Boob diapers (aka Breast Pads)

An unfortunate to breastfeeding is that there are times when the breasts are ready when the baby is not.

I chose disposable boob diapers, er, nursing pads because I suck at getting laundry done in a timely manner. The idea of sour milk laden pads in the hamper is not pretty.

SO.

I chose disposable.

My favorite - bar none - were Lansinoh nursing pads.

Granted, Lansinoh failed me when it came to nipple cream, but I tried several brands of breast pad - and Lansinoh beat the competition.

I was given half-used boxes of several brands to try.

Lansinoh pads were the largest, least lumpy, flattest laying, most absorbent, pads that actually stayed put.

These are the only pads I went to the store and bought.

Nipple Butter (heh) Nipple Butter

Sweet heavens! Pregnancy (and now motherhood) is an endless investigation of what's the best product for every need EVER.

I had ONE product recommended to me to purchase BY NAME to have before I had my baby.

ONE.

Now, I'll share it with you.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter

nipplebutternipplebutternipplebutternipplebutternipplebutter!

It's so fun to say! I would post things on Facebook like "Purchased nipple butter today...never thought I'd say that."

The men with whom I graduated high school were intrigued and deeply disappointed (and cringed) when I told them it was to prevent my nipples from cracking when I breastfeed.

This stuff is fantastic.

It exceeds - by leaps and bounds - the Lansinoh product the hospital had given me (and probably charged me an arm and a leg to bring home to never use). I didn't appreciate the water that would bead up on my boobs when I showered. The water-repulsion just didn't seem right. PLUS, applying the thick, gluey stuff was painful on tender, newly commissioned boobs.

Rather than being sticky and thick (and made from lanolin), nipple butter is smooth, cocoa-scented, lanolin-free, and water-based. I was SO happy to come home to use the nipple butter I had purchased during pregnancy (and forgotten to pack in my hospital bag).

The nipple butter was great. Soft, easily applied. No need to wash it off before nursing.

I recommend purchasing a single 2 oz jar. It is kind of pricey for the size jar you'll receive - but I only used half of my one jar for 10 months of breastfeeding.

Buy it. Love it. Recommend it.

Mustela newborn shampoo - for cradle cap

Last October, I brought home the cutest, sweetest, cooiest baby in the world of babydom. She was perfect in all ways tangible and intangible.

Except her bellybutton.

I wanted to badly to WANT to kiss her belly...but *double gag* the belly *gag* button was too much.

Anyway, perfection.

About a month into our love affair, her head started to get this peely, crusty ick on it.

Cradle cap.

I'd never even heard the term, and my baby's barely-there blonde hair was mired in scales!

Gaaahh!!

Commence internet search.

I read review after review. I wanted to not use something oily or greasy OR have to chip and scrape at her poor, tender scalp.

Ok, her fontanel creeped me out, and I thought by innocently chipping away scalp flakes - I might accidentally touch/swipe/puncture her head and give her brain damage.

I purchased the positively reviewed Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns.

The fragrance of this shampoo was a tad overwhelming (for momma and baby) the first few times we used it.

But it worked. It worked WELL.

It took a few applications, but the cradle cap subsided.

I would use it about once a week to keep the scales at bay.

Now, I long for the smell I associate with my little newborn. I must admit, although the cradle cap is long gone, I still use the shampoo every now and then just to give her that fresh new-baby smell.

She doesn't like me sniffing her head repeatedly. I have to bribe her with a bottle or a snack, so she'll cuddle in my lap to grab a whiff of babiness.