Why are breastfeeding tops soooo boring and frumpy! Anyone found any good ones?

[MissusRabbit]

DS is only 10 days old but the feeding is going great. I'm so happy.

Now i know we'll be at this for a while I thought I'd look at getting some clothes for discreet feeding whilst out and about.

Everything i have seen is just plain colour wrap style t-shirts or double layer, again plain coloured tops. Sooo boring!!! Do people assume breastfeeding mums want to look to dull and dowdy?? And pay £30 or more for them also!!!

I have tried the vests under normal tops with limited success. I had thought some shirts may be the way forward for feel like i expose a lot on top.

Anyone have anything nice? dare i say modern? Or am I to be a frump for as long as I bf DS???

look here

H&M has nice ones.

i keep hearing about H&M but our nearest one is an hour away and they don;t appear to do online....

will check out the other website.

Even 'normal' but suitable for feeding tops would be good.

You could try eBay or Etsy too, I remember a couple of women who made their own using two tops sewn together...

What sort of stuff do you usually wear? I would persevere with vests under normal tops - I got some stretchy ones in Primark for £1.50 each a couple of weeks ago that I think will be good (am due next week but BF DS for 15mo). They are low cut to start with (I wouldn't wear them on their own!) which helps.

I'm also thinking of trying long shirts/shirt dresses with leggings. I'll be wearing a vest underneath these too and pulling it up to minimise exposure - I'm not really comfortable with pulling something down/unbuttoning and having a lot of neck/chest exposed. Normal tops/dresses that cross over with a vest underneath are good too - I had a floral but punky kind of dress from Warehouse last time that was ace.

I also saw a link on here a couple of weeks ago for a breastfeeding vest that was like a vest top with super long straps so it only came up to below your bra, IYSWIM. I can't remember what it was called, though, maybe someone else will be along who knows. They were £15 which is cheap for breastfeeding wear, but obviously x10 the price of my Primark improvisation.

There was also someone, I think on the same thread, who bought cheap basic coloured t-shirts and cut holes out for her boobs (obv wearing them under other tops!). I thought that sounded rather wonderful.

Haven't tried any of these as not had baby yet but I like these but I guess it depends what style you like...

If you want vests with the boobs cut out there are these

Google is your friend

I bought a couple of tops from Rooti Tooti - they are basically vest tops with big holes cut out for your boobs. The idea is that you can wear the vest under your normal clothes and avoid flashing the flesh. They were great for me over the winter as I needed extra layers but not sure how good they'll be if it ever gets hot!

Congrats on the breast feeding going well.

Mama Feels Good that ItsAll linked to do nice shirts. They are comfy and practical for feeding. My daughter loves the owl one and is constantly patting it - must admit I didn't notice the skulls when I bought it off the web.

Had a couple of Mamaway ones which are ok. Got a Rooti Tooti one from a friend as well, which came in handy when I wanted to wear a nicer top over it.

Have you tried normal t shirts/tops under a cardie? Keeps the sides covered when you pull your t shirt up and you can pull the side over that you are not feeding from to cover your tummy.

Missus, how exactly are you 'working' the vest under normal top thing? I must admit this is the method I have used for the last 14 months (!) and if anything I've actually worn more fashionable stuff since bfing than before .

I basically wear a strappy/stretchy vest top under my 'normal top'. To feed, pull the normal top up from the waist (or part it if a shirt) and then the vest down from the chest so the top of it is under your boob, then feed away. I like this method as it means absolutely no belly on show, and also avoids shoulder exposure. It's also been great in cold weather cos you can have as many layers as you like on over the vest, so long as they can be pulled aside/ hoiked up.

For what it's worth I think the cheaper the vest top the better - my faves are old H&M basic maternity tops.

Thanks all - have got a few more 'thinner' vests to try....just felt i was getting all in a muddle with all the layers of fabric.....

I'm just surprised at the lack of nice tops out there...i found one site that had some good looking t-shirts with prints on etc but were just scooped necks, which make me look too chesty! Do they think women just want to wear a block of one colour....today i will be wearing the red t-shirt, tomorrow the white, the day after the black

I'm now contemplating accessorising in an attempt to liven up the boring one colour tops too!

I lived in tunics and jumper dresses with leggings when pregnant..but they're just too big to 'lift up'

It gets easier, I promise. I know where you're coming from with the tunics and dresses - now my DD is older and feeds less frequently (and also can 'help' physically compared to a newborn), I have been known to wear long wooly tunics or dresses over the vest with skinny jeans, for example, and just hoik it all up if necesary.

If I know I'm going to have to feed in public I tend to avoid dresses just because it looks a bit weird lifting up a whole dress (although at home / with family I don't care so much).

I have the belly bands that I had when pregnant - from new look for 3 in different colours. I could only wear them for a short time when pregnant & have found them invaluable now. They're like the vest top method but you dont need to pull anthing down & they keep your stomach covered when you list your top. I've found them much easier then when i used vest tops with dd1.