How to find the best breastfeeding friendly dresses

How to find the best breastfeeding friendly dresses

You don’t need to buy a new wardrobe when you’re breastfeeding. Don’t let the baby industry make you part ways with your money too quickly. But if you are looking for a few new dresses to update your wardrobe while you’re breastfeeding, then you might want to read a few hints before you start shopping. So without further ado, here are our tips to finding the best breastfeeding friendly dresses for you.

If you’d prefer to find a list of our suggested essentials, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

 

What’s your favourite feeding style?

As you’ll know, some dresses just aren’t made for breastfeeding. And that’s ok, you’ll get to wear your favourite dresses again soon. But in the meantime, let’s see what you can wear. Dresses with double-layered tops are sold by H&M, JoJo Maman Bebe and Seraphine. These are ideal for nursing in public discreetly. Having said that, you might find this awkward and prefer to wear looser clothing that can be pulled up or pushed down.

So with that in mind, when you’re feeding your baby, do you prefer to pull up a loose t-shirt or unbutton a loose shirt? Or would you prefer to wear something with zips down the side?

Shirt dresses are the ideal dress for a breastfeeding mother. Other nursing friendly dress styles include wrap dresses, dungarees style dresses, and even jumpsuits.

 

How fiddly is the top or dress for breastfeeding?

Easy access is the name of the game here. You don’t want to be faffing around with extra layers or fiddly buttons when your baby is crying out to be fed.

Many breastfeeding mothers find maternity dresses that also work for postpartum aren’t as convenient with the additional layers. Swooping fabric to the side to unclip your bra then help your baby latch can be tricky. 

In the comfort of your home, you’ll probably stick to a loose t-shirt or collared shirt. And likewise, out and about, buttons, zips or poppers are your friend if you want to wear something a little smarter.

 

Prints or plain?

Breastfeeding in those first few months can be messy. Washable nursing pads are a must. To hide the worst of a letdown in the early days, the best breastfeeding friendly dresses have a busy pattern, Boden is brilliant for this.

Please don’t let the early days put you off, it does get better!

Once your supply has regulated, leaking issues won’t happen very often and all dresses that are nursing friendly can be worn with confidence whether they’re patterned or plain.

 

Can you layer the dress to make it warmer?

If you’re able to put layers underneath or over the top of a dress or jumpsuit and keep the outfit nursing friendly, you’re winning.

Think loose striped tops underneath denim shirt dresses or a chunky knitted cardigan over a midi dress.

A dress that can be layered for cooler days makes your nursing wardrobe practical and versatile for all seasons. And helps you save money in the long run. 

 

Look for natural fabrics

When you’re nap trapped, things can get a little sweaty. We’ve all been there, trying to adjust ourselves to avoid our baby overheating but not wake them up in the process.

That’s why it’s advisable to stick to natural fibres such as cotton, linen, bamboo, merino wool and cashmere depending on the season. 

Not only do the natural fibres keep things less sweaty when breastfeeding. They are also the healthier option with no microplastics in sight. And they can often be more sustainable. 

 

Don’t impulse buy - aim for quality over quantity

I don’t know about you, but when I have a problem I want to solve it immediately and start spending. Statutory maternity pay will not give you that luxury. Plus, who wants a load of maternity dresses hanging in their wardrobe.

Instead, see this as the perfect time to start a capsule wardrobe. Invest in good quality dresses for breastfeeding. Make sure the clothes you buy will last you a good few years long after you’ve finished breastfeeding. 

 

Don’t limit yourself to maternity wear

The best breastfeeding friendly dresses aren’t necessarily breastfeeding dresses. So, don’t make the mistake I made and fill your online shopping carts with dresses made for breastfeeding. It’s expensive and unnecessary. Nursing friendly dresses tend to come at a premium.

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to find a suitable dress for nursing in the main range of every high street and online retailer. Just follow our top tips and you should be able to find something a little more you that sees you through breastfeeding and beyond.

 

Start off with the essentials then reevaluate

To get you started on your breastfeeding journey you will need a few key pieces, most of which you’ll likely already own. And, other than the breastfeeding bras, none of the items below are made to be specifically breastfeeding friendly.

You won’t need all of the above, but it should give you an idea of the items you can find in all shops.

Have we missed any tips that you’d like to share with others? Please leave them in the comments section below.

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