How do I treat cracked or bleeding nipples while breastfeeding?

What the evidence says

The most common reason nipples crack or bleed is that the baby isn't latching deeply enough. Getting a lactation consultant, midwife, or public health nurse to watch a feed and adjust positioning is the single most useful step, since fixing the latch usually resolves the pain and allows healing to start.

While you heal, let your nipples air-dry after each feed rather than trapping moisture, and avoid soap on the area since it strips natural oils. Dabbing on a little of your own expressed breast milk or applying a lanolin nipple cream after feeds are both reasonable options, though research comparing these products head-to-head hasn't shown one is clearly superior. Warm compresses may ease pain between feeds. Avoid nipple shields or breast shells if possible, as they can sometimes interfere with attachment.

Bleeding or cracked skin raises your risk of a nipple infection, so keep an eye out for increasing redness, warmth, worsening pain, fever, or flu-like symptoms, which could signal mastitis or a bacterial infection needing antibiotics. Persistent cracks can also lead to thrush (a yeast infection) in some cases. If pain continues despite a good latch, or you notice these warning signs, check in with your doctor or midwife rather than waiting it out.

You generally don't need to stop breastfeeding for ordinary cracked or sore nipples; keeping baby feeding (or expressing your milk if a side is too painful) helps maintain your supply while things heal.