Let’s be honest… breastfeeding can be painful. Especially the first week and when your baby starts teething!
When I was pregnant with #1, I had romancing visions of happily cuddling & nursing my sweet little baby… oh man, all that went out the window at the first latch.
After the first few nursings… my nipples were painfully sore and cracked.
After almost 3 days of nursing… I was grinding my teeth & curling my toes every time my baby latched on. I was not prepared for the pain! I wished someone had said something about that important little big detail while I was pregnant!
But I made it through… with some lanolin and lots of prayer.
Concerns about Lanolin
I don’t know about you, but I really hated using that common lanolin stuff on my nipples! I felt that it didn’t help much. I hated the oily feel and the stains it left on my bras & shirts. I did not feel much relief and found it uncomfortable on my sore nipples.
What exactly is Lanolin? I didn’t know until I did some research and found out that Lanolin is the greasy discharge from a sheep’s sebaceous glands. It is used in all kinds of cosmetics, from lip balms, shaving creams, hair products to breastfeeding creams. Although it has been touted as highly effective in soothing & healing chapped skin (but not for me!), lanolin usually contains a heavy load of pesticides from the wool being soaked in chemicals to remove parasites before the lanolin is scoured out of it.
Since your baby will basically be ingesting small amounts of whatever you smear on your nipples, it is critical for the ingredients to be safe (in my humble opinion). Many mamas swear by lanolin, but I rather use more natural ingredients that are 100% edible and safe! At the moment, there are no organic options for lanolin out there.
Unfortunately and completely clueless at the time, I used lanolin with both my first and second babies… after that, I promised myself to find a different alternative.
Finding an Alternative Relief
Thankfully, it was my mom who found it. A herbal nipple cream called Motherlove that she picked up at Whole Foods. I used it after Tobias was born and…
- LOVED. IT.
It smelled good, did not feel oily, felt really soothing, absorbed quickly into my skin and did not stain my bras & shirts. I clearly remember my nipples healing very quickly… like 4 or 5 days! I used it again with Poema, my 4th baby, and got the same results.
Y’all, that’s a big deal!
Why? Because both my midwives (from my 1st & 2nd births) have told me to bear the pain of nursing for 10 days, use lots of lanolin and then I will be fine. True enough, by the 11th day… the pain was significantly less and breastfeeding became a much more pleasant experience.
But now I think that 10 days of pain can be cut in half… using the DIY Natural Nipple Cream!Of course, every mama has different experiences with breastfeeding and some take longer to heal and get the hang of breastfeeding. I truly hope this cream will help lessen the pain, speed healing and shorten the time it takes for your nipples to get used to be sucked on by a hungry little mouth! Ouch!
Buy it or Make it?
The Motherlove nipple cream is a little pricey for such a small bottle and I only used about half of it during the first couple weeks of nursing Tobi, but to me… it was worth it!
Of course, I wanted to try making my own… simply because I enjoy DIY projects and wanted to save a little money. I looked high and low around the internet for a recipe, but didn’t find much. Most simply said to use 100% coconut oil or a combination of coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter… but was I looking for something more similar to the Motherlove nipple cream.
Later, after learning how to make a few different kinds of salves/creams… I took the basic salve recipe, the ingredients from Motherlove and set out to make my own natural nipple cream.
I’m glad to say that it was a success! I have been able to use it as my 4th baby is still nursing pretty strong at 18 months old. The small amount I made was enough for me to share with another mama who recently had a new baby. She loved it and noticed quick relief from using it.
The Ingredients & Its Benefits
Below you will learn how each ingredient is very healing for those sore nipples! For those who might be concern… this natural nipple cream is completely safe for the baby. I have used this for my 3rd and 4th babies with no concerns or side effects.
In fact, with Poema still nursing at 18 months and has teeth now… I still use the nipple cream whenever I start to feel little sore. If you are not convinced, then you can simply wipe off the cream just before you nurse, but it will most likely already absorbed into your skin.
- Marshmallow Root: The genus name comes from a Greek work meaning “to heal”.This herb contains some germ-fighting and inflammation-relieving phyto-chemicals. It also contains compounds that help stimulate the immune system slightly. Marshmallow Root is known to help with bruises, chafing, sores and wounds… which is beneficial for the nursing mama!
- Calendula Flower: A herb long used through Europe and the Americas for wound healing and ulcer treatments, Calendula is known for its amazing healing properties. The phyto-chemicals in these flowers opposes fungi, bacteria, viruses and inflammation. Calendula also excite the white blood ells in the immune system to fight microbial invaders with a little more vigor. It is good for treating skin problems of all kinds, especially cuts, scrapes, bruises and minor wounds.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or Coconut Oil: Both oils help promote healthy skin regeneration, fight off infection & thrush and moisturizes the skin.
