The Best Breast Pads for 2024

Breast pads are a new mum’s best friend, essential for absorbing milk before you start leaking onto your clothes.

You might start to produce milk whilst still pregnant, and may have some leaks so it is a good plan to decide which type and buy breast pads well before your due date. Breastpads are a hospital bag essential.

The let down response will happen frequently in the early days after birth for all mums, if you are bottle feeding it will gradually diminish over the first few weeks. Breastfeeding mums will need breast pads for the whole of the feeding journey. As babies feeds change your breasts take a little while to catch up to different times or amounts, if you are nursing on your right boob, your left might leak.

Sourcing comfortable, discreet nursing pads will give you peace of mind during breastfeeding. Choosing the right breast pads is essential for comfort, absorption, and sustainability.

Opting for reusables is always going to be top of Cheeky Wipes list. The advantages of reusable breast pads are:

• You will never run out
• They won't stick to your chapped nipples (I lost the end of mine in Mothercare's changing rooms to a shiny disposable breast pad)
• eco friendly, much better for the environment, with the advice on disposables breast pads to change each feed you are saving so much from landfill
•  Perfect for sensitive skin
• No super absorbent chemicals near your babies food source
• Save for your next baby
• They can be repurposed as make up wipes when you stop feeding

In this guide, we'll explore the best reusable and disposable breast pads available in the UK, carefully selected from reputable brands that prioritise safety and quality.

The Best Breast Pads 2024

• Cheeky Wipes Reusable Bamboo Breast Pads (£9.49 for 3 pairs)
• Lansinoh Reusable Breast Pads (£16.99 for 4 pairs)
• Medela Disposable Breast Pads (£5.99 for 30 pairs)
• Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads (£5.84 for 30 pairs)

Cheeky Wipes Reusable Breast Pads

Price: £9.49 for 3 pairs

Material & Comfort

Cheeky Wipes Breast Pads are made from ultra-soft bamboo, providing exceptional comfort for sensitive skin as they have an athletic wicking fabric next to the skin with a PUL leak proof backing.

Absorbency Level

Cheeky Wipes washable breast pads are highly absorbent due to their 11cm diameter and absorbent bamboo core. Choose from black for moderate absorbency or white for extra absorbency

Leak Protection

Backed with PUL to prevent leaking making it on to your clothes for complete confidence.

Convenience

As they are washable you will never run out. Washed with your normal clothes ideally in a laundry bag or washing bag to keep them together. Avoid fabric softener. Air dry where possible but can be tumble dried on a low heat.

Discretion

In white or black, match to your nursing bra. No patterns to show through clothes and they are thin so won't have an obvious outline.

Available Sizes & Shapes

All are 11cms in diameter, choose from black flat moderate absorbency, white flat heavy absorbency, or white shaped. The flat breast pads are best for larger breasted ladies.

The tapered shaped pads makes them perfect for smaller breasts.

Sensitive Skin

Made to Oeko-Tex 100 standards, fast wicking polyester top layer helps you to avoid dampness and are very soft against your sensitive nipples. bamboo is hypoallergenic so reducing the risk of irritation

Eco Friendliness

Easy to wash and reuse, reducing waste and saving money in the long run

Instructions

Wash to increase absorbency, slide into your bra, with the athletic wicking fabric to skin and label side out, change in line with your flow, wash avoiding fabric softener, dry and reuse. If you have a really strong let down you may need to change more often to be hygienic but once your flow settles down they are great for the whole day.

Trial Periods / Returns Policies

Take advantage of Cheeky Wipes 100% Happiness Guarantee

Customer Reviews : Overall 4.7 / 5 Trustpilot

"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

Lansinoh Reusable Nursing Pads

Price: £16.99 for 4 pairs

Material & Comfort

Made with an absorbent blend of bamboo fibres providing fast absorption and drying, while the soft front gives superior comfort against your breasts which may be tender while feeding.

Absorbency Level

Three-layer protection technology to protect against leaks

Leak Protection

Encased within a waterproof layer for confidence against leakage

Convenience

Sustainable nursing pads, washable and reusable

Discretion

Teardrop contoured design provides comfort and fit against breast and nipple

Available Sizes & Shapes

With a teardrop design for positioning, one size in pink, white and black

Sensitive Skin

The soft frontage provides comfort against sore breasts.

