Nursing Tops: Essential or Gimmicky?

BCFiggins

Question for you new mamas and STMs....how important is it to have specific nursing style tops? I know everyone's going to feel different as to what is and is not considered "important". I'm thinking of getting a few, but I'm also trying to be frugal. I just didn't know if they were a gimmicky type of thing or if the convenience is totally worth the splurge. I didn't buy a single maternity clothing item (thankfully I had a friend who donated me hers from her last pregnancy) and that got me by just fine, but as of now I have nothing nursing related! Thanks in advance, ladies! 

gemini2005

I own a few nursing tanks that I feel are pretty useful especially in the beginning when the baby is a cluster feeder.  I'm not really sure about the nursing tops that you would wear out in public.  I always just pulled up my shirt and that worked out for us lol

GoatSnakeMouse

I just went to target and bought a bunch (like 6 or 7) of their cheap tshirts (mossimo boyfriend style i think) in XXL. When I need to nurse (or in my case, pump) i just pull the front of it over my head so i'm just kind of wearing it around my shoulders. They are cheap (I got them on sale for $6 but I think normally they are $8) so I was able to get a bunch and I can just toss them in the laundry and grab a new one when i get spit up on.

Knottie13257900

I got one nursing top and a couple of nursing bras. I'm guessing the answer depends on how often you plan to be nursing in public or in front of people. I don't plan to go out that much with the baby while I'm nursing, so i'll just be at home where I can just pull up my shirt or whatever. So I'm not too concerned with getting a whole bunch of stuff.

kbrands7

I hate nursing tops with clips and nursed my first without any. I plan to this time as well (and have so far). What has worked well for me are topsor dresses cut surplus-style or with stretchy necklines that can be pulled down, or double layering shirts and pulling one up and one down to nurse. Button-downs work well too.

PYLWhammy

I bought a couple of nursing camis and one nursing top. I'm holding off on buying more until I see whether I actually use them! I was also thinking of just wearing button-down shirts over a nursing bra so I can just unbutton when it's time to feed baby. 

businessmama

I do not own any button downs, but I live in my nursing tanks and bras at home. I'm a serious leaker so I can't just wear a shirt because I make a mess.. I have to have something against me to hold the nursing pads.

Chappy_jr

Nursing tanks were essential for the first few weeks and at night. I bought a couple of "nursing shirts" last time but wasnt crazy about them- the designs were just eck. Since it'll be warm I'm assuming the tanks will be my go-to until I go back to work. I did buy some comfy feeling button down shirts from Target yesterday, though. 

araecasey

Completely non essential in my opinion. For days I know I'll be nursing in public, I layer a regular cami underneath what top I want to wear. To nurse: pull up top shirt, pull cami and bra down, latch baby. For days I'm at home, I'll just pull the neckline down of whatever shirt I'm wearing. I've nursed for two years without ever owning an official nursing top.

LadySamLady

I'm brand new at this but I've been living in nursing tanks since I got home. I find them easy and convenient. I haven't thought about what I'll wear to nurse when Im out and about but I've got a while to figure it out.

Jenly17

I enjoy mine. There were a few days in the beginning with DD that I wore them during the day and through the night. I never wore a bra underneath, just popped 2 nursing pads in and that was that! 

Eta for clarification: nursing tanks  

slfezz

Nursing cami/tanks were essential to me. I'm a g cup and they get extremely heavy when my milk comes in so the extra support is nice. It also helps me keep the other boob out the way when I'm nursing and holds a rag/pad in place when I let down (I always let down in both at once, can shoot a couple of feet)

yogahh

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

camillaandcarson

Loved nursing bras and tank tops. 

rlworzalla

I have a few nursing bras and a few nursing tanks.  I bought them figuring it would be better to have them before LO arrives - if I don't use them I can always return them, but DH will have NO idea what to buy if I need them right after birth.

