If it turns out that mom can't use lanolin, another alternative that I have suggested for cracked nipples is clean food-grade olive oil. I ask if Mom has any known allergy to olives or olive oil; if not, I suggest the person get a new bottle (if they don't use it much for cooking and their bottle may be old) and pour a small amount into a clean dish, then apply from that dish to the cracked or broken area.  I usually suggest they get a "medium grade" of oil so it doesn't have too strong a smell of olives.   (Depending on mom's culture, of course, that could be an OK thing:~)

It should be applied sparingly, as with any skin product, and can be used after every feeding, if desired.
Sometimes using a clean Q-tip type swab works to get the oil down into the crack. 

I wouldn't suggest using olive oil routinely, but it very rarely causes a problem (very low incidence of allergy). It's  especially effective on small cracks.  Of course, baby needs to be opening wide for latch and all the other parameters for "good" latch need to be in place first.

I have read that olive oil has some bacteriostatic properties, but I can't recall the reference.

Jeanne Brotherton
Bellingham, WA

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