over your nipple until the next session — soothing on contact and promoting moist wound healing.
Several nurses and parents reported these healing cracks that nipple cream alone couldn't fix.
Lansinoh Soothie Gel Pads
Cooling gel pads stored in the fridge for between-feed relief. Particularly effective for cracked nipples that aren't responding to cream alone.
I used the Lansinoh soothies cooling gel pads whenever my nipples were in bad shape. They're available on Amazon. You put them in the fridge, then after a feed stick it over your nipple til the next feed. Not only did it provide relief, but it seemed to heal the cracks I got when nipple cream wasn't helping.
I use the earth mama balm too for pumping lubrication and the Medela hydrogels when mine were VERY cracked from pumping. The hydrogels unfortunately worked the best for healing for me! I have silverettes too and they honestly didn't do anything for me besides pool milk on my nips and press against them in a non pleasant way
5. Coconut Oil (The Budget MVP)
If you're on a tight budget or waiting for your Amazon order to arrive, coconut oil is the most recommended free/cheap option. It works as nipple balm, pumping lubricant (apply to flanges before each session), and doesn't need to be wiped off before feeding.
Multiple lactation consultants recommend it over lanolin, and exclusive pumpers call it a "game changer" for flange comfort.
Coconut Oil
Food-grade coconut oil works as nipple balm and pump flange lubricant. LC-recommended, budget-friendly, and safe for baby — no wiping needed before feeds.
Are you using something to lube up while pumping, like coconut oil? That was a game changer for me in terms of comfort, even more than trying out different sizes and types of flanges.
Coconut oil! Every LC I've talked to has recommended it to me
6. APNO (All-Purpose Nipple Ointment)
When nothing else works — not cream, not silver cups, not gel pads — APNO is the nuclear option that parents credit with finally ending their pain. It's a prescription compound (antibiotic + antifungal + steroid) that treats infection, inflammation, and damage simultaneously.
You'll need to ask your OB or midwife for a prescription, and not all providers know about it.
APNO (All-Purpose Nipple Ointment)
Prescription compound cream combining antibiotic, antifungal, and steroid. The "when nothing else works" option that multiple parents credit with saving their breastfeeding journey.
Good idea! I feel like APNO is the thing that finally got me better, after everything I tried. And it acted fairly fast too.
The Bigger Picture: When Pain Means Something Else
Products help, but they're band-aids if the root cause isn't addressed. Across every thread, experienced parents emphasized three non-product fixes:
Get the latch checked. A lactation consultant (IBCLC) can spot positioning issues in one visit that no amount of cream will fix. Many insurance plans cover LC visits.
Rule out tongue/lip tie. Multiple parents in our research described weeks of agony that resolved immediately after a tie revision. Pediatricians often miss these — ask for a referral to a pediatric dentist or ENT who specializes in ties.
It does get better. The single most common response in every thread: "It hurts terribly for 2-3 weeks, then suddenly it doesn't." Your nipples toughen up. Your baby's mouth grows. The latch improves. Almost every commenter who pushed through reported pain-free nursing by 4-6 weeks.