These Nursing Tops Will Keep You Comfy As You Keep A Small Human Alive

This very affordable, machine-washable nursing cami (with a shelf bra) is from Motherhood Maternity, which has been around forever! Adjustable straps are always a nice feature on a tank, and the 5% spandex gives the cotton a bit of stretch. The top portion unclips from the straps for simple nursing access. Besides basic black, the nursing top also comes in solids like heather gray and navy, as well as thin stripes and spacedye. Sizes start at XS and go up to 3X in some colorways — and that size range isn’t typical for nursing tanks. One mom noted, “I have always had trouble fitting into the tank tops with the bras sewn into them, but this is the first tank with the bras that my boobs have ever fit into! … I can just sleep on this tank at night to breastfeed and my breasts don’t fall out and get milk everywhere.” 

Bravado! is a longtime favorite brand among breastfeeding moms, and this top looks like a comfy choice for wearing when you sleep (haha, “sleep”). Bravado! has a “proprietary, easy open-and-close, one-handed nursing clips,” and anything to make nursing easier is a bonus! The four-way stretch fabric is certified as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, so it’s free from harmful substances — nice to know, since your baby will be in close contact with it for hours. Sizes are S–XXL, and the built-in shelf bra (with removable inserts) fits up to a 44 band size and DDD/F cup size. In addition to white, you can choose black, a navy-and-white stripe, and charcoal heather. One reviewer called it “perfect” and said “This cami has been life changing for me! It’s the best nursing top, and so flattering. Also very comfortable and supportive with the built-in support. The longer length makes it easy to wear every day. Will definitely be buying more!” 

You can tell how soft and stretchy this nursing tank is just by looking at the photos. The Kindred Bravely nursing tank is seamless and tagless and is made from 93% nylon and 7% spandex. The clip-down cups are easy to use and the built-in bra has removable padding, which is great because it’s always nice to have a choice! This tank would work just as well for wearing at home as layering under work clothes for easy access during pumping breaks. Note that the top is supposed to be hand washed, but I’ve never had an issue with machine washing hand-wash items on the hand-wash cycle (though YMMV). Sizes are S–XL. One mom raved, “I love the material, the fit, and the functionality. First off let me just say the material is truly as soft and comfortable as other reviewers have commented. … As a new mom there have been many days when I’ve felt very frumpy, but I never feel that way when wearing this tank.” 

This popular brand’s tagline is “For the mindful mama,” but hey, if you’re not exactly feeling “mindful” as a new mom (or an experienced mom, for that matter), no judgment here! This soft, seamless, machine-washable nursing tank is made from moisture-wicking, four-way stretch microfiber and has drop-down, molded cups. The reinforced knit on the sides has “a light compression feel,” which means it’s comfy postpartum shapewear (without going overboard). Two other nice features are that the adjustable straps can be converted into a racerback style, and the materials are certified as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, meaning they’re free from harmful substances. The sizes (S–XL) fit up to a 42 band size and G cup size. One mom wrote, “As a nursing mama who doesn’t want her postpartum belly exposed to the world while nursing, I LOVE this tank. It’s slimming (duh, it says it’s shapewear in the description) and great for layering.”

If you’re looking for a nursing tank without a built-in bra, the thousands of positive reviews can vouch for this bestselling tank! This soft top is machine washable and made of  95% rayon with 5% spandex for some stretch. To breastfeed, just pull the top layer of the shirt to the side and up. Sizes are S–XXL, and the tank comes in a ton of solid colors and prints, which isn’t usually the case for shelf-bra nursing tanks. Note that you can save some money by buying a set of two. (Bonus: Prints can help hide stains until you can manage to get a minute to yourself to change your shirt!) One mom noted, “The access for nursing is great and there isn’t fabric falling in the baby’s face. … They’re soft, and they are loose enough to hide any leftover baby weight. I find them very easy to nurse in in public, and because of the way they open I don’t feel exposed.”

