Best Breast Pads for Nursing 202416 October 2024 | Admin Whether you're planning to breastfeed or not, all new Mums will need breast pads for at least a short period. However if you're breastfeeding for a longer time, breast pads become an essential for absorbing milk. I remember when I had my first child and didn't realise that I needed to wear them to bed and my partner woke up with a very wet back! Additionally, some women start to produce milk whilst still pregnant and may have some leaks so it is a good idea to consider them well in advance of your due date and remember to pack them in your hospital bag too. For most Mums, the letdown response will happen a lot in response to your baby crying, which is just incredible! By this we mean that when your baby cries, your boobs will immediately 'let down' or start leaking milk. As you can imagine, without breast pads to soak up this milk, things get very soggy very quickly! This let down response also starts when your baby latches on one side to feed, the other side starts leaking too, which is why you can often express milk on one side while baby feeds on the other side. Even if you are bottle feeding, you will still have 'let down' when your baby cries, however this will gradually diminish over the first few weeks as your milk supply dries up. Breastfeeding mums on the other hand will need breast pads all the time that they continue to breast feed. Breastfeeding can be tricky at times, so finding comfy, discreet nursing pads is one less thing to worry about whilst breastfeeding. Here at Cheeky we've been all about 'Simple Reusables' since we launched our bestselling reusable wipes kit way back in 2008, so we've included machine washable breast pads in our lists which are great because they can be reused again and again, with just a quick wash and dry between uses. Seven great reasons to use reusable nursing pads:- You will never run out
- They won't stick to your chapped nipples (Kirstin in our team lost the end of her nipple in Mothercare's changing rooms to a shiny disposable breast pad)
- Eco friendly and way much better for the environment as if you're feeding 4 of 5 times a day that is between 8 and 10 disposable pads daily!
- Better for sensitive skin
- No super absorbent chemicals near your babies mouth
- Save them for use again with your next baby
- They can be repurposed as make up removing wipes when you stop feeding
In this guide, we'll explore the best reusable and disposable nursing pads available in Australia, both online, High St and specialist stores. The Best Breast Pads For Nursing 2024Best Disposable Breast Pads: Pigeon Comfy Breastfeeding Pads $12.95 for 50 pads Most Absorbent Reusable Breast Pads: Cheeky Wipes Reusable Bamboo Breast Pads ($23.29 for 3 pairs) Best Budget Disposable Breast Pads: Coles Cub Nursing Pads $5.30 for 40 pads Best Discreet Reusable Breast Pads: Silverette Reusable Breast Pads, $25 for 7 pairs Best Wool Breast Pads: Bundl Woollen Breast Pads, $34.90 for 2 pairs Best Thin Disposable Breast Pads: Medela Ultra Thin Nursing Pads, $11.88 for 60 pairs Best Organic Breast Pads: Bubba Bump Organic Breast Pads Best Big Brand Breast Pads for Nursing: Avent Breast Pads - Disposable - Day or Night 
Material & ComfortMums report that these are comfortable to wear and with added aloe vera, they improve skin moisture. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionThese disposable breast pads have a super absorbent polymer core, so absorb 20 times their weight. ColourAvailable in white only. Available Sizes & ShapesOne sise fits most. Customer Reviews"Have tried many big name brands over extended breast feeding of 3 kids. These are very absorbent. Great large pack. Has helped manage my over supply." Product Review 
Material & ComfortCheeky Wipes Breast Pads are made from supersoft soft bamboo with a bamboo core so they are really comfortable on sensitive skin. They also they have an athletic wicking fabric next to the skin with a fast wicking polyester top layer to help keep you dry and comfortable. This is also very soft against your sensitive nipples. Bamboo is hypoallergenic so reducing the risk of irritation and these wash easily in the washing machine. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionCheeky Wipes washable breast pads have superior absorbency as they have two layers of absorbent bamboo core. Backed with PUL to prevent leaking making it on to your clothes for complete confidence. ColourAvailable in white only. No patterns to show through clothes and they are thin so won't have an obvious outline. Available Sizes & ShapesThese pads are quite large 11cms in diameter, choose from white flat heavy absorbency, or white shaped. The flat breast pads are best for larger breasted ladies. The tapered shaped pads are better for smaller breasts. Customer Reviews"Love cheeky wipes. Love my period pants. We also have the baby wipes. We still use them 2.5yrs later. And even bought their washable breast pads.. Highly recommend" Caroline Sept ,23 Trustpilot 
Material & ComfortSuper absorbent polymers which may not be the most comfortable if you have painful nipples. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionHighly absorbent ColourAvailable in white only. Available Sizes & ShapesThese are shaped which means they may not be suitable for larger breasts (C cup and above) Customer Reviews'To my surprise, this was actually one of my favourite brands of breast pads to buy as it is super comfortable and absorbent. I actually got this given to me from a friend at first but it is well worth it to buy this one. It is my go-to breast pad.' Product Review 
