Where to get discreet breastfeeding tops that aren't grandad style

[ajm200]

I've been trying to find a few nice breast feeding tops but everywhere seens to just have the double layered 'grand-dad' styles with button fronts. I don't mind one or two of these to wear with jeans but would like some prettier tops too as I'm planning to feed LO for a year..

Last time, I made do with a few of my maternity tops but it was hard to feed discreetly. This time round, my life is too busy not to breastfeed in public so I would like to maintain some dignity without having to be frumpy

Any ideas/tips please?

anyone?

I've actually given up on breastfeeding tops as they never fitted my boobs properly and were a bit matronly - I want to make the most of my good cleavage rather than wear quite high necked maternity tops! So I've just been buying slightly looser, longer tops and/or wear a cardi. I get a longer top - i.e. one that falls below belt level - so that I have plenty of fabric to hide my back/sides when I lift the top up to feed. This way I have a better choice of clothes and can wear them after I stop bfeeding. I've always found it very discreet in public as well so no problems there. A cardi on top is particularly good as you can drape the cardi around any bits that are exposed by your top. So I have a lot of nice tops from M&S, Monsoon, Fat Face, Top Shop and H&M and will be able to wear them even after I stop bf.

A friend did recommend mamaway.co.uk for breastfeeding tops so you may want to try there if you prefer the idea of a proper bfeeding top.

I'm planning to get some vest tops to go under normal tops so my belly is covered and I'm only showing the minimum of flesh.

Thats my plan for this winter although I haven't tried it yet. Not sure about next summer.

HolidaysQueen, i concur with your friend. I bought 2 mamaway tops which arrived yesterday. They fit very well and don't look frumpy at all. I think they are reasonably priced too.

What size are you? ?
If a size 14 is any good to you, I have a couple which I was going to put on eBay. They are like normal t shirts with a double layered front with a gap to get your boobs out. Pretty ruching at neckline. Originally from Mothercare. One long sleeved grey/black stripes, one\short sleeved, white.

I got a nice one from Vertbaudet. I too just buy bigger tops that are nice and long and use these to feed without any probs. Jacket or cardi does indeed hide any exposed bits .

Hi Bikerunski, I was a 14 before getting pregnant but have not gained any weight at all despite being due in month and my size 14 maternity clothes are very loose so suspect I'm going to need a 12 (first time in many years ). Thanks for thinking of me though.

can you do the vest thing? I found that the best method, then you only need regular clothes. You put the vest so the top of it goes under your bra, thus covering your tummy. The bump bands do the same thing in the early days.
I have a vertabudet top that's quite nice, but I like being in regular clothes, personally.

Check out www.bellamama.co.uk as they have a great range of pretty tops. I also wanted something none-frumpy, and without those awful "flaps" across the front (oh dear!) that make it so obvious it's a nursing top. I have big boobs, so any normal top loose enough to feed in made it look like I hadn't had the baby yet! However, a few nursing vests under cardis were pretty good too. Anyway, I also struggled to find a decent site in the UK, like you say so many do the same style tops.

Thanks for the tips ladies.. I'll try the vest idea and will check out bellamama too.

Suspect that even if I do use vests, I'm going to have to buy some nice new normal tops as I can wear my prepregnancy ones now..

i never used breastfeeding tops as they were all hideous-i brought boob tube tops in various colours (£2 from primark) and wore them underneath normal tops so my back and muffin tops were still always hidden and fed without anyone noticing!

hennes do cotton vests that the straps detach.

have you thought of just wearing non maternity button up blouses?

I got some from H&M - were cheap and good!

Also got some from the NCT website - stocked a scandanavian brand called Boob - liked these the best.

Had got some from Jo Jo Maman Bebe - had poppers - were a nightmare.

I bf dd2 for a year - so well used the tops - I am now 27 weeks pregnant with ds1 so the tops will be well used - otherwise I would be getting rid.

my absolute favorite bfeeding tops and dresses come from
here

i have worn them for 18 months and they are fab and wash amazingly well..

x

oops sorry...cross posting with hotmama

would def recommend H&M tops, they are fab, wash well and look modern

whose grandad's breastfeed??
Certainly not mine

Love the boob nursing tops. Can't see DH agreeing to pay 50 quid each for them though

www.babeswithbabies.com/section_details.asp?section=Breastfeeding/+Tops&section_id=19

http ://www.everydaymaternity.com/breastfeeding-clothes-c-7.html

www.babeswithbabies.com then look at under new mum clothes

www.everydaymaternity.com/breastfeeding-clothes-c-7.html

I also found the 'vest' method works best (and then doesn't look obviously like BF top!

Buy some slightly too big stretchy vests (lycra or with stretchy straps). Then your normal top - when you feed you pull vest down and lift top up. So only tiny area is exposed.

This also hides any flabby tummy and any slight leakage can be absorbed by extra layer of vest!

never bothered with feeding tops. Just bought some cheap, loose, long tops with no buttons or anything.

The other thing that works is a shawl / triangular scarf which you drape across your shoulder and over boob with baby's head underneath.

Must say though, that breast feeding is totally natural and I never encountered a situation where anyone openly stared when I was feeding in public. Most people make a concious effort to talk to your face without moving their eyes at all.