Ask Angie: everyday frocks for the nursing mom

Dear Angie and everyone. I am a dress girl and would 100x rather wear a dress than try to pair up blouses and skirts. Now that I am nursing a baby, I find myself constantly falling into a jeans + tee (or blouse, if it's a lucky day) rut. I hate my slobby mom style, even for just around the house. As we're coming up on summer, I'm getting especially worried, as I don't like the way cropped pants on my legs!

I don't want to just tough it out, because I plan on nursing for a while yet and also on having more children. And I can't put off looking put-together for the next 20 years! So any suggestions on where to look would be great. There is such a limited selection of dedicated "nursing dresses," and many seem so dumpy and obvious. In non-nursing dresses, some deep vees work (with a nursing cami underneath for coverage over the 30fs!). Maybe the right shirtdress could work. I have been considering adapting Heleen's regular-bra-into-nursing-bra tutorial for sleeveless dresses (hook and eye at the shoulder, but still not sure...)

Maybe I just answered my own question, but I'd love any tips you have from working with clients. And of course I'd love any input from other moms here. But a post for (Nursing)MOTG who want to wear dresses would be so great.

Becky

14 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

If you get a short camisole (or just hem a regular one) to wear underneath, you can use many regular dresses for nursing. Cross front style like this work well:
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=809583032

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=809595022

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=809582032

Tricia

I'm not nursing anymore, but I nursed my younger daughter for 17 months. I found that button-down shirts and shirtdresses didn't work very well for me, but surplice-style crossover V-necks with a nursing camisole underneath were perfect. Good luck! How old is your baby?

Patty

Oh boy--dumpy sure describes the nursing tops I had!!! Made me feel a real mess--even from classier store tops.
I think nicer/more normal looking outfits for nursing moms could only help and also promote the whole nursing aspect and look forward to seeing what shows up here!

(Nursing nightgowns!!! Toss those in the washing machine and they turned themselves into monkey fist knots!!)

qfbrenda

I'm no dress expert though I nursed for 10+ years, all kids combined. LOL I like several of these dresses: http://www.motherwear.com/cat.cfm/cid/20

crwilson

Like Tricia, I found that cross-over v-necks work well. I'm actually still nursing and looking for the same thing for the spring/summer. I'm working right now (can't you tell?), but when I get home I'll try to post some of the specific dresses I'm looking at that I think would work with nursing.

cobaltblue

Chewy - Thank you! I love those and will definitely check them out!

Tricia - My baby girl is nine months and still a total milk monster. I haven't found nursing in button-downs comfortable, so you're probably right that a shirtdress wouldn't work.

Patty, I totally agree that nursing fashion needs to look good and like real clothes.

Brenda - I'll take a look at Motherwear. Last time I looked, it seemed like all the dresses had a ruffle. Nothing wrong with ruffles, but, sheesh!

And crwilson, that would be great, thank you.

mamaKate

Having weaned my daughter last summer after nursing for 17 months, and now about to have another baby I am totally familiar with your conundrum!!! I did OK with button-up dresses as long as there was another layer, preferably two, both on top (like a shawl) and underneath (like a cami). This seemed to be the biggest criterion for me, to make sure the opening had two edges, so I had coverage from both above and below (think french doors as opposed to a sliding glass door). I really like the designs on motherwear and will probably spring for a couple of those.

BTW I hear it's common, and it was true for my daughter as well, for babies to start winding down their need for milk around 10 to 11 months as they eat more and more solid food and start to walk - after about 11 months my daughter was down to only 3 nursings a day, then at 12 months only 2, and then 14 months only 1. So there may not be too much time left where you have to plan your daytime wardrobe around this constraint!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are in good hands with the ladies! If you need extra help, shout

Here are a couple that I think would work for the spring, but not the summer.

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....oryID=5449

http://www.zappos.com/patagoni.....ess-purple

Okay, so I don't have many suggestions in actuality. I'm sorry. I thought I had more links.

Active Member

I have been nursing for 10 years so far, and I have yet to find a single nursing dress I like and that fits. Nursing clothes are not made for women my size. I drown in them. So, as much as I love dresses, I mostly wear skirts and pants.

As posted above, once your baby goes longer stretches between nursing you can wear dresses depending on the length of your outing.

Let's see there's One Hot Mama and Nordstrom you can check out. Oh, and Expressiva.

Mac

Reviving this thread bc, at the ripe old age of 44 years old, I'm expecting my first baby in late April. I've done well through 2nd/3rd trimester in cute, long tunics paired with pregnancy leggings and boots (still cold and icy in Toronto). Now I need to turn my attention to nursing-wear.

Appears that the company many of you liked in this thread, motherwear.com, no longer exists. Do you think the Gap tunic top that Angie recently recommended would be good for nursing? http://www.gapcanada.ca/browse.....nley+tunic

I tend to run very hot (and downtown Toronto is muggy in the summers) so I would love to find some cool, breezy dresses that would work for nursing. (I know I'll probably have to wear a nursing cami underneath, which will add to the heating factor) Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed.

Thank you!

11 years ago

columbine(erin)

You might check out Expressive Nursingwear. I had a few things from there, and otherwise made do with cardis, tanks, and skirts, or wrap dresses with camis.

Helena

I too agree with the wrap-style v-neck idea ... a shirt-dress would have worked for me too, I think.

Key for me more than the right clothes was the right nursing cover-up - I found once I had a good 'hands-free' one, I could maneuver just about anything I wanted to wear under that thing!

One other note that may or may not be applicable, as I don't know how long you've been nursing, but if it is new to you, it DOES get much less awkward over time, with also gives you more latitude in the clothing department.

The days are long but the years are short ... enjoy this precious time as best you can

Makrame

Mac, I have no advice here but congratulations and best wishes for you!

keruchina

The blog aintnomomjeans.com does a good job of recommending nursing-friendly tops and dresses.

Anonymous

Congratulations, Mac! I found it easiest to go the skirt and top route. It was easiest to pull up the top from the bottom a bit. The flowy tops available now should be ideal for coverage, maybe with out needing a shawl, at least while the baby is quite small.

April

I agree with the idea of skirts and tops rather than dresses. You can find dresses specifically made for nursing, but they often look like they were specifically made for nursing, which may or may not line up with your style aesthetic.

Great to see you back, Mac, and congratulations to you!

Don't give up on the nursing, BTW -- it can be really tough going at first, but if you hang in there you'll be glad you did. PM if you need support.

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