- Beeswax: Helps to keep needed moisture in the skin, promotes new cell growth and protects the skin.
- Shea Butter: Moisturizes, protects, strengthens and regenerates the skin. It is great for minor cuts and cracks in the skin.
Making the Natural Nipple Cream
Thankfully, making nipple cream is super easy. I ordered my herbs & beeswax from Bulk Herb Store and the shea butter from Mountain Rose Herbs, but you can purchase all the ingredients at Mountain Rose Herbs. I love both companies and love their quality & prices! You can also purchase most, if not all, of the ingredients on Amazon.com too.
I am sure most of you already know this, but I feel it is important for me to say that It’s highly recommended to use organic oils. When making my batch of nipple cream, I used 100% organic olive oil and loved the results. If you prefer, you can use a combination of coconut oil and olive oil or 100% coconut oil… whatever you like or have in hand!
Once you’ve made the natural nipple cream, you can start using it even before your baby is born! Rubbing the cream into the nipples throughout the latter part of your pregnancy and the beginning weeks of nursing will create healthy, flexible tissues that will be more resistant to cracks, tears and chapping.
Natural Nipple Cream
1/4 cup Calendula
1/4 cup Marshmallow Root
1 cup Olive oil and/or Coconut oil
1/8 cup Beeswax
2 Tbsp Shea Butter
Scoop herbs into a glass canning jar and pour oil on top. Make sure there is at least one inch gap between the mixture and top of the jar. Screw lid on tightly.
Set out a medium size slow cooker and line the bottom with a thick hand towel. Place the jar inside and fill the slow cooker with water up to the level of the oil in the jar, but keep the water level below the lid.
Turn the slow cooker on the “warm” setting and leave it on for 3 to 5 days, partially covered. Add more water into the cooker when necessary.
After 3 to 5 days, remove the oil infusion from the cooker and let it cool a little. Strain the oil through a fine sieve and/or cheesecloth into a small stainless steel sauce pan. Squeeze with your hands or use the back of a spoon to release the finished oil. Throw the used herbs away.
Add beeswax and shea butter into the sauce pan and turn heat on low. Stir until wax and butter has melted. Pour the mixture into 4oz glass jars or 4oz tin cans. Allow them to cool completely before putting the lids on. Date and label the nipple cream. Keep them in a cool, dry and dark spot. Will keep for several months.
With the recipe above, you should be able to fill three or four 4oz tin cans or jars pretty easily. You will most likely only need one for yourself and the extras will make fantastic gifts for your mama friends! I would love to make a gift basket with all my natural remedies to give to a mama friend… one day I will do it!
Think you can tackle this easy DIY project? For those who have made this cream and used it… Did it help your sore nipples? Did you noticed anything different?
Note: The links above are my affiliate links and I will earn a small commission if you decide to order the herbs through those links (no charge to you!). Thank you for reading this and supporting my family through your purchases!
Is there a reason this needs to be kept in a glass or tin jar? I only have plastic jars! I’d love to make it for my sister who just had her 3rd baby. Thank you!
Hello! No reason, just that I like to use those types of jars. The plastic jars will work just as well 🙂 Blessings!
Will this still work well without using the herbs? I will need them in a couple of days so I don’t have time to order the herbs. Thank you
You can use just plain coconut oil, it should work fine. The herbs add the extra healing needed to keep the nipples from being too painful.
Is the marshmallow root safe in case baby ingests some? Also the calendula?
Hello Sarra!
Yes, it is safe. Your baby will ingest some because it will be on your nipples and it is safe. I used it with two of my younger children and I have heard reports from readers and friends who have made this say that they love it and no problems with their babies 🙂
Any suggestions for those without a slow cooker!?? Thank u!
You can put the jar on a sunny windowsill and let it sit for up to a week. Turn it everyday to move the herbs through the oil.
Or you can try putting a pan of water over a very low burner and put the jar in that. You will need to be around to keep an eye on it and turn it off at night to prevent any accidents.
This is wonderful! Exactly the recipe I’ve been looking for! I just had my second son born a week ago and I am loving the Motherlove nipple cream, which someone gave me as part of their baby shower gift for me. Just last night I was also wondering if I could make it myself and with your helpful instructions it sounds so easy. I’m so glad I’m not the only one thinking that lanolin is not the best option out there (however I also blind-mindedly nursed my first son all the way through using the stuff, yuck!). What bothered me the most was that both my husband and I are vegetarians and yet, I was using that animal product to put in my baby’s mouth. I’m so glad that now with the second one I can change that little thing and live happily with nursing. Thank you!