PinkBlush Maternity is one of the few brands that offers a wide selection of nursing and maternity wear in plus sizes — and they have lots of pretty florals and flowy styles. This top, which can be worn for both maternity and nursing, comes in sizes 1X–3X and in a ton of different colors. Unlike a lot of nursing wear out there, this one doesn’t scream “nursing top” (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s nice to have options!). This top is made in the U.S.A., and while it’s labeled “hand wash cold,” you’d probably be fine with the hand-wash cycle on your washer. One helpful thing about PinkBlush is that their website provides the measurements of the models (and the size they’re wearing) so that you can get a better idea of how the clothes might fit. One happy customer wrote that the top is “Very comfy and flattering, and the fabric is super soft!” 

You could get a lot of wear out of this simple top as it works for both for casual and business-casual outfits. It would work well with jeans or tailored work pants, and it would work by itself or underneath a cardigan or blazer — you’re really getting the best of both worlds with this Smallshow nursing top. The gathered neckline elevates it a bit more compared to a regular tee, and a scoopneck is always flattering. The stretchy rayon/spandex blend comes in eight solid colors and three floral prints in sizes S–XXL, and it’s easy to care for (just machine wash and tumble dry). For nursing access, you simply push one layer toward the middle. One of the positive reviews reads, “Fit was perfect, as expected even for a bigger girl like me that has big boobs. … Very concealing but easy to use when breastfeeding. Very soft comfortable material and is thick enough to not be see-through.”

I’m very intrigued by this top and wish I’d had something like it when I was breastfeeding! If you’re looking for something a bit different, this is a great option. Just throw it on over a nursing tank and you’re good to go! (Note that reviewers say it’s shorter than it looks in the product photos, but of course it depends on your height — take a look at the customer-submitted pics to see some examples of fit.) This three-pack includes black, navy, and charcoal gray in sizes S–XL. One mom noted, “While on maternity leave, I’m at home in a nursing camisole all day, every day. I bought this to throw over the camisole to run a quick errand, get the mail, walk the dog. It’s much nicer than I expected and I can even wear this to work when I go back next week.”

This top would be a great basic for your breastfeeding/pumping wardrobe, and if you like the style, you’re in luck: There are a ton of colors available, including black, gray, white, burgundy, two shades of pink, and two shades of purple. (If you simply must have a Christmas-themed shirt for nursing/maternity, there are two choices for that, too.) To breastfeed, you just pull down the top of the shirt. Sizes are S–XL and you can’t tell from the product photos, but in the customer-submitted images you can see that the sides are ruched to give the top some shape. One of the hundreds of positive reviews reads, “I love this nursing top. … The crossover fits well across my chest and is very comfortable. It’s very soft against my skin and well made. I like the high v-neck and it doesn’t drop when I bend over.”

UK maternity brand Seraphine was a favorite of Kate Middleton during her pregnancies, but fortunately this top doesn’t have a royal price tag. Like a lot of nursing tops, this one can also be worn while you’re expecting (the brand even provided product photos of pregnant and non-pregnant models, so you can see the different fits). The embroidered details are very pretty, and the elasticized back of the empire waist gives it a nice silhouette. Concealed nursing zippers allow you to breastfeed easily. Overall, this top, which is available in sizes 2–14, is the perfect thing to wear when you want to dress up but can’t leave baby at home. (Maybe next time!)

This top may be a bit too casual for work, depending on the office, but it would be perfect for lounging around in. (I mean, as much you can “lounge around” with a baby in your life — it’s more like “napping when your baby falls asleep while nursing.”) And… it has POCKETS! This soft and comfy top is easy-care (machine wash, tumble dry), and the fabric is easy to pull aside for nursing access. It comes in sizes 1X–4X in black, charcoal gray, and a very pretty shade of purple. (Note that from what reviewers say, it sounds like it runs large.) One mom wrote, “I love this shirt, I bought a few of them. So happy that there are pockets, because when you breastfeed you need things. Burp cloth, binky, bib, whatever, it’s close by when I need it. The shirt is also very comfortable and looks nice on me.”