Feeding Essentials For New Moms
Expecting a baby? Trying to make feeding your newborn a little less stressful? Save your sanity with these non-toxic feeding products that will keep your little milk monster happy and healthy.
The first few months of a baby’s life can seem like a blur of feeding, burping, changing, settling and repeating.
Some days, you don’t even manage to shower until noon and you keep wondering whether it’s Monday or Wednesday. It’s a good thing those precious newborn cuddles make it all worthwhile.
Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding or a bit of both, having the right feeding products and advice at your fingertips can make your life easier and prevent you from turning into a frazzled mess. There’s nothing worse than searching for a clean baby bottle at 3am when your little one is screaming for milk!
In this article, we’ll go over:
- The importance of choosing non-toxic feeding products
- Products that make nursing and bottle-feeding your baby easier
- Our non-toxic nursing and bottle-feeding product picks
Scroll down to learn more!
The importance of choosing non-toxic feeding products
At The Tot, we never use or recommend anything that hasn’t passed The Tot Safety Test. This means we’ve looked deep into third-party testing, examined ingredients lists and asked in depth questions about a product’s composition.
When it comes to nursing and bottle-feeding products, this is particularly important because things like bottles and breastmilk storage bags are coming in direct contact with your baby’s breastmilk or formula. While you may look out for products that say ‘BPA-FREE,’ it’s crucial to know that they may have replaced the BPA with another type of bisphenol like BPS.
While there are SOME safe plastic options, we like to opt for materials like:
- Silicone
- Glass
- Stainless steel
Free from known toxic-chemicals, they offer a much safer feeding experience for both you and your baby.
Here is our list of chemicals we always avoid in baby products and why:
PVC
PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl, is an incredibly toxic chemical that is harmful to our bodies and to the environment right from the production phase through to disposal. It contains additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium, organotin that are quite toxic and have been linked to asthma, allergies, reproductive problems and cancer.
Harmful phthalates
Many phthalates are known endocrine disruptors associated with asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered reproductive development and male fertility issues.
BPA + BPS (bisphenols)
Bisphenols mimic the hormone estrogen and have been linked to prostate cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, and obesity. BPA is an especially dangerous endocrine disruptor since even small amounts of this chemical have been shown to cause serious reproductive damage, especially when the exposure occurs in utero.
Click here to read the full list of ingredients we avoid across every category.
Products that make nursing and bottle-feeding easier
As a mix of parents who’ve exclusively breastfed our babies, bottle-fed our babies and formula-fed our babies, we’ve had a lot of experience when it comes to what types of products you will want to have by your side.
Here are our top picks for feeding essentials that will help you keep your baby fed and happy:
- Expert breastfeeding advice + nursing essentials
- Nursing/Maternity pillow
- Organic cotton burp cloths + swaddle
- Breast pump
- Silicone breastmilk storage bags
- Silicone or glass baby bottles
- Bottle warmer
- Bottle sterilizer
- Nursing/Car Seat cover
- Nipple balm
Scroll down to see our product picks for each!
Non-toxic Nursing & Feeding Essentials
Expert Breastfeeding Advice + Nursing Essentials
While breastfeeding may come easily for some, it can be an arduous uphill battle for many.
That’s why we worked with a Registered Lactation Consultant to create a booklet filled with her expert advice, tips and tricks. She also hand-selected the best non-toxic nursing essentials.
Exclusively available at The Tot, this Nursing Set includes:
- Expert breastfeeding advice
- Organic cotton breast pads
- Organic nursing balm
- Organic cotton nursing cover
- Silicone breastmilk storage bags + tray
The Tot Feeding Sets: Nursing
$139
EXCLUSIVE
Nursing & Infant Lounger Pillow
Feeding (or simply holding) a baby can take a huge toll on your neck, back and shoulders.
This is where a solid nursing pillow comes in! Designed to help provide the support your baby needs to thoroughly latch, the Nook Niche Organic Feeding will be your absolute best friend.
The best part: you can also use it for belly support when pregnant, as an infant lounger, to help your baby sit up and more!
Nook Niche Organic Feeding Pillow
Ranging from $119 to $129
Available in more colors
Burp Cloth + Swaddle
A lot of babies pride themselves on their ability to spit up, which is why you can never have too many burp cloths and swaddles.
