The 9 Best Nursing Tops of 2025, Approved by Style Experts

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July 23, 2025

On July 23, 2025

If you choose to breastfeed, finding maternity clothes that you can nurse in easily and comfortably is essential. You might find your favorite button-up top feels too fiddly when the baby starts fussing, or that you don’t feel massively comfortable pulling up a T-shirt or sweater in a public café because it also exposes your tummy. While no one should ever feel like they need to cover up (and you have the right to feed your baby wherever and however you like), you might find having a few nursing tops in your daily rotation will help you feel more confident getting out and about with your new baby. Nursing tops are designed with discreet panels and openings to help you feed your baby quickly and easily, wherever you are. Plus, they pair perfectly with other pieces in your postnatal wardrobe, such as your favorite maternity jeans.

“The best types of nursing tops are those that have a wrap top or a flap top partition,” says Amanda Wood, personal stylist and CEO of The Haute Edit LLC. This allows you to feed comfortably while remaining covered. “Likewise, you can also wear a wrap knit top, crop top, or cropped sweater over a nursing tank dress.”

So, with expert advice in mind, we spent hours researching the best products in this category, evaluating their key features—like fabric, fit, design, and size range—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources to deliver a selection of the best nursing tops to add to your wardrobe and make those endless feeds a little easier.

Credit: H&M

Sizes: XS–XXL | Type: Shoulder clip and elasticized side

H&M is always a go-to for postnatal essentials, from clothing to underwear, and this pack of three nursing tops makes great daily staples and layering pieces. Each top is a sleeveless tank style with an elasticized lower edge and easy-clip straps that are easy to undo with just one hand. Wear them alone or layer them under oversized shirts and sweaters. Each is made from a soft jersey that washes well and feels soft on the skin, and has become a daily go-to in our own maternity wardrobes.

Credit: Amazon

Sizes: XS–XL | Type: Pull-up concealed panel

You don’t need to break the bank when buying the best nursing tops, as proven by this long-sleeve top from Mothera. It features a flap-top partition, as referenced by Wood; plus, it’s moisture-wicking and naturally UV-protectant, so long walks with your baby will be that much more enjoyable. It comes in three different colorways (navy, black, and grey), so you can stock up on a few for under $30 per piece. Wear alone or as a base layer so you can feed wherever you are without baring your tummy.

Credit: Storq

Sizes: XS–XXL | Type: Center snap closure and hidden snap at shoulder

There are plenty of gifts for new moms to treat themselves to, but we especially love this gorgeous alpaca cardigan from Storq. Cut to an oversized fit, this supersoft layering piece is designed to snap close at the center front with an additional hidden snap near the shoulder. This means the baby can feed inside while you cover yourself and stay cozy at the same time. It has a very wide, loose silhouette, so take your usual size if you want a really nice drape, or opt for a size smaller if you prefer a slightly more fitted look.

Credit: Amazon

Sizes: S–3X | Type: One-handed clip down

This nursing tank may seem simple, but it’s full of thoughtful design details. It’s made from stretchy micro-modal and certified Oeko-Tex fabric, featuring a one-handed clip-down cup, built-in bra, and adjustable straps. It starts in a size small and runs up to 3X, so you’ll be able to find your perfect fit. Best of all, the design leaves room for weight fluctuations in the breasts and tummy, so it’ll support you right through your postnatal recovery and breastfeeding journey.

Credit: Amazon

Sizes: 0–3 | Type: Pull-up concealed panel

Hatch is one of our favorite maternity and postnatal brands, and its ‘The Luxe’ nursing tee is a great staple to invest in. The higher price point is due to its premium fabrication, featuring 100% organic Pima cotton, which is exceptionally soft and gentle on the skin. The top layer is designed for discreet feeding and pulls open at the center, eliminating the need for clasps or buttons that can be tricky to navigate. We also love the loose fit at the tummy that will keep you comfy in those early postnatal days.

Credit: Storq

Sizes: XS–3X | Type: One-handed clip down

This versatile tank from Storq has everything you need in a nursing shirt – from easy-to-access clips that allow for easy and discreet feeding, to smooth and stretchy Oeko-Tex certified jersey fabric. Inside, there’s also a shelf bra to offer light support for you morning, noon, and night. Wear it around the house with leggings or your maternity jeans and sneakers for baby groups and coffee dates with friends. It runs in cups A-E and has a slim but not skin-tight fit.

