How to Choose the Best Breastfeeding Tops

Breast milk is the best food for your baby, and while you're probably already drowning in breastfeeding information, there's one subject that doesn't often come up in lactation counseling: what to wear.

What Are Breastfeeding Tops?

Breastfeeding clothing, including tops, are items of clothing designed to be worn while feeding a baby. Most have hidden openings, flaps, or other adjustable features that allow easy access, so you don't have to take your shirt off to feed your little one. Though there are plenty of breastfeeding items available, they aren't all created equal. Certain features make some items more worth your money than others.

Soft, Breathable Fabric

Childbirth causes fluctuations in hormonal levels and so does breastfeeding (though at a lower level). These changes can cause skin sensitivity, changes in perception of temperature and moodiness. Soft, breathable fabric can make dealing with breastfeeding (and life in general) a little bit easier. Blended fabrics are often best; natural fibers like cotton, linen and bamboo provide comfort, while synthetic fabrics provide durability and ease of care. Go with a blend and you get the best of both.

Easy to Wash

Adapting to a new baby is hard enough without having to worry about laundry, but there's another reason good breastfeeding garments need to be easy to care for: leakage. A mother's body is highly sensitive to her child's needs, and some women report that hearing a baby cry (even if the baby isn't their own) is enough to stir milk production, which sometimes results in leakage. You're probably going to be laundering your shirts a lot, so look for easy-care fabrics you can just toss in the washer and then in the dryer. Be careful about wrinkle-resistant fabrics though; many of them have been treated with chemicals that can leach through the skin and end up in your breast milk.

Stretch

Human breasts, though not as variable as those of other mammals, do change size when a woman is pregnant and nursing. Good breastfeeding tops should have a little bit of built-in stretch, so that when your breasts are engorged, the top won't be too tight. A little stretch also lets the fabric shrink back to its normal size after your little one has had a meal, or after his or her needs change and you're making less milk overall. That way, you can use your tops for a long time, not just right after the birth of your baby.

Use with Nursing Bra

A good bra is vital to a woman's wardrobe and never more so than when she's nursing. Breasts become larger and heavier when a woman is nursing, and they need to be supported. Not only does this help clothing fit better, it helps prevent back and neck pain. Your breastfeeding garments should fit well over your nursing bra, so you can get the support you need.

Fashion and Flattery

Fashion may not be your first concern when you're taking care of a new baby, but having breastfeeding tops you like and feel good in can do a lot more for you than you might think. Mums tend to focus all of their energy on their children; wearing items you like, but that also allow you to care for your little ones, can help feed your soul, reduce stress, and remind you that you're still a person and your entire identity isn't confined to "mummy." With that in mind, pick breastfeeding garments you really like and of a style similar to what you would have worn before your pregnancy. Feel free to browse a wide selection of breastfeeding tops at Maternity Revolution!