When I was pregnant, it was so fun dressing for my bump and even though it was tough to find petite maternity clothes, I was able to find lots of cute stuff. However, after I had the baby and was nursing, I had no idea how hard it would be to dress to easily feed a baby every 2 hours!
Make breastfeeding a little easier with these nursing friendly tops.
For all breastfeeding mamas out there, it can be a struggle to find what to wear in order to do so easily/comfortably. Here’s a guide on what to buy and how to wear it to make your life easier!
Some nursing specific clothing can be really pricey or just not as practical for use after nursing, so I wanted to share some options that aren’t specifically made for nursing but work just as well and can be worn with no fuss afterwards! Check out my tips and finds below.
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Are nursing tops worth it?
When I was trying to figure out what to wear, I came across a lot of clothes that were made just for nursing. But not knowing how long you will nurse for, it’s hard to decide if you want to spend the money on them!
So are nursing tops worth buying? The short answer is yes. But you don’t need a whole wardrobe of them. I found that I had two that I really loved and wore them when I wanted to be comfy. But if I was headed out and wanted to feel a bit more stylish I would reach for a non nursing top that I would be able to make work for breastfeeding while out and about.
What I bought to make non nursing tops work for breastfeeding
The only nursing specific clothing you really need is a few good nursing tanks. These are great because they have snaps on the straps that are easy to undo and because these are thin, you can wear them basically under anything!
Layering is key, you can wear a nursing tank under sweatshirts, tee shirts, throw a cardigan over it, and just a big poncho/wrap would work (which works well as a nursing cover as well!)
These tanks are great as they come in a pack of 3 and are very affordable! The 4,000 4+ star reviews also agree with me how great they are for nursing!
You also get the extra coverage in the tummy area so that you are covered when you have to lift your top up and you stay warm! I wore these when I was traveling so I could always comfortably breatsfeed while on the plane.
An extra tip is to get some reusable nursing pads and place them in the bra area as trust me, you will need them more than you know! I love these organic bamboo nursing pads as they are soft, comfortable and easy to wash.
The best Nursing friendly Tops for Breastfeeding Moms
As a new mom, your wardrobe is probably one of the last things that you are worried about. So if you are just starting to nurse, wear whatever you can to make it work!
But as someone who exclusively nursed for almost a year (my youngest refused the bottle so I had no choice to take her everywhere!) I had to still run my business which meant I was going out to meetings, photoshoots, errands, etc… so I needed to wear clothing that I felt good in, but that I could still easily nurse in.
Even though I was nursing every few hours, I still wanted to be able to get dressed up, wear dresses in the winter and I also couldn’t wait to be able to find cute mommy and me outfits!
What to look for when buying nursing friendly clothing
Here are a few categories to keep your eye out for when buying regular clothes that would work well with nursing.
Essential Basics
Casual Button Tops
Wrap Tops
Loose Sweaters
Off the shoulder/Strapless Tops
ESSENTIAL BASICS
My number 1 suggestion is to have simple basics that are easy to throw on and go, as especially in the beginning, you’re short on time. I loved having essential/comfy basics that could be worn alone or underneath layers depending on the weather.
- Camisoles – as mentioned above, this is the one item that I do suggest trying out nursing specific styles. The built in bra and the built in snaps for easy nursing access makes them my number one essential in your nursing wardrobe. I basically lived in this one but there are so many great options and price points.
- Tees/Tanks – Cotton V-neck tees/tanks that have some stretch to them are so great for nursing!
Wear your maternity tops! I loved the longer length tees when I was pregnant and ended up wearing them a lot after pregnancy too! Ones like this one are comfy, stretchy and you can wear a nursing tank underneath it.
BUTTON UP TOPS FOR NURSING
Button up tops are such a great option of course because of the obvious button feature. There are so many cute options OTHER than just the classic chambray/flannel collared button up tops that I wanted to share that are perfect for breastfeeding but a little more relaxed.
- Basics – Henleys are so great for nursing and are great worn alone or paired with layers
- Tunics – I love tunics because they are great paired with leggings (all about comfy especially while nursing!)
- Blouses – Look for flowy blouses that have buttons and have stretch in them.
- Collared tops – Of course the classic collared button up tops are also amazing for breastfeeding! Pairing flannels and chambrays over nursing camisoles is a perfect combo
WRAP TOPS
Wrap tops are my favorite – nursing or not. They are so flattering on every body type and are easily dressed up or down. The deeper v style and even full functional tied wrap feature are so amazing for nursing!
This wrap top was a favorite during my pregnancy and I wore it a ton when I was nursing too.
LOOSE SWEATERS
If you’re nursing during cooler weather, looser sweaters and tops are a great option. I love looser V-neck sweaters like the one I am wearing in the photo below.
Just pair a breastfeeding friendly cami underneath as needed and you’re good to go. Here’s a few affordable finds:
Sweaters with open sides are great for breasfeeding. You can see here I am wearing my nursing cami along with a belly band. This was right after I had my daughter and I needed the extra belly support!
NURSING FRIENDLY OFF THE SHOULDER/STRAPLESS TOPS
Off shoulder and strapless tops are AMAZING for breastfeeding, especially if you’re doing so during warmer weather months. Just make sure you have a soft strapless bra/bralette that is easy to pull down.
As I mentioned, I was breastfeeding year round so I had to find all sorts of styles that would work for all seasons. During the summer, I lived in off the shoulder tops and off the shoulder dresses and I found them all to be very nursing friendly!
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