The Best Organic Nipple Cream (Based On Ingredients)
Last Updated: February 21, 2022
Sore nipples are a painful reality for many breastfeeding moms. While the various reasons for sore nipples are outside the scope of this guide, the fact is that a nipple cream can bring much-needed relief to breastfeeding moms.
No matter if you’re suffering from pain, itchiness or cracked, dry nipples, a good organic nipple cream can help a lot.
The Importance of Ingredients
Any nipple cream you use is going to be ingested, in at least a small part, by your infant. Even though these creams are meant to be applied after feeding, residue can remain.
Even if you use a 100% organic nipple cream, always read the label: some creams are meant to be used and washed off before nursing.
Ingredients to avoid:
Vitamin E (tocopherol) – Experts aren’t sure how much vitamin E is safe to baby to ingest, so only use this under doctor supervision.
Lanolin – Lanolin is used in many nipple creams. However, it can contain additives and contaminants including pesticides from the fleece of the sheep. (source)
Also, be aware that women with wool allergies will also have allergies to lanolin. Because ingesting lanolin isn’t likely something you’d want a baby to do, we give an iffy rating to any lanolin product.
Petroleum, mineral oil, silicone – None of these ingredients are safe for baby to ingest, and can also clog pores, making the problem worse in the long run.
Preservatives
None of the organic nipple creams we looked at had preservatives. This can be a good thing and a bad thing.
Nipple cream exists in a unique category of a skincare product that will be consumed in small amounts by your child. Because of this, preservatives are a tricky subject.
If a product has no preservatives, it’s important to use the product before the “best by” date. Preservatives in products perform an important task: keeping mold and bacteria at bay. Never use a nipple cream that’s past its expiration date, because contamination is a risk.
Vegan Nipple Creams
Many nipple creams contain beeswax, which is not a vegan ingredient. Many also contain lanolin, which is the secretion from sheep.
One of the products we looked at contained honey. If you prefer to purchase vegan products, the vegan creams are marked as such.
Unfortunately, none of the organic creams are vegan.
The Best Organic Nipple Creams
These creams are 100% organic and contain only good ingredients. These ratings are given based solely on the ingredients used, not on the quality of the product itself.
Motherlove
This product contains 100% organic ingredients, the main ones being olive oil and beeswax. With only 5 ingredients in total, we give this nipple cream a top rating.
Ingredients
Milkies
This nipple balm contains 100% organic ingredients. The official ingredient label lists organic marshmallow root extract as the main ingredient, but we’re skeptical about that. Most likely, the main ingredients are the oils and beeswax.
Ingredients
Mommyz Love
This product contains 100% organic, natural ingredients, the main ones being coconut oil and sunflower oil.
Ingredients
Odylique by Essential Care
This balm’s main ingredient is organic olive oil. Rounding out the short list of ingredients is shea butter, olive oil, beeswax and calendula extract.
The inclusion of beeswax makes this a non-vegan product, however.
Ingredients
Earth Mama
With all organic ingredients, this product gets top ratings. However, since it contains beeswax, it’s not a vegan product.
Ingredients
Bamboobies
This balm has a full list of organic ingredients, the main ones being olive oil, beeswax and shea butter.
Ingredients
Nipple Creams Rated: Good
These nipple creams generally have good ingredients but aren’t organic. We reserve a “best” rating for those products that are 100% organic.
Lhamour
This product consists of oils (both vegetable and animal-derived) as well as beeswax. None of the ingredients are organic, and it’s not vegan. However, none of the ingredients are of concern, so it still gets a good rating.
Ingredients
Pink Stork by Amy Suzanne
This product is 100% vegan. It contains sweet almond oil, which can trigger a reaction in those that have a nut allergy. If using this product, be sure to monitor your child for any signs of nut allergy.
Ingredients
Handmade Heroes
This 100% vegan product is not organic. However, there are no ingredients of concern. Since it’s not organic, we can’t give it a “best” rating, but we can still give it a “good” rating.
Ingredients
Nipple Creams Rated: Iffy
Most of these products get an iffy rating because they contain vitamin E, which should only be used under doctor supervision. This is because ingesting large amounts of vitamin E can be dangerous for an infant.
Mommy Care
This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.
Ingredients
Lansinoh
This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.
Ingredients
Shoosha
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
My Brest Friend
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
Rumina Naturals
This product contains manuka honey. Experts recommend not giving honey to babies under the age of 1 year old. (source)
For this reason, we don’t recommend this product.
Ingredients
Mustela
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
Mio
Glyceryl rosinate may contain residual rosin, which can cause allergic reactions. (source)
For this reason, we give this product an iffy rating.
Ingredients
Era Organics
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
The Honest Company
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
Bella B Naturals
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating. It is, however, vegan.
Ingredients
Medela
This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.
Ingredients
Green + Lovely
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
Green People
This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.
Ingredients
Nipple Creams Rated: Bad
The products rated bad contain ingredients that infants shouldn’t be ingesting, period.
Wish Garden
Comfrey has been linked to livery toxicity. Since this product can be ingested by an infant, we give this product a bad rating. (source)
Ingredients
Palmer's
With petroleum jelly, an ingredient dangerous for babies to ingest, we can’t recommend this product.
Ingredients
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Apply Nipple Cream?
Generally, a good rule of thumb is to apply after every feeding. This will give it enough time to absorb into the skin and help relieve your symptoms. Be careful not to use too much, however—this can make the problem worse.
What Can I Use Instead of Nipple Cream?
Before buying a nipple cream, you can try organic, raw coconut oil. It makes for a great natural nipple cream that’s baby-safe, too. Other alternatives include organic olive oil, manuka (or pure, unrefined) honey.
Other Ways To Relieve Breast Pain Without Nipple Cream
A few more options to try besides nipple cream include:
- Avoid using soap on your nipples. Soap is drying and will make the problem worse.
- Apply a cold compress. Doing this between feedings for 15 to 20 minutes can help reduce swelling.
- Apply a warm compress. Doing this before feedings can help relieve engorgement.
- Go topless as much as possible. Letting the air dry your nipples will help.
