Nursing Clothing Has Come A Long Way

There was a time when no self-respecting fashionista would be caught in public in a nursing shirt, once a slightly less unattractive variation of a hospital gown. With pregnancy and nursing becoming fashionable even among the Hollywood crowd, designers have jumped on the maternity bandwagon to give today’s breastfeeding mothers a number of chic options designed to offer convenience, discretion, and style.

Tops

Gone are the over-sized T-shirts that once made up the nursing mother’s entire upper body wardrobe. The selection of nursing tops in today’s market is the best it has ever been.

Tank tops or camisoles under a shirt have long been a staple for nursing mothers. Shirts with hidden slits have replaced the awkward nursing top of yesteryear. Some companies such as Glamourmom incorporate a nursing bra into a tanktop, shirt or dress. The modern fashions offer baby easy access to the breast while still providing maximum coverage and maintaining modesty during nursing. Many sport a stylish layered look, while others are suitable for office wear and allow for easy pumping.

Dresses
Once too inconvenient for a nursing mother, dresses are now available in an array of attractive mama-friendly fashions. Designers offer styles for holiday parties, business meetings, and every day comfort. Nursing access varies from dual-layered criss cross openings to slits to zippers. Some simply pull down to expose the breast, so you will want a matching shawl or cover-up to remain discreet when feeding your baby in one of those numbers. With such easy access, you will also need to be wary of the babies with a help-yourself independence.

Some of these styles will reveal a bit too much of the ratty old nursing bra your husband wishes you would burn, so you will need to consider one of the new fashions in nursing bras, some of which are, dare I say, sexy.

Sleepwear

Sleepwear for new mothers has graduated from the tent category into downright cute Most have simple pull down tops or two side slits, both styles enabling maximum ease of night-time nursing. Some manufacturers are including built-in bras, breast pad pockets to catch milk leaks, or other forms of comfortable support. Of course, there is always the old standby–your husband’s T-shirt and boxers.

Activewear

Nursing moms can even be stylish when on the go with a variety of active apparel. Carriwell even offers cute nursing swimwear for a day at the beach with baby.

Nursing attire has come a long way since your mother’s time. Now you can step out in style with a baby on your hip, a diaper in your purse, and a wardrobe that screams chic mama!