Does anyone know where to buy decent-looking 'nursing' tops?

[ryedalema]

Having managed to not buy any new maternity gear from my last pregnancy (our last was a summer baby so I completely froze for the winter months - but ne'er mind) I now find that I have absolutely nothing to wear (and I mean it, not just in a girlie wardrobe full of clothes kind of a way) that I can bf with and be seen out in public in.

I don't have particularly high expectations - warm is good, classic better (so not a trendoid!) does anyone know a good place to get said items? Also would prefer not to spend a small fortune!

I've tried the normal places - Mothercare, Next, M&S, Mamas and Papas, Bravissimo etc - they don't seem to have anything.

Any ideas?

[melbourne groover]

H and M has some tops with work both for nursing and pregnancy so prob worth a look. How about a couple of nursing vests and then button front tops? (or even ones with low stretchy necklines)

Ebay also worth looking at.

[Pickle]

Hi there,

I never managed to find decent nursing tops, so simply used to buy cheap strappy vests (Primark are ideal) which I could stretch a bit and pull down from the top, while pulling my normal top up from the bottom. Achieves the same thing as a nursing top, and the added benefit was that the vests were generally long enough to tuck in, thus hiding the dreaded wobbly belly!

P x

[bizzylizzy]

mamaway - www.mamaway.co.uk

blooming marvellous - www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk

[snowboarder]

I seem to have bought loads of various nursing tops from jojo's and pretty pregnant (aptly named 'boob' range!)- but I hate them all - specially the jojo ones which have very oddly located slits for you to b'feed through.....so yep like pickle I usually still opt for stretchy strappy vest (m and s) under normal top. Makes you feel more normal and I think hides more than nursing tops, actually....

[littleEDfamily]

Maybe not exactly your style, but at least not of the frumpy variety:

http://www.mamafeelsgood.com/breastfeeding-tees/

[bizzylizzy]

Oh yes, I have a jojo one and the slits are too small for my mega-boobs and also at the sides not at the front where they are needed!!

Mamaway have massive 'holes' so accommodate all sizes of milk-engorged boobies!!

[helena handbasket]

I don't know if the Gap still does a maternity line (it's been a while since I needed it) but I found all of my best basics there. They were well designed so entirely wearable for the six months post baby (yes, sad but true). I still wear a couple of the tops, you would never know that they were maternity.

[ryedalema]

Ah - fab ideas - thanks. I think I may forego the 'actual' nursing tops and go for the strappy vest top layering thing. I've always thought those nursing tops look a bit too functional/industrial for my liking. But if anyone's found a prettier and still practical solution I'm all ears.

Also if there are any knitwear solutions. I'm afraid I'm exposing rather too much 'where baby used to be' when I'm feeding currently.

[lorraineliyanage]

Cheap vests and layering works a treat and saves you a fortune on pricey nursing tops. I found I can nurse wearing pretty much most of my normal tops, although I am left exposing my flabby belly quite a bit!

How about the Pretty Pregnant store on Northcross, has loads of maternity tops?

The Jojo tops have such weird slits - impossible to poke your nipple through!

[Ko]

half the problem i find is that not all stores stock maternity wear (eg you can go to a 'next' but that particular store might not do maternity wear).

i think gap on kings road does maternity wear - could be worth calling them before making the trip though.

if you're going to oxford street, the mothercare at marble arch has a good selection of clothing (but not sure about nursing tops) and m&S marble arch has a tiny, tiny selection of maternity clothes.

in bromley, there's pumpkin patch which does some lovely clothes (but a little pricey), mothercare, a next which stocks maternity wear (next to mothercare) and H&M which does maternity too.

or ebay seems to have bargains but you can't try them first...

[Indiana]

I have bought a black, white and grey maternity vest top from Boob at Pretty Pregnant on North Cross road and wash and wear them constantly under all sorts of clothes....you'd be surprised how much of your old wardrobe you can wear when you have these vests....button shirts, low v neck jumpers etc

Haven't bothered with other specific nursing tops as the layering thing works for me - also have used my old vest tops from when I was pregnant as they are more loose but they don;t have the added benefit of the design slit so they don't cover you up as much.

Primark have a few quite nice button shirts you could pick up which look good with jeans, leggings etc

[NunheadGirl]

I got 2 tops from Boob in the sale on line and 2 tops from bras4mums on line which are vest style but with unbuilt support and clips to drop on one side or other to feed. Have worn all these to death - still in them 15 month on so I reckon I've had my moneys worth!

Noticed pre Christmas that Gap Bluewater now have maternity stuff - too late for me sadly!!

[Adam]

Just to second mamaway (I found them at "breastfeedingtops.co.uk) - I got 5 tops from them and they were all brilliant. Also got some nice soft night maternity bras. They have me good advice about sizing too.

This is Adam's wife posting not Adam, in case you're wondering!

[BellendenBear]

Another vote for vests under normal tops. H+M have breastfeeding vests for about half the price of mothercare. And the jojo one I bought was about twice as much again and went a funny shape after one wash.

[fairylamb]

I was very fond of my perhaps slightly prudish breastfeeding cover. Great for discreetly feeding baby in confined public spaces trains, planes and restaurants. Also can be worn over anything.

http://www.babybubu.co.uk/

Especially good when combined with the post baby fat hiding Belly Hugger.

[largeginandtonic]

I am a HUGE fan of Boob tops - from Pretty Pregnant on Northcross Road. I have tried loads of breastfeeding tops, from cheap to expensive and these are just head and shoulders above the rest. I have two and I wear them when I know I'm going to be doing a lot of breastfeeding out, e.g. on the bus, at softplay or whatever - they are discreet but don't involve faffing about with lots of floaty layers, the opening was in the perfect place (unlike jojo tops which always seemed to open up too low down if you see what I mean), they wash brilliantly, look great - can't recommend them highly enough!

When not wearing these, I just wear stretchy t-shirts that I can pull down.

[Fuschia]

I must be completely exhibitionist as all I have ever done is just lifted my top and popped the baby on. Is a bit harder to be discreet with a wriggly toddler (and I really try hard NOT to feed both twins at once in public, that does get eyes popping (esp as they are most definitely at the "walking up and asking for it stage"

Which reminds me, did anyone see the article in the Guardian last w/e? I will start a new thread!)

[largeginandtonic]

Ha - Fuschia you must have a better looking tummy than mine then - mine is not fit for public viewing!

Have skimmed that article and will read more later. Always good stuff on mumsnet re extended b'feeding I think. We've come a long way with our attitudes to bfing in this country but we do still need to be less bashful.

My 4.5 year old was having a banana milkshake yesterday and announced to the whole cafe that if I ate a banana then shook myself about a bit, my 9 month old would get 'banana boobie shake'. That got some looks too. I just stare back.

[Fuschia]

largeginandtonic Wrote:> My 4.5 year old was having a banana milkshake

> yesterday and announced to the whole cafe that if

> I ate a banana then shook myself about a bit, my 9

> month old would get 'banana boobie shake'. That

> got some looks too. I just stare back.

rofl