DIY Breastfeeding Basket – The Ultimate List

Burp Cloths- we go through these so fast. Newborns spit up and drool sooooo much! You can never go wrong with the Burt’s Bee’s Baby brand! This is the one product that did not cross my radar when I was pregnant, but had to stock up quickly as soon as the baby came.

Nursing Breast Pads- There is a lot of leaking from the breast during the first months post-partum. Nursing pads are one of those products you can’t get away from purchasing. If you are making a gift I would suggest the reusable option for presentation but if its for yourself either can work. I personally used the disposable ones but if I were to do it all again I’d be more mindful of waste.

Wipes container – wipes are super useful for a variety of circumstances and is one of those items I still have around past infancy. They are perfect for when you get sticky after eating a snack while nursing, or wiping baby’s face. This container is one of my favorites as its stable, looks good and keeps wipes moist.

We like buying these wipes in bulk.

Extra diapers- newborns tend to always poop after a feeding. For your comfort, its good to have diapers and a small pad to easily change your baby there and then. Luckily before baby starts solids, their poops don’t smell bad. Therefore you don’t have to run and throw through them away.

Eventually you’ll want to odor proof diaper trash can.

Folding Pad- newborn poop a lot. Basically after every feed. With an easy foldable changing pad, you can change that diaper right away without having to go to another room. When you are done, fold it and put it back into your DIY breastfeeding basket.

Diaper Cream- Diaper cream is a staple during those early days due to how much newborns poop. (they poop a lot). Buy a handful of these little bottles and store one at your nursing station, diaper bad and in your DIY breastfeeding basket.

Nipple Cream- If you baby is latching correctly, nipple cream should only be necessary for the first couple weeks. After that, your nipple’s should no longer be sore.

If you are struggling with pain from breastfeeding, reach out to a lactation consultant. Also, it can be beneficial to take an online breastfeeding course beforehand.

Nursing Wrist Band- I was surprised not see this product in any of the Etsy Baskets. When nursing a newborn it is common to nurse on one breast per session. A wrist band can help remind a mother which breast is next. What you do is look at your wrist band to know which breast to feed with. When baby is done, move the wrist band over to the other arm until next feeding session.

Nursing Necklace- These are made to help your baby focus on nursing when they get distracted. At around 4 months of age babies’ eye sight improves such that they become more aware of their environment. This can result in not wanting to nurse long enough as they get distracted.

==>Read this really thorough guide on nursing necklaces to help you pick out the right one.<==

Hakaa Silicone Manual Pump – these are great for capturing the excess milk from the breast your baby is not nursing from. Reason being that during those first 4 months, nursing mothers leak a lot! You will be surprised at how much extra milk you will have without pumping, simply by applying this pump to your free breast.

FIY it sits in place through suction and can sometimes pop off if baby kicks it.

Boppy Pillow- This might not fit inside your DIY breastfeeding basket, but should definitely be next to it. I love the Boppy Pillow so much I wrote a Product Review about it. This pillow is designed for feeding the baby and works for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. It also works to prop baby while laying on back, then as support for baby during tummy time and later on to sit up when things are still wobbly. My son still has this pillow 2./5 years later, but now he sits on it inside his tent.

If you look up this pillow it comes in different models. I highly recommend getting the original model.

==>Boppy Original Product Review<==

Nursing Top- the right top can be a came changer. They are affordable and will be used a lot. It’s worth investing in nursing tops because pulling your shirt up over your breast will get old quickly. Pulling your shirt down from the neckline with stretch it out (yes this happened to me). I have been using these nursing tank tops since about 6 months in (when my mom got me a few) and ended up buying a ton more because of how much easier life was.

Nursing Cover- There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public (and showing some boob). If you are just starting off, or if you want to reduce possible distractions for your baby while outside, a nursing cover is great. I also like them because they fold up nicely into your bag and are easy to bring with anywhere.

Nursing Hoodie- The worst is to feel chilly and have to put on a sweater that is not breastfeeding friendly. That is why investing is this nursing hoodie will be worth every penny! There are plenty of options on Amazon, just make sure you get it a size larger. The last thing you should worry about is fitting into your pre pregnancy size postpartum.

Cute Coffee Mug – Ok Guys. I admit it. I LOVE warm beverages. Personally Coffee is my number one, but hot chocolate and tea’s are just as awesome. I got myself a mug with a cute mom meme and I still smile every morning when drinking from it 2.5 years later. 

I also use the Nespresso Vertuoso coffee/espresso machine to quickly get my mom fuel!

Water Bottle – It is so important to drink a lot of water while breastfeeding (and in geneal). Add a bottle to your basket that is easy to drink from one handed and preferably one with an incorporated straw for minimal spills. The one I listed below meets all the criteria for the perfect nursing water bottle. I’d have 2-3 water bottles in various areas of the house, that way you are not running around with a hungry baby in arm looking for it.

Lactation Snacks- A great option to promote good milk flow, however snacks don’t necessarily have to be lactation specific. if you want to maintain an existing milk supply, its important to keep your blood sugar level consistent by having healthy snacks between meals. If you are struggling with low milk supply and you have ruled out issues latching, checking your hormonal levels is important. Certain foods stimulate the hormone prolactin and oxytocin which can help boost your supply.

==>Check out more breastfeeding snack ideas<==

Bluetooth Headphones: I started looking at TV shows on my phone while my baby slept in my arms after a nursing session. The cord of the headphones was a huge problem if we were laying in bed because as baby moved around, especially when we rolled over to feed from the other side, the chord would get tangled. Switching to bluetooth headphones was awesome and I really recommend this for everyone. Below are 2 options of headphones. I started with the cheap version and then upgraded to a nicer sound, but either are solid options.

Books: Reading is a great alternative to screens. Add a good book to your DIY breastfeeding basket, you’d be amazed how much reading you will have time for during the periods of cluster feeding. Here are two feel good books to dg your teeth into.

If you prefer to listen to books (I like to rest my eyes this way), you can get 2 free audible books through audible via this link!

==>New to Audible? Get 2 FREE audible books to start listening today!<==