Where Can I Buy Nursing Clothes?
Shopping for nursing clothes can be difficult, especially if you want something both stylish and affordable (is that too much to ask?!) Some women forgo nursing clothes altogether (they’re certainly not necessary) but some enjoy the added comfort of nursing clothing for breastfeeding in public. Personally I liked wearing nursing clothing in the early months, but eventually transitioned into regular clothing as I became more comfortable with breastfeeding in public. Only a few times recently (weddings, funerals especially) have I wished for a nursing dress!
If you’re in the market for some nursing clothes, there are several sources out there.
In Stores
If you want to try on nursing clothes before you buy, check out the few retailers who have actual stores. In the United States, two main ones are Motherhood and Mimi Maternity. Target offers a basic selection of nursing bras and tank tops, and many major department stores will also carry nursing bras.
On-Line
Two of the major on-line retailers are Motherwear (see affiliate link in the side bar) and Expressiva (not affiliated). There is also quite a selection of nursing clothing available on Amazon.com
Smaller retailers include:
www.breast-is-best.com
www.evalillian.com
www.milkface.com
www.onehotmama.com
Cost Saving Options
I have seen gently-used nursing clothing in the maternity section of thrift shops such as the Salvation Army. A quick search on eBay for “nursing” under “Clothing, Shoes and Accessories” finds a wide selection of offerings. The only caution I have about buying used nursing clothing is that thrush can be transmitted through clothing, and anything you buy should be washed in very hot water (with bleach if the fabric allows) if the item will be in direct contact with the breast and not worn with another nursing bra or pad or tank top underneath.
One other option is to sew your own nursing clothing.
Reader Feedback
What’s your favorite source for breastfeeding clothes? Leave a comment!
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POSTED IN: breastfeeding, nursing in public, products
3 opinions for Where Can I Buy Nursing Clothes?
Eilat
Aug 5, 2007 at 1:58 pm
For me, nursing clothes were a big part of success in breastfeeding. My son was born in Manhattan and I took him everywhere to nurse. I had to feel comfortable and not exposed. Knowing that I wanted to nurse for at least a year, I figured it is worth the investment to get a lot of tops. I bought lots of shirts at the Upper Breast Side in Manhattan (http://upperbreastside.com/). It is a breastfeeding boutique which is absolutely wonderful. It was my place for support and style! They sell a brand of nursing clothes called Boob which is from Sweden and is only available in two locations in the US - the Upper Breast Side in Manhattan and another store in San Francisco. The website which you link to above, milkface.com also sells them.
I tried a few items from motherwear and expressiva and other places, but I must say that Boob tops are hands-down the best (boobdesign.com). The shirts are so cute that I got compliments all the time. The access to the bra is simple — no complicated layers to lift. I found the two layer design to be the biggest flaw in most nursing clothes. A two layer shirt is (a) bulky and hot, (b) a pain to launder — the layers get tangles sometimes, (c) the layers are difficult to peel with one hand holding a baby with the other, (d) by the time you get to your breast the hungry baby can get very fussy drawing attention to the now-not-so-discreet top. Boob shirts have this clever design where the hidden layer is right by the bra — but no one can tell. It is so easy that my 10 month old figured it out and helped himself! Also, the Boob tops are really easy to pump in. I never had to take my top off or lift my shirt to pump, and since I work full time and pumped in the lounge of the women’s bathroom, there was enough traffic that I would not have wanted to be exposed. Also, no one ever thought I was wearing a nursing top and were constantly surprised when I would start nursing.
Boob shirts are the cutest, most stylish and most practical nursing tops I have seen (and I did my research!) I wish more stores carried them. The only drawback is that they are quite pricey. A t-shirt can cost $50-60 and a long sleeve shirt $75-80. For me this was worth it. I wore the tops for something like 18 months. Now that my son only nurses a few times a day, and mostly at home, I have packed them away for the next baby. The styles are basic, yet flattering. And the quality is excellent, so I don’t have to worry about wearing them again in the future. It was definitely worth the investment for me!
Noel
Aug 5, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I love getting new clothes, and when I found at that I “needed” new clothes for breastfeeding, it made breastfeeding that much more attractive (sounds shallow, I regret). But for practical reasons, the best items I bought were the nursing pajamas. And they still are a good investment because my 1 yr old continues to nurse 2 times a night. Nursing shirts are good if you might be nursing in public. I didn’t end up getting out much during the first year. However, I work part-time and I pump; but, I feel a nursing shirt isn’t necessary for pumping.
I like Motherwear’s shirts. I echo the sentiment from the above post about 2 layered shirts being a pan. I have some shirts that have various crossover openings that work well. I have 2 shirts from Expressiva, but I’m not as crazy about their fabrics. I bought all my nursingwear from the internet, as the county I live in barely even has maternity wear. Perhaps national department stores could start carrying nursingwear next to maternity clothes (Target and JC Penny, are you listening?).
Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Aug 7, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Thanks for your comments ladies! Very helpful! And yes, let’s hope the clothing stores are listening!
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