Bellodomani

Nursing tops definitely seem like a gimmick, but nursing tanks were an essential for me last time. I wore them a ton in the early days when your boobs are just out all the time, and then later on only when I wanted extra convenience. As other people pointed out, it is typically pretty easy just to wear a nursing bra and a drapey top you can pull up, but the nursing tanks were clutch for nursing in the carrier on the go. So for example, we went to Disneyland with friends when my son was 6 weeks, and I knew I'd be nursing him on the go basically the whole day because I didn't want to slow everyone down, so that was a good day for a nursing tank because of the easier access. Same with flying with the baby, nice to be able to whip it out quickly. 

Jenly17

yogahh said:

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

What!? I just was there today. Bought one of each and no discount. Wth!

yogahh

Jenly17 said:

yogahh said:

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

What!? I just was there today. Bought one of each and no discount. Wth!

Maybe it's online only??

katxattack1212

I made a couple tanks like the undercover mama style. I've yet to try for feeding a tiny human, but they seem like they will function as needed. I only bought 2 nursing bras, which I may have jumped the gun on. I think I'm going to grab another this weekend...bigger than I thought. 

BCFiggins

Thank you all for the feedback! It's great seeing how different everyone's approach is! I plan to get at least a couple of nursing camis for home, so maybe my approach will be layering underneath other normal tops? I know we'll be out and about a lot over the summer and I burn just by looking at the sun so the cami alone is a no go for me. I also normally don't do button ups, but that's something I'll keep in mind. 
 
@yogahhI do love Target....maybe a little too much.  

JessicaB0627

yogahh said:

Jenly17 said:

yogahh said:

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

What!? I just was there today. Bought one of each and no discount. Wth!

Maybe it's online only??

I've noticed lately that a lot of stuff is cheaper online than in the store. You have to go to customer service and ask if they'll price match their online prices/sales. I bought a thing of nursing pads the other day that were $3 more in store. So annoying! 

Jenly17

JessicaB0627 said:

yogahh said:

Jenly17 said:

yogahh said:

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

What!? I just was there today. Bought one of each and no discount. Wth!

Maybe it's online only??

I've noticed lately that a lot of stuff is cheaper online than in the store. You have to go to customer service and ask if they'll price match their online prices/sales. I bought a thing of nursing pads the other day that were $3 more in store. So annoying! 

Stuck in a box:
good to know!

proudparent2b

I bought a few nursing shirts that have two overlapping panels with a cami strip in the middle, so you just move one of the side panels over to nurse. I'm pretty busty, so true camis don't work for me, and I dislike the idea of basically taking my shirt off to nurse, so it seemed like a good compromise piece.

Admittedly, they weren't cheap- around $15 each on sale.

camillaandcarson

I layer. Nursing bra, nursing top, then a shirt (Mostly an old navy or gap normal t shirt) over the top. Makes it super easy to be discreet about nursing and easy access for the cluster of newborn days. 

Nursing shirts I never cared for though. 

BlueJuice

I love nursing tanks and bras, but never actually bought any nursing shirts, because yeah, they seemed gimmicky. Some regular shirts are easier to nurse in than others, especially in public, but button-up shirts work really well, and most stretchy tees work fine for me as well. I try to avoid nursing in knit tops that are expensive, because I'm sure I'm stretching them out more than anticipated and shortening their lifespan, but inexpensive cotton tees I haven't worried about. I might have to replace them a little sooner than I otherwise would, but it's still cheaper than nursing-specific stuff, and I don't have to worry about weird moveable panels doing something unexpected the rest of the day.

lalala2004

I'm sure they are great, but I don't see the point of the expense when a nursing bra and tank or nursing tank under a normal shirt would work just as well.

JessicaB0627

Jenly17 said:

JessicaB0627 said:

yogahh said:

Jenly17 said:

yogahh said:

In this vain...target is BOGO 50% off nursing bras and tanks

What!? I just was there today. Bought one of each and no discount. Wth!

Maybe it's online only??

I've noticed lately that a lot of stuff is cheaper online than in the store. You have to go to customer service and ask if they'll price match their online prices/sales. I bought a thing of nursing pads the other day that were $3 more in store. So annoying! 

Stuck in a box:
good to know!

P.S. The target by me did price match the online sale for nursing tanks and bras. I got 2 tanks and 2 bras for $54!