Breastfeeding/nursing tops which don't cost the earth

[CucumberCool]

Help!
I usually stick to supermarkets, new look /Dorothy Perkins when buying clothes (I get discount on the last two) so you can imagine my budget!

I'm lost when it coming to buying tops suitable to breastfeed in! I'm nearly at the stage where I'm thinking about longer trips out with my newborn and am a bit nervous about feeding in public.

Any suggestions where I can find discreet, relatively stylish tops to do so??

I got a couple from HappyMama website but generally stick to a uniform of H&M nursing vest + a cardigan. Asda do decent nursing vests too.

You can make do with some normal clothes such as a waterfall cardigan wrapped round you both. Cheap Primark vest pulled up or down. Massive scares, put wide brimmed hat on baby during feeding.

Have you tried two cheap vest tops together? You pull the top one up and the bottom one down, thus covering chest and stomach.
You can also do this with a baggy tshirt or jumper over the vest top.

You mentioned stylish so as above a vest top but with a nice top that you like . I got some really cheap vest tops from the aisle of doom in lidl. Very thin straps, wouldn’t wear alone, but very manouverable for feeding under another top.

I had twins so constantly feeding in public - I did however eventually stop caring and no member of the public was ever daft enough to say anything negative.

Try vinted, (seraphine, jojo, Isabella Oliver) but I usually wore something high waisted (sometimes with a bump band) and a loose jumper or shirt

There’s a Facebook group called “can I breastfeed in it UK” which is really helpful. A lot of the time you don’t need specific breastfeeding clothes. I only have a couple of vests, a blouse and a couple of long sweatshirts that are specific breastfeeding clothes. The rest of the time I wear normal clothes. The challenge is finding dresses/jumpsuits and other things if you want more variety. H&M are probably the best for plain vests. I have bought from Seraphine too - they have lots of clothes with zip access panels which are handy.

I just wear high waisted jeans and then t-shirts that I just lift up. Baby hides anything that isn’t covered. Chuck a muslin over my shoulder if there’s anything more to cover up. Next cap sleeved t-shirts are very flattering and only 7.50. I went on holiday recently and just wore shorts and a top, or dresses with a button front.

What you need to spend money are the nursing bras. A decent couple at least. I went to Bravissimo and got fitted after 6-8 weeks (when the boobs have settled). I used the bravado bras before that - super comfy but perhaps not the most supportive.

Thanks guys, loads of great suggestions! Two tips and normal clothes which work are really good ideas. Will check out h and m and vinted!

@ExhaustedMumma your right about bras! I have only one which is damp most of the time! I also have crop top typebras which are comfy but difficult btobget out of! Good shout about waitig a bit, my little one is 11 days and although my supply is fully in, we don't have a routine yet and boobs do feel like they are constantly changing!

Just had a look there is so much on shein for £10 or under.

Also H&M online have some good stuff.

Agree to following can i breastfeed in it on facebook or instagram. Also google sainsburys tu breastfeeding.
I went for a stretchy primark vest top under another top i could lift up. I didnt like button down options as i personally felt too exposed, if i went for a shirt i made sure i could lift it.

Ebay for bundles of tops. Like PP though I switched to a vest under normal clothes pretty quickly. Breastfeeding tops are rarely stylish!

Primark do have a maternity section now. Worth checking out in a bigger store.

Of all places I found 2x cheap tops in matalan (online)

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2874619_c270/mamalicious-maternity-2-pack-nursing-t-shirts-navy they don’t set the world on fire but I lived in these tbh

Have a look at smallshow on amazon, I managed to get a lot of tshirts, vests and dresses really cheap on there.

Also asos

2 Vests

top

ASOS have some lovely stuff but as with all sites, it’s mixed in with maternity. Best to search “nursing”

I never bothered with breastfeeding tops. I just wore longline vests with a tshirt or jumper over. The H&M breastfeeding vests are good that come in a 2 pack. Also Uniqlo do vests with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline which are easy enough to pull down. With the 1 up / 1 down method there’s practically nothing on show. Breastfeeding clothes are much more revealing in my opinion as they usually expose your whole chest area!

It will get easier and you will stop feeling so self conscious. The first few outings are the worst!

H&M nursing vest under everything (I didn't bother with a bra as well). Button down tops, wrap tops or anything loose enough to pull up easily :) in the early days I found it easier to have something that opened rather than pulled up though, found it tricky to get baby latched with all that extra fabric getting in my way.

And well done for thinking about leaving the house (and getting dressed) at 11 days!

Go to primark - their basic vests (I like the longline ones) pull down really easily. Over the top you can wear your normal tops and just pull them up, or if they are a bit tight for that get some primark basic t shirts a size up. I find one up one down easier when the top you're pulling up is baggy. Also join Can I Breastfeed In It UK on Facebook for loads of good suggestions on clothes you can buy on the high street that are suitable for nursing.

I never had nursing tops. Any baggy top will have enough fabric to drape discreetly over your baby's head and hide the boob, and surely baby itself will hide any exposed midriff?

You guys are fab! Thanks all!! X

Happy breastfeeding op xx

Vinted! Literally don’t cost the earth 😀