Eco Friendliness

Washable Nursing Pads can be reused as often as you’d like

Instructions

Place the washable breast pads inside your nursing bra or top, keeping the super-soft mesh side against your skin and the Lansinoh heart facing outwards. Change your reusable nursing pads when they feel wet. Machine washable at 40 degrees without any softener or bleach.

Trial Periods / Returns Policies

You may return new, unused or unworn products within 14 days of delivery to receive a full refund of the cost of the goods. Items should be returned in their original un-damaged packaging, hygiene-sealed and with all tags still attached.

Customer Reviews : Overall 4.0 / 5 for Lansinoh on Trustpilot

Medela Disposable Breast Pads

Price: £5.99 for 30 pairs

Material & Comfort

Soft, natural-fibre lining instantly wicks away moisture

Absorbency Level

Super absorbency, ideal for heavy breast milk leakage

Leak Protection

Breathable, waterproof outer layer protects clothes. Ultra-absorbent polymer core distributes moisture evenly and helps lock it in, which turns the liquid into a gel

Convenience

Individually wrapped for on-the-go convenience for busy lifestyles

Discretion

Contoured design shaped to fit your breast

Available Sizes & Shapes

One size 

Sensitive Skin

Gentle on sensitive skin

Eco Friendliness

Although disposable, Medela pads are designed with recyclable packaging, minimising environmental impact. As with other disposables, they are individually packaged so excess waste

Instructions

Change breast pads as frequently as you need to stay feeling comfortable – simply remove, dispose of and replace with a fresh nursing pad.

Trial Periods / Returns Policies

You have 14 days from the day after your delivery to notify us that you want to cancel the order. Products must be sealed and unopened in order to be returned.

Customer Reviews : Medela UK overall on Trustpilot 3.6 / 5

Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads

Price: £5.99 for 30 pairs

Material & Comfort

The super soft, stay-dry lining draws milk away from the skin into the pad’s core, absorbed by a special polymer to prevent leakage

Absorbency Level

Ultra-thin with a contoured design capable of holding up to 20x their weight in milk

Leak Protection

Breast pads featuring BlueLock™ core, providing instant absorption and leak-proof protection ensuring you stay dry, night or day

Convenience

Each pad comes individually wrapped for convenience and hygiene – perfect to slip into a nappy bag

Discretion

Two non-slip adhesive tapes, keep the pad in place while the contoured design creates a natural fit that won't leak or show under clothing.

Available Sizes & Shapes

One size

Sensitive Skin

Dermatologist tested and gentle on sensitive skin. We recommend changing your breast pads as needed, however a good guideline to follow is to change after each feed.

Eco Friendliness

Single-use only and should be disposed of following each application, each individual pad is wrapped so extra waste

Instructions

Dispose of the used pad in a waste bin. Do not flush.

You may return new, unused or unworn products within 14 days of delivery to receive a full refund of the cost of the goods. Items should be returned in their original un-damaged packaging, hygiene-sealed and with all tags still attached.

Customer Reviews : Overall 4.0 / 5 for Lansinoh on Trustpilot

An alternative to avoid any waste would be breast milk catch cups or shells. Catch cups make sure you don't waste a drop of precious breast milk. Use them while you are feeding to catch any flow from the breast you are not feeding on, or tuck into your bra to catch leaks through the day. This can then be poured into a bottle for feeding.

Whether opting for reusable or disposable options, choosing high-quality products from reputable brands is key. Don’t forget to check out our other informative blog posts -

How to use reusable breast pads

If you would like more information, please email the team or find us on the website chat function. We all use the products ourselves and LOVE to chat pee poo and periods. Nothing is TMI and we all love to overshare based on our own experiences.

About the Author: Kirstin on our customer services team loves spending her days helping customers with their reusable period product needs and advising cloth nappy using families. Kirstin lives with her three teenagers and loves walking and sea swimming year round in our beautiful bay.