We really like the organic cotton burp cloths from HART + LAND because they’re the perfect size for wiping little cheeks (which helps protect them from milk-rash) while also protecting our shoulders from the dreaded milk layer.
The Pehr Love Bug Swaddle is also a must because the larger surface area means you can drape it over your shoulder/ baby to help keep them from getting distracted while feeding.
Both free from chemicals like pesticides and formaldehyde, you’ll be amazed with how soft they are!
HART + LAND 3 Pack Organic Cotton Burp Cloths
$34
EXCLUSIVE
Pehr Love Bug Organic Cotton Muslin Swaddle
$24
Breast Pump
Thinking about pumping? Well, it’s a good thing you’re alive in this day and age because brands like Elvie have made it an absolute breeze!
Their hands-free pump slides discreetly into your bra to catch your milk. Talk about mama super powers!
Elvie Single Breast Pump
$279
Also available in double
Silicone Breastmilk Storage Bags
You have no idea how hard we had to search to find a plastic-free breastmilk storage bag! (Seriously, we almost had to invent it.)
Luckily, the genius minds at Zip Top were all over it! Made from food-grade silicone, their breastmilk storage set offers comes with six bags (that can be written on!) as well as a storage tray for easy freezing.
Free of all the nasties, we cannot recommend this set more!
Zip Top Silicone Breastmilk Storage Bags & Tray
$49.99
Non-toxic Baby Bottles
If you’re going to be bottle-feeding your baby, then you’re going to want to know about some of our favorite silicone and glass bottle options.
Comotomo’s Natural Feel Silicone Baby Bottle and nipples are designed to feel like a breast. While one bottle doesn’t not fit all, we have yet to meet a baby that doesn’t love this option!
If you’re after a glass option, you should check out the glass baby bottle set from Natursutten. Made of borosilicate glass, which is dishwasher-safe and thermal shock-resistant (withstands extreme temperature changes, like boiling or freezing,) the bottle works seamlessly with Natursutten nipples, which are made of all-natural rubber.
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle – 5 0z (2 Pack)
$22.99
Available in more colors + sizes
Natursutten Glass Baby Bottle – 4 0z (2 Pack)
Ranging from $30 to $34
4 oz / 8 oz
Baby Bottle & Food Warmer
Ever wondered why you’re not supposed to microwave a baby’s milk? It’s because it can create ‘hot spots’ and potentially burn your baby’s mouth.
A safer option is something like the Boon Orb Warmer. The best part: this tiny by mighty guy will warm baby food too!
Boon Orb Bottle Warmer
$29.99
Bottle Sterilizer
First introduced in Korea in 2008, Upang creates state of the art and eco-friendly baby bottle sterilizers that work with UV light rays and are proven to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria including the H1N1_A flu virus and candida.
Registered with the FDA as a medical device, this machine can sterilize more than just bottles! With this all-in-one sterilizer, you can dry, sterilize, and remove odors from just about anything at the touch of a button.
Upang Plus UV Baby Bottle Sterlizer
$299.99
Available in more colors
Nursing Privacy Cover
Feeding while on-the-go can feel like a juggle. And because so many venues have yet to introduce private and comfortable places for parents to go and feed, we really like having the Milk Snob Organic Cotton Nursing Cover on hand.
Designed to provide block your baby from distractions or windy/cold/rainy/sunny weather, it can also be used to give you privacy if desired.
Oh and check it out: it doubles as a car seat cover too!
Milk Snob Organic Cotton Car Seat & Nursing Cover
$44
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Organic Nursing Balm
Just like when buying bottles and burp cloths, you need to be mindful of what could be potentially lurking in your personal care products!
Certified Organic and free from parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates (and every other ingredient we avoid), Erbaviva’s Nursing Balm can help prevent and sooth sore, cracked nipples!
Erbaviva Organic Nursing Balm
$20
Need to make your baby registry?
GET YOURS READY TODAY WITH THE TOT BABY REGISTRY!
Continue exploring
- Wondering how you can make your kitchen safer for your growing family? Check out our Guide to Non-toxic Baby Feeding Practices – Utensils, Dishes & More!
- Looking for non-toxic personal care products for both you and your kiddos? Visit The Tot Family Wellness & Beauty Shop!