The wardrobe for the breastfeeding mom is pretty simple. You should not need to invest in a closet full of new clothes or even outfits specifically made for breastfeeding moms (though a couple nursing bras are certainly helpful!)
When it comes to your clothing, just look at what you have and make it work! Here are a few tips from a breastfeeding mom who’s been there, done that.
The Golden Rule
The one-handed test.
Let’s visualize. You’re getting a squirmy baby situated for the feed in one arm, so you’ve only got one arm to maneuver your garment, unsnap your nursing bra, etc.
You may *think* an article of clothing fits the bill, but consider the one-handed test or conduct a trial run in the privacy or your own home so you appear perfectly in control later. 😉
Form-fitting tops
Doable, but they need some stretch. Remember, your breasts are larger than usual, so pulling fabric without any give over a mountainous region (one-handed) is no small task.
Loose-fitting tops
Truly a breastfeeding mama’s best friend. The more, the merrier!
Tops that latch in front
Hard to come by, but pure gold if you have any. Your baby will appreciate the easy access, too!
Buttons
Visualize the one-handed test before committing.
Initially, I scooped up a bunch of tops and dresses with front-facing buttons thinking I was really smart.
But here’s the thing, if they aren’t buttons you can undo with one hand, it makes things, well, complicated. So aim for bigger buttons or a select few, at that.
Fabric
When you re-emerge from the foggy haze of caring for a newborn and start to put some consideration into your personal appearance again, this tip is helpful.
Choose fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily, which typically are those with a nylon or polyester blend. Pulling your clothing every which way during a feeding can easily wrinkle 100% cotton or linen garments.
Dresses
Say goodbye to sheath dresses for a little while. They’re too tight and unzipping them isn’t practical.
With dresses, look for stretchy straps that you can pull down or something loose fitting that you can pull up. If you plan on going out in public, just wear some shorts underneath and problem solved!
There you have it, pretty simple right? Comment with any other breastfeeding–friendly clothing tips you may have!
