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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Good breastfeeding clothing combinations?

16 replies

CitizenOscar · 04/07/2011 06:34

I'm just getting the hang of bf my first baby. Haven't done it in public yet and I don't seem to be able to do it without just whipping my boob out. I'm not massively keen on carrying one of those bf shield things around so I wondered if anyone had any top tips on clothing combinations that make it easier to bf a bit discreetly?

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 04/07/2011 06:54

When ds was little I used to wear a stretchy vest under a loose top - you can pull the vest down and get your boob out, get the baby in position and then pull the top up at the last minute.

shuckleberryfinn · 04/07/2011 07:57

Primark vests.. :) I wear two, sometimes under a shirt, pull one up and one down, the shirt covers the side view and the vast covers the rest. i even do the 2 vests in my gym kit...

misshoohaa · 04/07/2011 08:03

Congrats citizen!I'm finding the same thing althou have done a couple of public feeds and find it hard without my trusty pillow! As does baby! I have found the more discreet I try to be the more trouble we have, so I've given in to flashing an if people want to look at my boobs so be it! Wink

Ritas suggestion is the best option I've found. I have some of the Mothercare nursing tops (eBay them, a few new ones on there) they are quite over complicated but do allow nothing but the nip to be seen so good for privacy.

H and m do cheap vests in all colour which pull down easy, in fact I'm off to purchase some today! GrinGrinGrin

diyqueen · 04/07/2011 10:08

Muslins can be useful - I've got a knack now of undo bra clip, reach up under top and tuck muslin into bra on the feeding side (so hangs down and hides tummy), get baby into position and pull up top just enough to latch her on. Plus the muslin soaks up any drips and saves you walking around with wet patches...! H&M do nursing vests and t-shirts too, one of these under a cardigan makes feeding pretty easy and discreet.

Pesephone · 04/07/2011 10:31

I really liked Frugi nursing tops, and the two vest aproach, Rooti Tooti vests are great too. try feeding lo infront of a mirror to see just how little is actually on show you'll be suprised as its not as much as you think. Oh and those belly bands are good too that you get for during early pregnancy. They keep your pp tum under wraps without adding a full extra layer which is handy in this heat.

pettyprudence · 04/07/2011 15:06

Second (or is it 3rd?) vote for primark vest top under a t-shirt! T-shirt up, vest top down, no boob on show! (and a LOT cheaper than nursing tops which can be fiddly and more often than not frumpy/boring (unless you get v expensive ones)). Also I have sewn panels across (underneath) my v-necked dresses so I pull the v aside and the "vest top" inside up and I have a little peep-hole :) Mostlyt for hiding my humongous bras as well as discreet bf-ing Blush

peedieworky · 04/07/2011 17:30

I just bought a handful of tops from mamaway.co.uk and they're fab! They have different styles of openings and are very discreet. Only minor niggle I'd say is the ones I have all have the all round opening www.mamaway.co.uk/?main_page=page&id=15 which means they are effectively 2 layers, which is pretty darned clammy in the warm weather!

BertieBotts · 04/07/2011 17:35

H&M tend to be good as their (normal, not nursing) tops often have buttons halfway down the chest which actually open and aren't just for decoration. The tops I'm thinking of are really good for layering too so they can be worn in summer on their own or in winter under a shirt or over a vest or just wearing a couple of them.

I'll try to find some examples.

LeaveYourDignityAtTheDoor · 04/07/2011 18:10

H&M used to do feeding tops but they don't seem to stock them any longer.

However I have found [http://www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion-to-buy-online/T-Shirts/Maternity-Black-Nursing-Top/29288&resultsPerPage=100&attrList=Dept,brand this] which is exactly the same as the H&M tops. I found them really useful and discreet.

They also have that top in [http://www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion-to-buy-online/T-Shirts/Maternity-White-Nursing-Top/29289&resultsPerPage=100&attrList=Dept,brand white]

LeaveYourDignityAtTheDoor · 04/07/2011 18:11

H&M used to do feeding tops but they don't seem to stock them any longer.

However I have found this which is exactly the same as the H&M tops. I found them really useful and discreet.

They also have that top in white

Original poster
CitizenOscar · 04/07/2011 19:25

Thanks for the tips everyone. Happy to hear more! Did the deed in public today - made good use of a stretchy scarf (over a v-neck dress) which seemed to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
CitizenOscar · 04/07/2011 19:29

Oh, and I've got a couple of those h&m feeding tops and I was in my local one the other day and they had some (in case anyone else is looking for them). It's mostly the initial latching on bit I have trouble with - once he's on I can usually rearrange the clothes around him.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 04/07/2011 22:50

Seriously in H&M you don't need special feeding tops, it's like they consider the boob-out potential of all their tops automatically.

Caz10 · 04/07/2011 22:54

Look on topshop online for their maternity vests - 2 for £10, loads of colours, they are stretchy so pull down easily (I do the same as Rita), and are nice and long to cover a flabby tum!

PeppaPigandGeorge · 04/07/2011 22:59

Definitely stretchy vests!! Just make sure they're stretchy; I have several vests which I thought were OK but were far too rigid at the top and had to be hoisted up.

Alternatively a stretchy strapless dress is good in the summer; just pull one side down.

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