Best Wool Breast Pads: Bundl Woollen Breast Pads, $34.90 for 2 pairs plus wash bagMaterial & ComfortThese are super comfortable and made from organic cotton and organic merino wool. Users report that they're great if you suffer from nipple vasospasm and keep breasts warm and cosy. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionHighly absorbent due to the wool content. ColourAvailable in natural colour only. Available Sizes & ShapesThese come in a 'one size fits most' option, however the company say they will make larger pads to order for bigger breasts. Customer Reviews'I have nipple vasospasm and these wool nursing pads have been essential to reduce my symptoms. I find the size great as I need them purely to warm the nipples not for the purpose of catching heavy milk leaks. Just wish they came in a bigger bundle to purchase!' Product Review 
Material & ComfortBubbabump says that these breastpads are made from organic bamboo, however this is a bit confusing as it is our understanding that bamboo products can NEVER be GOTS certified organic due to the processing involved. They also mention microfibre, so we have contacted Bubbabump for clarification as it's all a bit unclear! Nonetheless, customers report them being very comfortable to wear. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionAssuming that these are made from bamboo viscose and / or microfibre, these pads appear to be absorbent based on customer feedback. ColourIf you like pretty breast pads, these are for you! They're available in white, plain colours or pretty patterns, just be aware that patterns in particular may show through clothing. Available Sizes & ShapesThese pads are large at 12cms in diameter, which makes them good for larger breasted ladies, however they may bunch up on ladies who are not so well endowed. Customer Reviews"These breast pads are soft and luxe and the patterns are lovely and makes it easy to pair them after the wash cycle. I had some from first bub but underestimated how many I would need for when second bubs milk came through. Highly recommend." Trustpilot Review 
Material & ComfortThese reusable breast pads are made from ecofriendly bamboo but are thinner than other types, as they are designed to work alongside Silverette nursing cups which protect sore nipples and allow them to heal. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionThese have a PUL backing so will be leak free however they may not be as absorbent as other brands. ColourAvailable in patterned only which is very pretty but may show through bra and clothing. Available Sizes & ShapesThese pads are large at 12cms in diameter, which makes them perfect for larger breasted ladies. Ladies with smaller breasts may wish to consider shaped breast pads instead. Customer ReviewsNo reviews available 
Material & ComfortMedela Ultra thin disposable nursing pads are made from similar materials to those found in your childs nappy. As they're less than 2 mm thick, they'll be super comfy and discreet to wear with a hypoallergenic layer against the skin. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionThey have five layers of protection and an absorbent core that draws moisture away from the surface, so skin and clothing remain dry. The oval shape means they absorb underneath the nipple where is where most leakage will be, which makes sense! ColourAvailable in white only. Available Sizes & ShapesThese are smaller than normal breast pads, so may be more suitable for ladies with smaller breasts and nipples. Customer Reviews"These are too small for me personally, after using other regular breast pads (including the ones by Medella). In saying that they are effective and I haven’t had any leakage, I just prefer something larger in diameter." Amazon Review 
Material & ComfortThese Avent breast pads have a silky honeycomb texture which should stop it sticking to your nipple. In terms of thickness, these fall between the Medela ultra thin and the Pigeon brand. Absorbency & Leak ProtectionWith a super absorbent polymer core, these are absorbent enough for day or night usage, although some people found they moved around a lot in their bras. ColourAvailable in white only. Available Sizes & ShapesStandard breast pad size. Customer Reviews"Absorbent, but thinner than Nuk and Pidgeon so great if you are wanting to use without a bra. Breathable and would buy again." Product Review A good alternative to breast pads which means you don't lose a drop of that precious breast milk is breast shells. Use them while you are feeding to catch any flow from the breast you are not feeding on, or place inside your nursing bra to catch leaks through the day. This can then be saved and stored in a bottle for feeding or milk bag for freezing. We hope you've found this helpful, but if you've got any further questions at all about our breast pads, please do contact us. The team all use the products themselves and love to chat pee, poo and periods all day long! We've also got some further reading that you may be interested in: About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable period kits and reusable incontinence pants. The Company was award with the Queens Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2021 which recognised their hard work. | 
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