My NON Nursing Essentials
During my first pregnancy, it never occurred to me that I would received any kind of push back on what or how I would be feeding my baby. Yes, if I started a conversation about breast feeding vs. bottle feeding I imagined I would get into some opinions but unless it was brought up it didn’t enter my mind that it would be a question I’d be asked. I mean still to this day I think it’s a strange thing for people to inquire about. Like, are you concerned about what I had for lunch today? Why are you concerned about what my baby will be having 6 months from now? Needless to say, it was something that I definitely got some push back and pressure on from strangers, close friends and even my own husband at one point. Bottom line, it was the choice that I made for the reasons I made it and once I had my baby I knew even more so that it was the right choice for us.
All of that said, I truly feel like there is so much support and info about what and how you should nurse when you have a baby (best pumps, nursing covers, nipple pads, pro tips), but I never found any must haves and advice for moms that do not breast feed that were as useful to me. I support all ways to feed and be the best mommy you can be but of course I can only share what I know which is bottle feeding. So enjoy these must have essentials that I loved for feeding my babe and leave feedback in the comments if there are other products that you loved that I should share or try as well with baby number 2!
Cabbage Leaves/OR Cabo Cream: I smelled like a restaurant cooking cabbage in my bra for a week but they totally work! Put a head of cabbage in the fridge to keep it nice and cold and then keep switching out the leaves in your bra on each boob. Basically once they’re wilted and cooked (I know… so gross) it’s time to change leaves! The Cabo cream is a little less smelly but has the same effect.
Non Lactation Tea: Just like all of the other teas for helping in milk production, this one has the opposite effect. I happen to love the Pink Stork brand, and also the packaging is just super cute sitting on the counter so it’s a win win.
Nursing Pads: Even thought you’re not nursing you’ll still be leaking before your milk dries up. These are great. I would buy a small box because you won’t be going through that many of them (only about a week or two’s worth) and once your milk dries up you will no longer need them.
Baby Brezza Formula Maker: This is the most amazing invention. It’s basically like a coffee machine but for formula. In the press of 1 button it will measure the exact amount of formula, mix it with the perfect temperature of warm water and dispense it into a bottle. No more fumbling or bottle warming with a screaming baby in the middle of the night. Genius.
Hands Free Feeding: Ok I realize how this seems… like you’re a mom that could care less about bonding while you feed your child because you’re too preoccupied. BUT there are definitely those times when multi tasking is not an option and you don’t have enough hands. When that occurs this thing is amazing. I’m assuming it will be even more helpful now that I have a toddler that will most likely need my attention at the same time!
Nursing Pillow: Although you’re not nursing, it doesn’t mean you won’t need the extra support. A nursing pillow serves all of the same great purposes as it does for a mom who is nursing.
Extra Support Sports Bra: While your milk is drying up you’ll need some serious support for those crazy big boobs. Keep them tightly locked up with their cabbage leaves and then leave them alone! I love this one that zips up the front so there’s no struggling to get something super tight over your head and then shimmy it down over your boobs.
Ready to Feed Bottles: I quickly became obsessed with ready to feed bottles. Each formula brand makes their own version but we used the Similac. It’s pricer than just buying the large bottle of ready-to-feed and pouring into your own bottles, but I found it really helpful to throw into the diaper bag for outings. Making a bottle, and then throwing a dirty empty bottle back into my diaper bag while we were out and feeding on the fly, was just not clean or convenient to me. This way I could screw on a nipple, feed my baby and toss it when she was done.
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