Nursing tanks

Bellodomani · April 2016

So with my last baby, I lived in nursing tanks basically until I went back to work. They were super convenient and I would often layer them under a drapey shirt so I could do the whole pull-up thing and not mess with a nursing cover. Only problem is they were the hideous ones from Target with like 5 buttons down the front, and the buttons always showed through, and the belly part was always too loose and flappy and they were across the board just the most unflattering thing ever. I wanted to ceremonially burn mine when I weaned.

This time a friend of mine lent me a few from the brand undercover mama, which I guess you just attach to your nursing bra? They have no straps on them. But they look a bit short for my torso, not sure I'm gonna love them either. Has anyone found a nursing tank that is actually flattering? Bonus points if it is long enough to be used as a sort of layering piece, and if it is fitted/ compression-y on the bottom.

While we're at it, anyone have a brand of nursing bra they love? Maybe something with a bit more structure so I don't just feel like I'm wearing a sports bra for 2 years?

Par13 · April 2016

I hated those button nursing tanks from Target last time around too!

This time, I've gotten a few of the Bamboobies nursing tanks and they seem better. I got them in like Nov/Dec 2015 before I was really showing, so I don't remember exactly how they fit, but I believe they were relatively long and were compression-y on the bottom.
https://www.buybamboobies.com/products/bamboobies-nursing-tank

I've also heard good things about the Bun nursing tanks, but they look to me like I would also have to wear a nursing bra underneath and it would be a hassle to nurse with those.
https://www.amazon.com/Bun-Maternity-Nursing-Tank-Top/dp/B00KSUN60I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461550798&sr=8-1&keywords=bun+nursing+tank

proudparent2b · April 2016

I bought some nursing shirts w/ capped sleeves from Destination Maternity. There are two front panels with an undershirt like thing in the middle, so you can just push one of the side panels over for nursing.

No idea how it'll fit after LO is here, as I am a FTM and just bought it 2 weeks ago.

jenl1681 · April 2016

I have some of the Gillian O ones from target, but they are like 8 years old. They don't have the buttons and are tight but stretchy through the stomach and I love them! So glad that I kept them, I bought one of the button ones and just tried it on, it's loose and not right and I also don't like the boob part of the tank either. Hoping someone has a great one.

erikaja6 · April 2016

I love the "Basics Women‘s Felicity Slimming Nursing Cami" from Target.

bookelf221 · April 2016

I want to try altering some of my cheap camis to make nursing tops- but all the patterns I find seem to show the top of your bra which I don't love- anyone else know of any simple patterns/adjustments that you can make to tank tops to make them nursing tanks?

Edit: to add picture- this is what I want to avoid.
DIY Nursing Tank This may be the best description and images Ive seen so far

DIY Nursing Tank This may be the best description and images Ive seen so far

concreteayngel · April 2016

I loved the Leading Lady brand nursing cami i bought on Amazon so much, I went back and bought a bunch more. The ones with the lace panel on the back is my favorite.

obryana6219 · April 2016

I've bought a couple from Old Navy and I love them. They do have a built in bra type thing too which I'm not crazy about but it does provide more support. They're fairly long too which is nice if you're all torso like I am.

lionstigersbears · April 2016

This question is so dependent on your bust in my experience. Prior to DS I was a 34D. For the first few months I settled into a 34G then slowly shrank down to a 34DD before getting pregnant again. I'm back to a 34F/G already so this could get really interesting when my milk comes in. The best nursing tank I've found for a large bust is Bravado essential, which you can buy in these sizes instead of your standard S/M/L etc. I've also liked their Original nursing bra double plus (just search on Amazon) as a replacement for "sleep nursing bras" which were essential for me with leaking at first and needing nursing pads held in place, as well as for wearing around the house. The ones you find in stores hurt my shoulders due to the weight in front pulling them so much. The band sizing in the double plus is the same as regular line but the double plus gives you more room in the sports bra type area. Hope this helps any mamas with giant boobs like me...

AmmyBelle · April 2016

bookelf221 said:

I want to try altering some of my cheap camis to make nursing tops- but all the patterns I find seem to show the top of your bra which I don't love- anyone else know of any simple patterns/adjustments that you can make to tank tops to make them nursing tanks?

Edit: to add picture- this is what I want to avoid.

I have so many tanks and tops, I am going the DIY route too. I found this tutorial for shirts: https://vanilla-lu.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easiest-breastfeeding-top-diy.html?m=1

And this one for tanks: https://homespunaesthetic.com/2013/03/make-your-own-nursing-tank.html (this one I plan on altering a little since I don't like the placement of the snaps)

Hope that helps!

lizChesnut · April 2016

I saw those and you're right...ugly! But they also had some plain regular looking tanks/camis with the nursing straps. I bought a couple of those!