Great!! I’m so glad you found my recipe. It is very easy! Enjoy it and congratulations on your new babe! 🙂
If you keep the nipple butter in the fridge will it keep longer? How long?
Im thinking it can be used for lots of healing body parts… yes? I am adding Plantain Leaf to mine.
Thank you
Karen QT LM, IBCLC
Burgeon Midwifery
Albuquerque , NM
505-459-1901
Hello Karen, of course it will most likely keep longer if stored in a cool place. I’m not sure about the fridge as it can sweat and mixed that with the nipple cream can make it go rancid. I still have nipple cream that I made over 3 years ago and it still smells great.
Before adding plantain leaf, do research to make sure it is safe for babies to ingest as they will be taking in the cream along with the milk when they nurse.
Yes, this is very healing for a lot of other things as well. I have had mothers tell me that it worked wonders for rashes, cuts and more (without the plantain).
Enjoy!
I imagine the plantain leaf is safe, as it is used to hold food in some places
Looks like plantain leaf can be used internally! https://wellnessmama.com/5387/plantain-healing-herb/
enjoy reading your website. thus is exactly what i need. can i replace infusing the oil with calendula flower with calendula oil straight away? and how much roughly? thank you.
Hi Anna! It depends if it is pure calendula oil. If there’s other ingredients. I wouldn’t use it. As for how much, I have no idea. Does the bottle say what percentage of calendula is in the oil?
Hi! I was curious if using the calendula extract would be okay? Or do I need to infuse the herbs to have the best result?
Also, thank you for this! I’ve been using EMAB Nipple Butter and it is amazing, by a little pricey for the amount. I wanted to try and make my own, now I can! ❤️
Hello Jennifer!
It is best to infused the calendula for best results. I loved what I made and I have received great feedback from others who have made this as well 🙂
Just FYI, this cream also works AWESOME on diaper rash! I tried it out of desperation last week when Baby Girl had a nasty one (NO idea what I ate that didn’t agree with her 🙁 ). The cream calmed it right down and gave her some much needed relief. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Jen! That’s great! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I found a recipe that is 1/2 c coconut oil, 1/2 c Shea butter and 1/4 c beeswax so it’s similar to your recipe. Is it ok for traces of the cream to still be on your nipples when baby nurses? It won’t be harmful to the baby if they ingest any of these things? Thanks
Hi Monica,
Yes, it’s perfectly fine. The ingredients in my cream and the recipe you found are all edible and much healthier than lanolin (which is the common cream for nipples).
I’m on my 7th day of nursing and just now started the slow cooker. Do you think I could set it on low and speed up the infusion process? My nipples are super sore and I’d rather not wait another 3 days 😉
Thank you so much for this great recipe!
Blessings
Hello Darja,
Congratulations! I am so sorry for not replying sooner. Were you able to make some? Did it turn out okay?
It is better not to turn up the heat or rush it. Turning up the heat can burn the herbs, cause the oil to go rancid faster and lost of some medicinal value. The brand Motherlove carries this balm and you can find it at most Targets and health food stores.
Hi!
Thanks for this recipe. 2 questions:
– you’re infusing the herbs in 1 cup of olive /coconut oil, right? Or more and use only what you need for the recipe?
– 1/8 cup if beewax melted? My beewax comes in chunks so it makes a huge difference in terms of quantity.
Thanks a lot!
Hi there!
-Yes, in 1 cup of olive/coconut oil. It would be best if you following the recipe exactly because after you squeeze as much of the oils out of the herbs there will be a little less than a cup left as the herbs will have soaked in some.
-No, it’s 1/8 cup of beewax NOT melted. I used the small pellets for easy measuring. I do not know how much the beewax will come out melted.
My pleasure!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that the calendula flower is fat soluble hence the reason for macerating it in the oil. However, please do not put the jar in the sunlight as it will destroy all the good constituents. By all means keep it in a warm place but away from the sun. This is a beautiful balm and great for chapped lips anytime too 🙂
Michele,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I prefer to keep herbs out of sunlight as well, but have read from different sources that letting the herbs soaked in sunshine is beneficial. Guess it depends on what herbs you use?
Hi Marillyn and Michelle :} I just wanted to add a bit about infusing herbs in sunlight – it’s a wonderful way to infuse the herbs, as it warms the oil, and allows for a slow infusion process! However, like Michelle said, the oil and herb mixture could go bad if it’s exposed to direct sunlight. In our herbal class, we learned that you can wrap your jar in a brown paper bag or brown paper, and then place it in the sunlight (that way the jar itself is still kept in darkness, but it’s warmed by the sun).
