Why We Don’t Use Lanolin In Our Nipple Balm

As an expecting or new mum, you've undoubtedly come across Lanolin creams and lanolin infused nipple balms to soothe your sore nipples. Many people love lanolin and recommend it to new mums. But, there's an unknown side to using lanolin.

Let’s take a look at why we don't use lanolin in our natural, organic nipple balm and what ingredients you should look out for when choosing which nipple balm is best for you & your bubs.

What Is Lanolin?

Lanolin is a natural waxy coating found in sheep's wool. Lanolin, secreted by the sebaceous glands of the sheep, is extracted by boiling the sheep's wool to extremely high temperatures, which separates the compound from the wool strands.

Chemicals and pesticides such as lindane and diazinon are often used during the extraction process.

Can Lanolin Cause A Reaction?

Although many people use lanolin, the majority of people don't know that it can cause a reaction. So if you're someone who's naturally sensitive to wool or sheep-originated products, you will likely have a reaction to lanolin.

Unfortunately a lot of mums only first discover their sensitivity to wool products when they are applying lanolin on their already sore and cracked nipples.

Lanolin sensitivity can cause an itchy and tingling feeling on your nipples, rash and swelling which can worsen over time if not appropriately addressed or stopped. This is one of the primary reasons why we choose all-natural ingredients for our nipple balm.

If you experience skin irritation, pain, cracked skin or bleeding after using a lanolin cream - stop using it immediately. Some babies who have the same sensitivity to lanolin can also develop sores, ulcers and redness if mothers use lanolin and fail to clean it off properly before feeding.

Why We Don’t Use Lanolin In Our Nipple Balm

Hospitals & healthcare professionals across the country recommend lanolin which means that it is generally safe for most people. However, we aren't huge fans of using chemically extracted compounds derived from animals in our natural and organic products, especially in products that come in close contact with our beautiful babies.

Lanolin is also quite sticky and acts as a protective layer however can take a long time to get absorbed by the skin. An application of lanolin cream tends to leave a thick residue on your skin and clothes, and while considered “feeding safe”, will be ingested by your little one at feeding time.

Many mums believe that lanolin will repair and heal their sore nipples, but that's actually not the case. Lanolin only creates a protective moisturising barrier and doesn't actively heal the sore tissue from the inside out.

Organic nipple balms, on the other hand, have various ingredients that actively heal, nourish, repair & soothe whilst also providing a protective moisturising barrier. They heal AND protect.

If you opt for a lanolin-based balm or cream, please ensure that it's free from alcohol (used for drying the skin), anesthetics (can numb the baby's mouth), petroleum chemicals or parabens (used as preservatives) and any artificial flavours or fragrances.

What Should A New Mom Look For In A Nipple Balm?

A new mum needs to take various factors into consideration before purchasing a soothing organic nipple balm.

Some of these considerations include - 100% Natural Ingredients Natural ingredients derived from plant-based sources or other natural sources give you the confidence to use them on your body and for your baby without worrying about wool sensitivities or needing to wipe off before each feed.

All our products are 100% natural and contain no nasties, to ensure no-fuss health and happiness for Mum & Bubs.

Always check the ingredients of your nipple balm and see if you can spot any of these amazing ingredients well known to heal, nourish, soothe and protect -

Olive Fruit Oil

Olive oil contains lots of vitamins and fatty acids which acts as a skin cell regenerator. It also keeps your skin deeply moisturised and hydrated.

Cacao Seed Butter

Cacao Seed Butter is another natural source of antioxidants & fatty acids, which works wonders on dry or cracked skin and heals deeply from the inside out.

Shea Seed Butter

Shea Seed Butter is perfect for softening the skin as it has various anti-inflammatory & healing properties that soothes irritated skin.

Mango Seed Butter

Mango Seed Butter is known to boost elasticity & suppleness thanks to naturally occurring fats found inside mango seeds. It helps your body rejuvenate.

Oil From Calendula Flower

Extracted from marigold, this oil packs in a punch! It's antifungal, anti-inflammatory & antibacterial, which makes it perfect for healing wounds & relieving skin conditions like eczema or a nappy rash.

Organic Beeswax

Organic Beeswax hydrates, conditions, soothes, and calms the skin. It helps repair damage and promotes the skin's regeneration. It also protects you from allergens and contains antioxidants that help your skin rejuvenate while hydrating your pores without clogging them.

Sustainable Packaging

We strive to do our bit by using sustainable sourcing for all our packaging to ensure we don't contribute to the further harm of our natural environment. We choose materials that are sustainably sourced, recyclable and reusable.

Keep an eye out for packaging that you can reuse and repurpose time and time again.

Is Safe To Feed

Some lanolin-based & other creams on the market require mums to wash themselves or remove leftover cream before feeding. Understandably this is a big hassle for busy and tired mums.

So always ensure that whatever nipple balm you get (lanolin or not), it should be feeding safe and harmless to the child even if ingested.

You will find many lanolin-free balms are usually feeding safe. The same goes for most natural balms - feeding safe with no need to wash off in between feeds. Always read the label and look into any ingredients you are not sure about. Which brings us to our next point on what to stay away from in a nipple balm. 

Stay away from anaesthetics or artificial flavours and fragrances.

Some creams and balms are aimed at mums who need pain relief, these contain anaesthetics that can numb the baby's throat and mouth. This might seem like a fantastic benefit for mum but ends up being ingested by your baby if not washed off properly before feeding time.

We recommend staying away from anaesthetic based products. The same goes for artificial flavours and fragrances, as babies may reject the breast.

In summary

Our aim is to provide families with affordable, sustainable, natural and ecologically conscious everyday care solutions that support Mumma throughout her journey of motherhood. Our natural nipple balm contains all of the benefits (and many more) but none of the downsides of using a lanolin-based cream. Take a peek at our natural nipple balm and feel the difference for yourself.