Knottie13257900 · April 2016

I just bought one from Target and it's so huge in the waist that it fits as a maternity tank right now...which makes me think it's going to be a very strange fit once I am actually nursing...but oh well at least I'm getting some use out of it now.

bookelf221 · April 2016

AmmyBelle said:

bookelf221 said:

I want to try altering some of my cheap camis to make nursing tops- but all the patterns I find seem to show the top of your bra which I don't love- anyone else know of any simple patterns/adjustments that you can make to tank tops to make them nursing tanks?

Edit: to add picture- this is what I want to avoid.

I have so many tanks and tops, I am going the DIY route too. I found this tutorial for shirts: https://vanilla-lu.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easiest-breastfeeding-top-diy.html?m=1

And this one for tanks: https://homespunaesthetic.com/2013/03/make-your-own-nursing-tank.html (this one I plan on altering a little since I don't like the placement of the snaps)

Hope that helps!

My friend also just let me know about a website: https://www.kamsnaps.com/nursing-clasps-c85/ that sells the same clasps that are used on nursing bras! I think I'm going to get a pack of them to use to alter my tanks! She also said that the money from the website goes towards a dog rescue-- which makes me happy.

slfezz · April 2016

I second the leading lady brand. I'm a 34G and can't use nursing tanks or bras that only have the thin stap on the side when opened up, it has to be the yoke style (think hole in the middle) so I always have some support.

JennyS86 · April 2016

I'm not sue how old my Target nursing tanks are, but they work well for me - supportive and stretchy. I do appreciate the other suggestions as well!

wsgjmw1 · April 2016

Buy buy baby has some by the brand Motherhood. Nice quality and fits well but pricey .

Bellodomani · April 2016

wsgjmw1 said:

Buy buy baby has some by the brand Motherhood. Nice quality and fits well but pricey .

Oh I miss Buy Buy Baby! We had our first in Cali but now we live in Oregon and have to settle for babies r'us, which is the worst.

PYLWhammy · April 2016

So, related question (don't want to thread hijack, but don't want to start a new thread either) - how many nursing tops/tanks would you recommend? Like, should I plan on living in nursing tops for awhile, or are they not a must-have? Dreading the thought of having to buy even MORE stuff, but if they'll make life easier....

Bellodomani · April 2016

@PYLWhammy If you are planning on being at home and nursing for a while, I'd say 2-3 tanks is nice. I stayed at home with my son until he was 8 months and wore them on a pretty regular basis during that time. I'm also pretty efficient with getting laundry done, so I cycled through them all the time. If you prefer to do weekly laundry, you may want more. You could always get like 2 and then see how you like them/ how you feel about nursing, then buy more if necessary.

dsmith211 · April 2016

PYLWhammy said:

So, related question (don't want to thread hijack, but don't want to start a new thread either) - how many nursing tops/tanks would you recommend? Like, should I plan on living in nursing tops for awhile, or are they not a must-have? Dreading the thought of having to buy even MORE stuff, but if they'll make life easier....

FTM so no experience, but my step sister told me they were pointless and she never used them herself, but then I asked someone else who recently had a baby and they said they have tons and don't know what they would do without them, so personal preference I guess? I went ahead and bought 2 anyway bc I was using my completion discount at Target and I put them on my registry so they ended up being just over $10 each. I figured even if I didn't use them all the time I could justify that cost and if they ended up being something I liked then I could buy more.

lionstigersbears · April 2016

slfezz said:

I second the leading lady brand. I'm a 34G and can't use nursing tanks or bras that only have the thin stap on the side when opened up, it has to be the yoke style (think hole in the middle) so I always have some support.

Which size works for you? Their sizing doesn't make a ton of sense to me!

kbrands7 · April 2016

@dsmith211 I agree that it's largely personal preference. Some people swear by them, I hate fiddling with the clips and just used tanks with wide necklines that I could pull down or over to the side.

vinerie · April 2016

My sister sent me a few of her old ones from Cake lingerie which are super pricey, but I gotta say, I prefer the one I bought from Motherhood Maternity better!

slfezz · April 2016

lionstigersbears said:

slfezz said:

I second the leading lady brand. I'm a 34G and can't use nursing tanks or bras that only have the thin stap on the side when opened up, it has to be the yoke style (think hole in the middle) so I always have some support.

Which size works for you? Their sizing doesn't make a ton of sense to me!

XL seemed to fit the best. The band for the built in bra wasn't tight but it held everything in place when closed. This was over 2 years ago when I bought them for DD2 do it may have changed. They also did wear well enough that I can use all them again for #3

Want a personalized experience?

Nursing tanks

Re: Nursing tanks

Choose Another Board

Search Boards