Best Online Breastfeeding Classes of 2023

Milkology was founded by a certified lactation educator named Stacey Stewart, who has birthed three of her own babies and educated tons of other parents on the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding. She knows it isn’t always easy, and new parents usually can’t do it alone.

Enter: The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class. The 13 video lessons here begin with the elemental composition of breast milk and move through how the lactation process works, the best techniques for successful breastfeeding, how to know if your supply is high enough, and how to handle all the challenges you might encounter along the way. The videos come with three bonuses: a troubleshooting guide, a quick-reference outline of the info, and an e-book. Once you enroll, you have lifetime access to the materials and can take the course at your own pace.

The course Stewart designed takes about 90 minutes to complete, so it’s perfect for parents who want to learn about breastfeeding but are also busy planning the nursery, creating a registry, and obsessing over baby names. And at $27, it’s an absolute steal considering how much you’ll learn.

When it comes to learning how to breastfeed, working with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is the gold standard. These healthcare professionals know everything there is to know about breast milk and breastfeeding. They are specially trained to recognize (and problem-solve) common breastfeeding issues and educate parents on correct techniques.

Krystal Duhaney of Milky Mama is one of these breast milk whisperers, having trained as both a registered nurse and a lactation consultant (and breastfed her own kids, too). In her Breastfeeding 101 course, she shares this vast wealth of knowledge with students, teaching you the benefits of breastfeeding, properly preparing and setting expectations for breastfeeding, and troubleshooting supply issues.

For about $27, you can access all of Duhaney's course materials, plus become part of a private Facebook group for more support, tips, and troubleshooting with your new (as Duhaney calls them) "breast friends." Suppose you end up loving Krystal's approach. In that case, you can even shop her online store that's full of goodies like lactation teas and cookies, herbal supplements to increase milk production, and breastfeeding accessories.

New Mom Collective courses strive to increase a new parent's know-how regarding breastfeeding. Still, registered nurses and IBCLCs Cindy Leclerc and Jana Stockham prioritize comfort and confidence above everything else they offer in their Simply Breastfeeding online course.

Over 13 video modules, Leclerc and Stockham reassure parents about some of the most frequent concerns and worries related to breastfeeding:

• Correcting a painful latch
• Figuring out if your baby has gotten enough milk
• Getting comfortable during those hours of around-the-clock nursing

They tell you how to handle common breastfeeding problems, as well as how to know if your issue has gotten too big for you to deal with on your own (i.e. when you need to call for some breastfeeding backup).

Enrollment in the course costs about $40. The instructors claim to have helped more than 30,000 families adjust to newborn life throughout their careers, so you’re paying for some significant expertise. The lesson is available to you forever once you purchase it, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

We already told you all about Milkology's Ultimate Breastfeeding Class, but since pumping is a reality for so many breastfeeding parents, we thought it was important to highlight its exclusive pumping class, too. The truth is that some parents simply can't breastfeed directly from the breast:

• Their babies have latching issues
• Their breast anatomy is irregular
• Medical conditions (for parent or baby) make breastfeeding extremely difficult, painful, or even impossible

Stacey Stewart understands the unique challenge of deciding to pump exclusively—it's like breastfeeding and bottle feeding, meaning it's exhausting—and that makes this course a lifesaver for parents who find themselves in this position. Stewart shares tips that will make the endeavor slightly less of an all-consuming nightmare, with zero judgment and tons of info about milk storage and time management.

Again, for only $27, Milkology's classes are a treasure trove for less than the cost of a tank of gas. Considering that most breastfeeding classes don't cover pumping in-depth (let alone exclusive pumping), this course fills a much-needed gap in the world.

We’ve talked about many of the challenges associated with breastfeeding so far, and all of the courses here offer advice on coping with many of the common issues that arise in the few weeks and months of breastfeeding. But if you want to dig down into details, Tinyhood breaks its breastfeeding courses apart into short and sweet modules, tackling breastfeeding hurdles one at a time.

Among Tinyhood’s breastfeeding class options are How to Tell If Your Baby is Getting Enough Breast Milk; Common Breastfeeding Challenges: Sore Nipples, Clogged Ducts, and Engorgement; and Pumping and Building a Stash: Storing and Using Breast Milk. There’s also a couple of 101-style courses covering all the basics and another on increasing your milk supply. Each one consists of several short videos presented by an IBCLC, letting you dive deep without losing hours and hours of time.

Each Tinyhood membership costs $13 per month and includes access to a full library of courses, covering everything from labor and breastfeeding to child CPR and potty training.

Lactation Link was founded by Lindsey Shipley, a nurse, childbirth educator, IBCLC, and a mom, so you know it’s going to be good. Several course options are offered online, but we like the Breastfeeding Basics class since it covers a little bit of everything.

In the 70-minute class, you’ll learn about the nitty-gritty details of breast anatomy, breastmilk composition, and the benefits of breast milk and skin-to-skin care. Shipley will teach you about expressing milk, positioning your baby, getting a good latch, and nipple care. There is a mix of photos and videos, tips to sort out latch and supply issues, and advice on when and how to get the extra support you need.

The Breastfeeding Basics class is $97, which is at the higher end of the spectrum for online breastfeeding classes. But the content is comprehensive and Shipley is a knowledgeable teacher, so it may be worth the investment.

Maybe you don’t have time for an online class that takes hours to complete, or perhaps you’re a second-time parent hoping for a better breastfeeding experience than you had with your first child. Either way, the short video classes through Medela University can get you up to speed in no time.

As the makers of some of the most popular breastfeeding products—from bottles and nipples to breast pumps and accessories—Medela knows what parents need to breastfeed successfully.

Their quick videos (each one lasts about 10 to 15 minutes) are designed to share tips with anyone interested in better breastfeeding, not just parents. If you’re a new dad trying to support your wife or a new grandparent wondering why it takes your grandbaby so long to complete a feeding, you can learn more about the process from these clear and concise clips.

The cost for enrollment in Medela University is $25, and you can take as long as you need to work through the videos (or even watch them out of order). It’s the perfect class for breastfeeding newbies by the ultimate breastfeeding professionals.