Thank you for sharing this recipe Marillyn, I have made it for two mamas, and have heard it works wonderfully!!
Thank you, Anna, for sharing your experience and knowledge! Glad the cream is working great!
Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature and olive oil is a liquid, how is the texture different depending on which oil you use? Could you maybe eliminate the beeswax if using 100% coconut oil? Thanks!
Hello Alicia,
You can use coconut oil if you like, but I prefer olive oil and beeswax because I know it will stay solid when traveling and in warm temperature, which you can’t really do with coconut oil. Plus, beeswax has antibacterial properties that is beneficial for the skin.
Coconut oil is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, just so you know.
Yep! I know that 🙂
I am thinking of adding grapefruit seed extract. I used this with both of my babies for the fungul infection called thrush. I think adding it would be a great preventive measure. Thoughts?
Hi Teresa!
I hesitate to use GFS for preventative measures because it is so strong and can irritate the stomach if used one too many times. I would mix in coconut oil instead as a preventative because it is naturally anti-fungal and will boost your baby’s immunity to fight against fungal infection. It will also be highly beneficial for you to take coconut oil internally on a daily basis if you aren’t already. This will also come through your milk to your baby as well! 🙂
How long does this take to become solid? The ratio of liquid to solid seems a lot higher on the liquid end.
Within a few hours, depending on room temperatures. I love the ratio because it keeps the cream soft. Never had any issues of melting. Of course, if I left it in the sun or in the car it would melt, but in room temperature it is perfectly creamy.
I have marshmallow root powder, can that be used in place of the dried herbs? If so, how much would I add for this recipe?
Hello Kim,
Using dried powder will be difficult to strain. I do not recommend it.
How do would you store the cream and how long would it keep for once you made the batch?
Hello Allison,
I stored my cream in dark containers and kept in a cool place. I have my last container of it that I made over 4 years ago and it’s still good! Does not smell rancid and the cream still looks and feels great!
Hi
Thanks so maybe ch for your recipe. I accidentally read it wrong and have been letting my oil and herbs sit in the slow cooker on low for about 3 days, instead of warm. Will i have to start again? Or is it still ok to use and go ahead with the rest of the recipe?
Hi Jane! Smell it… if it smells rancid, toss it. If it smells herby, then go ahead with the rest of the recipe! Blessings!
Whoops silly spell check…and fat fingers! Meant to say thanks so much for your recipe!
I have callendula co2 oil, and no fresh herbs. I am not finding one recipe for use with the oil only for the herbs. The oil would be better to use as it cuts out a lot of time and effort especially for busy post partum mothers. Is there any input you could share on how much calendula oil to use in lui of the dried herbs?
My concern with using just calendula oil is not knowing exactly how its made and the other herbs are needed to truly work well.
I am two weeks out from the birth of my baby. I made this and the cream is rock solid (more so than a lip balm) and I find it difficult to use. Is this correct or can I melt it back down and add something else to make it more like a cream?
Hey Taylor! I’m not sure why the nipple cream is rock solid. I have had no issues with that as I’ve made this several times over the years. Did you follow the recipe exactly?
I made a batch of this balm before my first baby was born (he just turned 2!) and used it faithfully and I was absolutely stunned to report I experienced absolutely no pain, chafing, cracking, soreness whatsoever from nursing. I had heard all the horror stories so I had prepared myself for the worst. My friends couldn’t believe it and asked what in the world I did so I tell them all about this balm, I really think it (and likely a good latch) was the secret to our success! Baby number 2 is on the way and you can bet I’ll be whipping up another batch!! I froze the rest of my batch last time and gave it out as gifts as the need arose and didn’t have any issues with it going bad that way also FYI 🙂 thanks for the wonderful remedy!!!!
Wonderful!!!! Thank you for sharing your testimony!
Hi,
I don’t have a slow cooker but here in the U.K. it’s currently very cold and our central heating/radiators are switched on all day. Do you think I could just pop the jar on top of the radiator for 3 days instead?
Hi Ash! I think that should work. I would put a towel under it to keep the bottom from getting too hot. You will need to stir up the oil so the heat is evenly distributed. Hope it works out!
Hi there!
Can you give an idea of how many oz of marshmallow root is in 1/4 cup? Also, for the Calendula, do they need to be dried flowers or do you think it’d be ok to use freshly picked?
Thank you!
Hi Morgan, I’m not exactly sure how many oz it would be and I would use dried flowers to reduce the chance of mold.
