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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breast feeding tops?

26 replies

fifitot · 27/07/2010 20:40

Any nice ones anywhere????? I am still at early stages and not yet confident enough to whip my top up and need something discreet.

Suggestions anyone?

OP posts:
angfirsttimer · 27/07/2010 20:46

I find BF tops less discreet than 'normal' tops, as by the time you have dropped down bra cup, and found your nipple past the breast pad, and two lots of that bizarre peep hole thing on both the bra and the feeding top it has become really obvious what you are about to do! I bought quite a few feeding tops but dont really use them.
I find that double layering works best or using a vest top like a boob tube (ie without the straps) with another top over. Shirts are also a good bet.

HTH

mousymouse · 27/07/2010 20:49

I never bothered with special tops. just lift up t-shirt or jumper.

CMOTdibbler · 27/07/2010 20:52

I found the best thing was a strappy vest top (M&S ones have really stretchy straps so are ideal), under a slightly looser than you might normally choose tshirt (although anything that isn't skin tight is fine).

This way, you lift the t shirt leaving your tummy totally covered, pull the vest down, and that just leaves you with the right amount of latch space. Then the tshirt drapes down to cover neatly, and if they come off, the tshirt will drop back to cover your modesty

KnitterInTheNW · 27/07/2010 21:03

I could never wear 2 layers, I got too hot. I lived in H&M ones, (one on ebay here to see what I'm talking about ), really easy to use, no silly peep holes, once the baby is latched on you can adjust the fabric so you can't see any breast at all. I didn't have any confidence feeding in public til I tried these.

Original poster
fifitot · 27/07/2010 21:10

Didn't realise H and M did BF tops so will have a look. Thanks for the other suggestions re vest tops - will give it a go. Shirts over vests is also a good suggestion.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
fifitot · 27/07/2010 21:21

Actually - am going to a wedding soon and just realised the dress I thought I would wear just won't do as won't allow access for baby!

Is there such a thing as a bf dress or any ideas for something a bit more formal?

OP posts:
littleowls · 27/07/2010 21:34

hi fifi

i discovered some lovely bf tops the other day and i think there were some dresses take a look here. There are loads of different styles, I'm still not confident enough to feed in public but would really love to, I think this might encourage me to be braver and it was a good excuse to treat myself

angfirsttimer · 27/07/2010 21:35

I think you can get slightly more formal bf dresses online, but anything with a cross over top eg wrap dress will work, I just dressed up a suitable dress with jewellery, ribbon round waist etc at a wedding a few weeks ago

japhrimel · 27/07/2010 21:38

JoJo do nursing dresses.

Rhubarbgarden · 28/07/2010 10:35

I've got lovely breastfeeding dresses from Boob and Babeswithbabies.co.uk.

Original poster
fifitot · 28/07/2010 11:18

Thanks ladies will check out those leads.

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 28/07/2010 12:58

I had a jojo dress and it was awful. The top poppered onto the skirt so you undid the poppers to bf. But you needed two hands to popper it back together which wasn't ideal in a lot of situations.
clevermummy do some nice nursing dresses as do motherwear I did find motherwear shipping charges were high but the dresses were quite good value.
Also, I think this dress from babes with babies would be nice for a wedding.

Octaviapink · 28/07/2010 15:27

I never bothered with bfing tops as I found them fiddlier to use than a t-shirt with a cardigan over the top. As someone else said, shirts are good too. Anything that opens from the top down! (I always found that a top I had to lift up left me feeling v exposed tummy-and-back wise.)

Original poster
fifitot · 28/07/2010 17:17

Thanks.

OP posts:
Kathyjelly · 28/07/2010 17:24

A vest top (with in-built shelf) and a cardigan works brilliantly. BF tops always made me giggle because they were soooooooooooo awkward, I gave up.

chipmonkey · 28/07/2010 17:34

I got loads of bfing tops but always tried to figure out before I bought them if they would be easy to use. I did have one which was a nightmare, it was even difficult to put on in the first place due to so many layers and trying to figure out the arm-holes from the boob-holes! The others were all fine and much cooler than two tops.

Morloth · 28/07/2010 17:49

For dresses, I wear a stretchy wrap with a vest underneath. Dress goes sideways and vest comes up.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 28/07/2010 17:52

I had a few Bravado Tanks in a few colors and lived in them for um, ages. . They looked like a camisole, and could be dressed up or down.

Barbeasty · 29/07/2010 09:53

I have some really nice t-shirt style breastfeeding tops from Blooming Marvellous and they are really easy to use (no holes, just a layer you lift up), and the midwives/ health visitors have all commented on how good they are. They aren't just easy to use, but they were impressed with the way the necklines are cut as they allow a nice amount of skin-to-skin contact without being indecent.

EJasK · 16/08/2010 21:02

Some of my friends have found the nursing tops from this place really discreet and easy to use.

Hope that helps!

Druzhok · 16/08/2010 21:21

H&M feeding vests are superb for every day use - mine have been invaluable.

RE wedding - I think separates are a helpful way to go, or at least a low neck, pref. jersey. Nothing worse than attempting to feed in a fitted non stretch dress with hidden side zip. Some kind of flowing wrap/pashmina would also be pretty helpful. I'd be tempted to go for a decent pair of trousers, heels and then a lowish/buttoned top with a cardi/wrap.

A friend denied all convention and basically unzipped her dress and fed out of the side panel. She was pretty stoical about it and the baby was very happy, but we did see rather more of her control underwear than she probably wished.

GoldenGreen · 16/08/2010 21:32

Some lovely nursing dresses available at mummylooksfab and I thought their customer services were really good too.

boardnbikemama · 16/08/2010 22:15

I found being a summer bf mummy and am usually hot anyway...I used vests from anywear, loose and fitted depending on the outfit and then bought 3 loose flowing cardigan type top/jacket thing from HnM, the ones with the longer folds at the front. Reason for this is you can stretch the long front bits out and cover you and LO until you get latched on and comfy. They also kept bright light out of the wee ones face and gave us a wee tent of privacy when I needed it. Now he is 10 weeks it also cuts out visual distraction so he concentrates!
good luck.
ps avoid mothercare nursing bras at ALL costs...utter CR*P.

boardnbikemama · 16/08/2010 22:17

forgot to say...long flowing jacket-y t-shirts ideal for bf try all saints...look good after too!

SqueezyB · 18/08/2010 16:12

if you're still looking for a BF dress to wear to a wedding, i just got this one from monsoon. it's wrapover style so easy to pull down for feeding, i'm going to wear a feeding vest underneath. And i figure i can wear it to work too when i eventually go back!