Credit: Lane Bryant

Sizes: 14-28 | Type: One-handed clip-down design

This everyday nursing tank features built-in molded cups for discreet support and easy clip-down straps, making it easy to latch baby on without anyone noticing. It also comes in sizes up to 28 and is made from a soft, breathable microfiber fabric. Choose from black, navy, or gray and wear it with everything from leggings and a cardigan to dungarees.

Credit: Gap

Sizes: XS–XXL | Type: Button-up

“I was reluctant to buy a lot of pieces that I wouldn’t be able to keep wearing after I had my son,” says British fashion journalist Frankie Graddon, “So, instead of buying specific maternity tops, I wore [button-up] shirts from Gap.” Like Graddon, we also love an oversized style, and Gap has a great range that can be worn as nursing shirts, such as this roomy style. You can also wear a specific nursing tank or vest underneath if you want a little extra coverage. Slip it on year-round with jeans, shorts, and dresses.

Credit: MORI

Sizes: XS-XL | Type: Easy access top

Once your baby arrives, you’ll want comfy essentials and loungewear that you can wear on repeat and feed in easily. This striped pajama set from MORI is ideal for those newborn days, thanks to its loose fit that makes feeding easy. It’s also made from organic stretch cotton, bamboo, and elastane, so it’s not only a great sustainable option, but it’ll be gentle on baby’s skin too. Wear it during pregnancy and throughout your postnatal period for easy, everyday comfort.

What to Look for in Nursing Tops

Types of Fastening: Nursing tops come in four main styles. The first is clip fastenings on the shoulder straps, which are typically found on vest tops and camis. Double-layered panels that pull upwards or to the side are also very popular, as are nursing tops and sweaters with snap fastenings along the sides. The one you choose is entirely dependent on your personal preference and the position you prefer to feed your baby in.
Fabric: The hormone oxytocin is released when you breastfeed, which not only makes you feel relaxed and a little bit sleepy but often quite warm, too. As such, you may want to wear layers when you’re lactating so that you can peel off any extra pieces if you start to feel very hot, like in a café or baby group. It’s also wise to look for cool fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, lyocell, and even fine-knit wool.

FAQ

Great nursing tops will appear like regular tops but have hidden details and layers to help you feed your baby without exposing your stomach, breasts, or back. Vest tops tend to have clips at the shoulder straps, while T-shirts and sweaters lift or pull to the side to reveal concealed feeding panels.
Liana Chaouli, founder of Image Therapist International, suggests that a good way to ensure a top is a good fit for you is to check if your fingers have the dexterity to open the panel or zipper with one hand. “You’ll have to do this several times a day, and as soon as your baby cries, you want your nursing top to be as accessible as possible.”

When you first start breastfeeding, you’ll probably produce quite a lot of milk, so leaking is expected. As such, you’ll need a few different nursing tops to get you through the week, and it’s a good idea to pop a spare in your baby bag, too, just in case you need to change when you’re out of the house. Some brands, such as H&M, offer great nursing sets, including vest tops, tees, and shirts, which are a great way to get started.

Yes, and a breastfeeding bra should be as easily accessible as your nursing top, so you can quickly undo both. Another thing to consider is that your nursing bra typically has a pocket for a pad. “They should have a padded pocket,” says Chaouli, “so you don’t leak out into your clothes, especially if you’re immediately returning to work.”

Meet Our Experts

To get further insights on the best nursing tops, we spoke with a number of experts:

Amanda Wood is a stylist, CEO, and Founder of The Haute Edit LLC, and helps many of her clients create stylish maternity and postnatal wardrobes.
Frankie Graddon is a new mom and fashion journalist based in London.
Liana Chaouli is a style expert and founder of Image Therapist International based in Beverly Hills.

Why Trust Byrdie

Catherine Hufton is a Byrdie contributor who also writes about fashion and shopping for other titles such as Elle UK, Harper’s Bazaar, and InStyle. She is also a mom to two young boys, so she has plenty of experience in shopping for stylish maternity and postnatal clothes. As such, many of the retailers featured are places she has shopped herself over the past few years. For this article, she spoke with experts and spent hours researching the best nursing tops, looking at customer reviews and sources. She narrowed it down to these top choices based on fabric, fit, design, and size range.