Breastfeeding essentials laid out for a new mom's first weeks

Breastfeeding Essentials Checklist for Canadian Moms (Hospital Bag to Week Six)

Packing for a Canadian winter birth is already a puzzle: parka, car seat, three sizes of onesies. Then comes the breastfeeding list. Here's a short, Canada-specific checklist of what actually earns its place in the first six weeks, and what can wait.

Before baby arrives (weeks 28 to 40)

Education and support

  • A prenatal breastfeeding class (hospital or IBCLC-led)
  • Contacts for a local lactation clinic or La Leche League group
  • Learn hand expression, useful if a pump isn't ready yet

Gear worth ordering ahead

For the hospital bag

  • A loose button-front shirt
  • Lip balm (for you)
  • Protein snacks
  • A phone charger with a long cable
  • A feeding log or app, because the first days blur together

Week 0 to 1: colostrum and getting started

  • Feed on cue; watch diapers, not just the clock
  • Ask your nurse to check your latch and positions before discharge
  • Start lanolin after the latch has been checked
  • Set up a sofa station: pillow, pads, water and snacks within reach
  • Stick to one cream, so you notice any reaction

Shipping tip: order the nursing pillow to an address where someone can receive it. Adorling ships free and tracked anywhere in Canada.

Week 2 to 3: the frequency peak

  • Re-check your flange size if you're pumping
  • Air wool pads between uses; wash only when needed
  • Use the nursing pillow for couch and glider feeds
  • Book an IBCLC if pain goes beyond mild tenderness
  • Keep up water and calories; breastfeeding raises energy needs

Week 4 to 6: finding a rhythm

  • Introduce a paced bottle only if needed
  • Feeding twins? Consider the Twin
  • Add LANACare extras to a baby shower registry

What you can skip (or delay)

  • Ten bottle brands before baby shows a preference
  • Expensive "breastfeeding robes" from Instagram
  • Anything you can't wash or return under a clear policy
  • Nursing pillows from unauthorized sellers to save a few dollars

For clinics and retailers

Hospitals, boutiques and doula collectives can buy through our wholesale page.

Closing reminder

The best checklist is the one you actually use at 3 a.m. Keep it short, be firm about positioning, be gentle on skin, and buy from an authorized Canadian retailer so the warranty and return policy are real. Questions before you open a sealed pillow or cream? Contact Adorling.

FAQ

What breastfeeding essentials should I buy before baby arrives?

A firm nursing pillow, lanolin cream, wool nursing pads with a lanolin-replenishing wool wash, two soft-cup nursing bras without underwire, and a water bottle with a straw for one-handed drinking.

What should I pack in my hospital bag for breastfeeding?

A loose button-front shirt, lip balm, protein snacks, a phone charger with a long cable, and a feeding log or app, because the first days blur together.

When should I start using lanolin cream?

After your latch has been checked. Ask your nurse to check your latch and positions before you leave the hospital, and stick to one cream so you notice any reaction.

What breastfeeding gear can I skip?

Buying many bottle brands before baby shows a preference, expensive breastfeeding robes, anything you cannot wash or return under a clear policy, and nursing pillows from unauthorized sellers.

When should I see a lactation consultant?

Book an IBCLC if pain goes beyond mild tenderness. Contacts for a local lactation clinic or La Leche League group are worth having before baby arrives.