Think of this as your primer about nursing clothes.
Nursing Clothes 101.
A Q & A session for the new mom and mom-to-be.
Here goes…
WHAT ARE NURSING CLOTHES? Essentially, they are tops, tanks, camis, pajamas, and dresses that provide easy access to your breasts to help you nurse with ease…at home or on-the go. This means different things to different companies: some offer wrap-style shirts; others offer a second layer; still others feature deep v cuts with soft material that can be easily “pulled back” without hassle.
ARE NURSING CLOTHES EXPENSIVE? That depends on the brand. Some are moderately priced; others are rather pricey. In general, nursing clothes are similarly priced to maternity clothes.
WHAT COMPANIES/BRANDS SELL NURSING CLOTHES? See below for a glimpse at a few of your options:
Motherwear is a comprehensive nursing apparel company that has been supporting breastfeeding for 25 years. The brand offers tops, dresses, sleepwear, swimwear, and bras…all designed for easy nursing access. The tops range in price between $19-$32, the dresses will put you back $55-$69, the sleepwear can be purchased for between $21-$43, and the swimsuits run between $29-$69. Best of all, there’s a sale section where you can buy items at a discount.
I appreciate the fact that Motherwear offers breastfeeding resources on their website, including a FREE 34-page Essential Breastfeeding Guide and a great list of the benefits of breastfeeding. Motherwear also has an excellent breastfeeding blog (that I subscribe too).
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BellaBlu Maternity Clothing, an online maternity clothing boutique, has an After the Baby Wear section on their website that includes several different nursing tops and tees that range in price between $50-$70.
I really like the idea of an After Baby clothing section, but I have to say that Bellablu’s offerings are a bit scanty. I’d like to see more nursing apparel options…plus comfortable pants, robes, slouchy tees, etc.
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Medela, a” trusted brand by hospitals and moms,” sells bras and nursing camisoles. The camisoles are only available in black and white, and both are detailed with lace around the edges.
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Other brands include Expressiva, GlamourMom, and Motherhood nursingwear (what brands am I leaving out…?).
ARE NURSING CLOTHES WORTH BUYING? You know I can’t answer that question. What I can say is that they certainly aren’t necessary. You can always wear “normal” tops and tees that are slouchy, wrap-style, v-neck, button-up, layered, etc. That said, the added convenience of nursing clothes just might make the purchase worthwhile for you. Only YOU can decide…
YOUR TURN: Have you tried any of the above brands? Were you impressed or disappointed?
The only nursing-specific items I’ve purchased are some bras and a couple of nightgowns. The other stuff all looks great and I would like to try it, but I’m too cheap to buy it so instead I’ve opted for layering with cami’s and button up shirts or simply wearing my less fitted knit tops.
You could also have a look at the nursingwear items that Fertile Mind now has available in the US http://www.fertilemind.com and Australia http://www.fertilemind.com.au. The great thing about this nursingwear is that you will be able to wear it throughout most of your pregnancy, while you are nursing and beyond because they are specifically designed to last.