Nursing Essentials: How to Choose a Breastfeeding T-Shirt That Checks All the Boxes
Nothing beats the warm and special bond between a mother and her child, especially during the early stages of their growth and development. Breastfeeding is a crucial aspect that strengthens this bond, providing essential nutrients and antibodies to the baby while forming an unbreakable connection between the two. But as heartwarming and awarding motherhood is, there are certainly some challenges that come with it. Babies will make sure to let you know when they’re hungry and they want their milk right here and now. They don’t have time to wait.
In these situations, having quick and easy access to your breasts is crucial. You don’t necessarily have the luxury of time to undress or have some privacy when your little one is crying and hungry. That’s why having a comfy and easy-to-maintain breastfeeding T-shirt needs to be a staple in your maternity wardrobe. They are designed to provide easy breastfeeding, without needing to cover yourself with a blanket or taking off the shirt. Accessible at any time, anywhere, they are also a chick and fashionable addition to your everyday style and make you look cute and put together.
What Tops Are Best for Breastfeeding?
Before diving into the realm of nursing wardrobe staples for every mum, it’s essential to consider the ease of use and feel comfortable in what you wear. After all, your body may still be sensitive in the postpartum phase and wearing a comfortable fabric can be of immense importance.
Functionality and Ease of Use
When it’s baby’s time to eat, they can get lout and cranky in a matter of seconds. The sooner you fulfil their basic needs, the better for the baby and you. Regular t-shirts and tops do not provide quick and easy access for breastfeeding. Oftentimes they can have buttons, or you must pull them up for your baby to eat. Not only does it take you time, but it’s also inconvenient as it makes the process a bit of a hassle, especially when you’re outside your home.
That’s where the functional design of nursing t-shirts comes into play. These tops are designed to allow mums to have discrete breastfeeding access and they come in various designs such as in wrap styles, with flaps or a clip or zipped horizontal openings on the sides that are easy to undo and open in just a few seconds. The tees provide mums with the right support for convenient breastfeeding, without compromising on style.
Comfort
Whether you had a C-section or you had a natural delivery, your body may still have sensitive areas. Your breasts may be swollen, your C-section scar is still healing or your whole body still feels very sensitive. For this reason, you don’t want something that will feel too tight on you or wear fabrics that feel sturdy, uncomfortable and not breathable. When you have a proper breastfeeding T-shirt, you can easily nurse your child without any discomfort or worries.
Go for stretchy materials and loose cuts that feel comfy and have layers that are easy to pul up or down. Additionally, you can choose tees with vertical openings and zips so you don’t need to take off any layers. When it comes to comfortable wear, the choice of fabrics also makes a huge difference.
For mummies whose bodies are super sensitive and need a light and breathable nursing tee, organic cotton can be of immense help. You can find them in various sizes and colours and oftentimes they have a small percentage of elastin in their design, to provide stretchability.
Effortless Washing
Nursing means oftentimes ending up with stained clothes. It’s something new mums deal with daily, a couple of times per day. That means frequent washing and cleaning. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a good quality fabric that is machine-washable.
Organic cotton tees made of 95% cotton and 5% elastin are good options when it comes to easy cleaning and washing. Another such fabric is a combination of 80% polyester, and 20% viscose. Typically, the tee should come with a label stating that is suitable for washing machines. Investing in such fabrics means easy and convenient cleaning, without compromising on your hygiene.
Versatility In Style
The vast collection of breastfeeding t-shirts allows mums with different styles to find something that will match their fashion sense and personal preference. After all, nursing wear is not only about functionality but style as well. From classic tees to trendy designs, they offer fashionable solutions for nursing on the go.
Designed with discrete nursing access points, they allow mothers to have comfortable breastfeeding, while staying in style. You don’t need to sacrifice your fashion just because you’re a nursing mum. In fact, the best thing about shopping for nursing wear is finding and trying out styles that best suit you and building a fashionable and personalised nursing wardrobe.
Many of these clothing staples are versatile in style and can be wrong even after you quit nursing. They are designed so that can be easily styled with nearly any other outfit, for various occasions. Let’s say you have a dinner date with your partner, but you also need to nurse your little one during the evening. With a nursing t-shirt paired with a stylish blazer or cardigan, you can easily transition from dinner-ready to breastfeeding without skipping a beat.
Durability
Choose a piece that will last long after your nursing period. The discrete design of nursing tees allows seamless wear and styling with different clothing. Choose a quality fabric that is not easily prone to wear and tear, since you’ll be washing your clothes more frequently.
Many of these tees look just like normal t-shirts, with the added support for nursing. Therefore, these designs are made to transcendent any current trends and you can wear them years later. Even in the case of a sudden spit-up or leaky nipple, you won’t have to worry about ruining your outfit. Simply throw it in the wash and those stubborn stains should be gone in no time.