Going to make a batch of this for a pregnant friend this week! Your ratios look excellent and I’m very excited to give it a go. Thank you!
Thank you! Hope you liked it!
Can you substitute beeswax for something else? I’m worried about allergies to bee products.
Hi Dawn, do you or any other family members have history of allergies to bee products? If not, the chances of being allergic to bee products is VERY small. I have used this with 4 of my 5 babies with no issues and have not heard of babies reacting to beeswax. But if you are 100% not comfortable then maybe try shea butter as a substitute. You will have to use more as it doesn’t solify like beeswax and its softer. Hope this helps!
Hi, my balm is liquefying for some reason in the containers. Any suggestions?
Hi Maddison, did you put in the correct amount of beeswax? If it’s liquefying then it might be that you didn’t put in enough. Also, was the room temperature very warm? Have you tried putting in the fridge to cool it down? Hope this helps!
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you soooo much for this recipe! I pinned it probably a year ago and am now finishing my 1st trimester with my first baby. I decided to make some now because my nipples have been so itchy and driving me crazy!! I also have a friend who just gave birth to her first child a few days ago so I’ll be giving the other tin to her. My recipe finished with about 10oz which was perfect since I could only find 5oz tins so it filled 2 perfectly.
I’m thrilled to have this recipe on hand and not have to use lanolin for my babe. Thank you so much again!!
Yay! So glad you love it! And glad you were able to share it with your friend <3
Just started my second trimester and I made this a couple weeks ago. My nipples have been itchy and driving me crazy! This helps soooo much and it gives me peace of mind knowing that it’ll be safe for baby. Thank you so much for this magic!!
Wonderful! I’m so glad! Thank you for sharing your testimony, Elizabeth!
Hi there,
Love this recipe but having trouble sourcing the marshmallow root . I have found Marshmallow root oil and also Calendula oil which on checking are both infused in Sunflower oil. Could I use those in place of the infused olive oil?
Many thanks
Hey, you can purchase marshmallow root from Mountain Rose Herb…
https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/marshmallow-root/profile
https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/calendula-flowers/profile
Personally, I would make my own infused oil because I know the ingredients and the quality of them. I don’t know how long the bottle has been sitting on the shelf and if it’s rancid or not.I’m picky because I know that it will be going into my baby’s mouth. You can purchase the herbs on MRH in smaller quantities so you don’t have a ton of herbs to used up.
Hope that helps!
Just found this recipe. It looks amazing. I tried reading through all the comments before asking my question, so please forgive me if you have answered this before!
How long would you say that this keeps? 3-4 months? A year? Just want to know for personal labeling. Sometimes things get lost or piled up in my house 🙂
Hi Caitlin,
Room temp… I believe it can last up to 6 months in a cool, dry place. It depends on the quality of the oil you use. I always go by the smell test. If its rancid, throw it out. In the fridge it would last much longer. Probably wouldn’t hurt to freeze it for longer storage if needed!
Hi, I have organic marshmallow root tincture can I use that instead of the actual dried herb?
Thanks
Hi Shan, you need the dried herb to get the benefits. The tincture is a different process and won’t infuse well with the cream.
Do you worry about the bees wax and allergic reactions with baby?
Hi Cheryl! No, there is no need to worry about allergic reactions. I’m more concern about the lanolin having toxic chemicals in it then pure beeswax. Do you research if you are concern. As you can see in the comments, there are a lot of happy mamas and midwives who have made this cream and reported no reactions.
Could you use this as a nappy cream?
Yes you can!
Refined or unrefined shea butter?
either! Just make sure it does not smell rancid.
can you use this as nappy cream and moisturiser for baby?
Yes, you can!
Would it be ok to use 100% organic calendula essential oil rather than the flower infused oil. If so, how many drops would you say and how would the recipe change?
Calendula essentail oil is very different from dried calendula so I can’t help you with determining how many drops due to essential oils being much stronger.
Hi
Thanks so much for this recipe. Used it for my first baby and now wanting to make it for the second. Just one question. I’ve got lavender buds and camomile flowers, can I add them with the calendula and marshmellow root to the oil infusion process? Will this disturb the properties of the calendula or marshmellow root? Will it make the cream rancid faster? Will lavender and camomile hold up ok if infused for 5 days too? Sorry not sure if you will know the answers to these questions. Just thought I’d pick your brain if possible. Thanks for your help.
Hello there! I don’t think it would be a problem to add lavender and chamomile into the calendula and marshmallow root! They are dried herbs and won’t change anything with the other herbs… they will just add on with their medicinal properties!