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Most new mums want to rush back into their pre-pregnancy wardrobe as soon as possible after giving birth, without considering the majority of dresses and tops aren’t ideal for the purpose of nursing newborns.

“The Life of a mother is the life of a child: you’re two blossoms on a single branch” – Karen Maezen Miller

I can’t say anything about others, but personally for a good many months after my twins were born, I absolutely hated being formally dressed.

I couldn’t fit into any of my usual, pre-pregnancy clothes and I was whirling in my pregnancy outfits. And then there’s this whole comfort issue.

Doesn’t matter how grand your baby’s entrance was into this world – they certainly leave their marks!

I spent some time in pajama-pants as well as a nursing bra. And this along with spit-up marks and grubby hair made me feel quite unattractive and out-of-style. So, I opted to experiment by picking some smart as well as comfortable dress combos which, I personally felt were quite amazing!



Here are some tips to help you decide what the best nursing outfits are for you:

1) Shirt dresses

Shirt dresses are my favourite! These offer comfortable access for breastfeeding and there are usually a lot of fabrics and designs to choose from. Anything in floaty cotton or silk with a touch of stretchy fabric works.

A shirt dress is an ideal all season staple because you can wear it along with tights, a jacket, flat boots as well as huge scarf during winter or just with bare legs during the summer and spring.

2) Kimono or the swing-top

I term these as a post-baby lifesaver. I own a personal collection of sleeveless, button down swing tops which, I pop over stripped tanks and tees. Opt for ultra-soft cotton with a peter-pan neckline or a floral- silk with scoop collar. Wear them with your boyfriend jeans or over fitted skirts and dresses.

These dresses will easily accommodate your varying bust-size and will appear effortlessly awesome for many years to come. Likewise, the Kimono (my favourite one) – though it’s a simple outfit – easily embraces a slice of colour as well as fun. It will work with your body whatever the size or shape.

3) Jeans

An awesome pair of jeans will certainly save you a couple of minutes when dressing in a rush.

These require very little ironing and can be worn straight off the bedroom floor! Opt for a boyfriend style that you can roll up. These look awesome with a belt, ballet flats and a loose striped tee. They can also be matched with some heels and sparkles for the evenings.

4) Scarf                

A bright scarf can save any dull outfit, in addition to the benefit of having something to cover up infant spilled-food, vomit or milk-leakages. I rarely leave home without a scarf covering my neck – which includes woolen layers during winters, large cotton quadrangles during spring as well as autumn and floral silk long-sashes during summer.

5) Shoes

It’s a common belief that your feet are the one part of your body that doesn’t get affected by pregnancy, breastfeeding and birth – which is not true at all!

During my postpartum period my feet spread and they grew to a point where I outgrew most my existing shoes. So you may need to end up purchasing some new shoes! It was a perfect excuse that I offered up to my hubby!

One of the most important things when you are nursing newborns is to be comfortable and feel good about yourself. Just keep in mind all the practical necessities that you’ll require in accordance with your body changes and while you nurse your baby.

I wish you all a happy motherhood!

Do you have any additional tips and tricks to add to this list? Please share in the comments.

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  • I love a simple singlet sleeve dress. Easy to bf in, and can have a short sleeve button up over the top.

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  • I think I pretty much contined to wear my maternity tops for the first couple of months.

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  • I just learned that the more time you spend choosing a nice outfit the quicker out will get food/milk/spew on it.


    • haha lol. especially with black clothes

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  • Some great tips but what is a kimono top?

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  • So e good tips for mums who are breast feeding.

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  • This is great Lisa. it will be very helpful for nursing mums.

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  • I always wear a singlet under my tops, then i can just pull up the top and the singlet down and not have my stomach exposed.

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  • Some of the traditional nursing tops didn’t work as well for me with my large bust and I found it difficult. Nursing tops and button up shirts or zip hoodies were a lifesaver for me. Love the idea about using a scarf to cover anything that needs to be covered!

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  • oh my gosh! maternity bras are a god send

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  • Some great suggestions which will come in handy is a couple of months time when our bambino arrives. Thanks for the ideas.

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  • i loved my oversized shirts/sweaters! They covered everything they needed and gives room to bf too!

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  • What a great article, thanks!

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  • I also relied on scarfs! And they weren’t am eating hazard for my baby like necklaces when Accessorizing. I found singlet tops hard to work out while breastfeeding. I found online some strapless singlet tops that clipped on by breastmates – a NZ company. Love them, still wearing them and breastfeeding at 9 months.

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  • realy cute it is

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  • So many breast feeding singlets out there great for qld

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  • this is exellent great

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  • Stretchy long skirts and breast feeding singlet tops were the best during summer. In winter I wear breast feeding tops with jeans and a long jumper.

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  • I was told by my midwife to wear loose fitting shirts so I could breastfeed easily, good advice really :)

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  • Breastfeeding singlets are awesome for summer, great price at Kmart!

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  • I saw some great singlets once with a cut out around the nipple/areola. They were just for layering obviously. You just lifted up your top and your stretch-marked belly and most of your boob were concealed. I really really regret not buying some as I can’t find them now.


    • Best and less have fabulous bf singlets with this cutout. And they are a longer length for comfort



      • I think the shirts you’re talking about are called “milk shirts” or “milk tops”. I tried to find some second hand ones in my size when i was pregnant with my second (didn’t know about them with my first) but I could only find them in sizes larger than mine, but they are meant to be great, as you have said they cover your tummy and most of the breast while feeding, so you can wear non breast-feeding tops and singlets and just lift their hem to feed.

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