Best Nursing Bras, According to the Experts and Real Moms

When Bodily named this the “Do Anything” bra, they really meant it. Nursing bras are designed to be worn like a regular bra, with most of them being even more comfortable than the average bra. But pumping bras on the other hand are not well known for their comfort — which is where The Do Anything Bra comes in.

Highly recommended by Scott, the Do Anything bra will carry you “from pregnancy through lactation and beyond” and “the comfort is unmatched while also making you still feel stylish in the throes of postpartum,” Scott says. The cups unclip and fold down for breastfeeding, but they also separate in the middle so you can easily insert the flanges of your breast pump for hands-free pumping. This bra is a great option to cover your bases if you’re not sure yet whether you’ll be breastfeeding, pumping, or both.

And no need to worry about pump parts, bottles, and milk falling out; this bra is super supportive, so even after pumping a full five ounces, everything will still stay in place without you needing to hold it up yourself. One thing to keep in mind: because of the way the cups are designed to accommodate pump flanges, this bra doesn’t have a seamless look underneath tight tops. This bra looks best under loose or flowy clothing.

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Known for bringing comfy, stylish bras right to your doorstep, Third Love has really upped their game in the nursing bra department. The 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra, their most popular one by far, has been redesigned to make it suitable for nursing. This bra is perfect for all-day wear with comfortable, no-slip straps and supportive underwire cups, and it looks completely seamless no matter what you’re wearing on top of it. And if you’re unsure about wearing a nursing bra with an underwire (we know that there is a lot of back and forth on that topic), Scott says that you should opt for one that is “comfy and has stretchy material to prevent prolonged pressure on areas of the breast which can contribute to issues.”

Lined with ultra-thin memory foam, the cups form to your breasts for a just-for-you fit. Still not convinced? Their amazing “wear it, wash it, and if you don’t love it, send it back” return policy makes it super convenient to find the perfect fit without ever having to leave your living room.

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Nursing pads can be a pain but a necessary one when you’re trying to catch potential leaks and unexpected letdowns. With this padded nursing bra by Target’s in-house brand Auden, you can retire your nursing pads. The wire-free bra has cups that are sewn in place, so you don’t have to worry about that annoying shifting and the need to re-adjust. And if you have a sudden leak, Dr. Haydanek says that this bra will keep it from bleeding through your shirt. “I very specifically like this one because it has sewn-in thicker cups. So especially for those who have just a little bit of leakage during feeding, it catches it without having to wear any nursing pads,” Dr. Haydanek tells us. The bra goes up to a size XL and the straps can be worn over your shoulders or in a criss-cross, so you can really pair it with most tops.

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If you’re looking for a nursing bra that’s both comfortable and stylish, look no further than the Foxy bra from newcomer brand AVYN. Made by two moms who wanted nothing more than comfortable maternity wear that also fit their non-maternity style (hint: not beige or bland), AVYN combines super soft, stretchy fabric with a fun cross-back design, so you get plenty of room for movement, easy one-handed pull-down nursing access and a little sense of style.

Keep in mind: While this bra is great for those with small to medium breasts and band sizes, they don’t currently have sizes that work well for large breasts over 38DD.

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Frequent pumping is time-consuming, and with an average of 160 minutes of daily pump-holding, your hands have better things to do. This hands-free pumping bra from Kindred Bravely is a huge favorite among Babylist parents and staffers alike because of its super soft fabric, underwire-free comfort, and ability to support flanges from all major breast pump brands — wearable pumps included. Babylist associate editor Briana Engelbrecht says that, as “someone with preexisting large breasts,” she needed support as well as “easy nursing access” and this bra did it for her. And after four years, she says it’s so comfortable that she still wears it.

This hands-free pumping bra also doubles as a regular nursing bra so you can nurse and pump at the same time, leaving both of your hands free to hold baby. And since it feels like a cozy nursing bra, you can wear it all day.

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If you’ve been wondering why it feels like you’re still waking up in a pool of sweat even after you’ve had your baby, it’s because your body temperature continues to stay elevated while you’re breastfeeding. Since comfortably sleeping in a heat wave for one is nearly impossible, we love this naturally cooling nursing bra that you can wear during the day and while you sleep. Wireless and hook-free, this bra is made of patented Brrr fabric — which is a nylon that is permanently cool to the touch. The fabric is also moisture-wicking and fast-drying, so you don’t have to worry about any breast milk leaks while you catch some Zs.

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Extra fabric and bulky padding can make gaining access to your breast for a nursing session way more difficult than it has to be, says Jacqui Dinardo, blogger and mom with over 40 months of breastfeeding under her belt. “Someone with a smaller bust should look for removable pads (the shape and support aren’t always needed),” Dinardo tells us. The Mama by Aerie nursing bra is made of lightweight nylon blend fabric and has removable, organic cotton machine-washable nursing pads that you can easily slide in and out. “The fabric has a barely there feel and is a great alternative to a triangle bralette,” which is ideal for smaller breasts says Dinardo.

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When I asked our Babylist staff to tell me about their favorite nursing bra, the Larken X was raved about the most. “I’m Larken obsessed. I started wearing them a few months postpartum, never stopped, and I am still wearing them (my son just turned 2 and I’m late third trimester with another baby)” our senior newsletter editor Alainna Wurfel says. Unlike the other bras on our list, the Larken X is double-lined, so when you’re ready to pump or nurse (or both, hands-free), there are no clips to deal with. Instead, you’ll just pull both layers down from the top or pull them up from the bottom for breastfeeding. For pumping, you’ll pull one of the layers up and the other layer down on each breast, creating an X shape and snuggly place your pump’s flange. The tension of the crossed fabric will hold everything in place.

With the possibility of your breasts growing as much as two full cup sizes during pregnancy, and the shape and firmness changing depending on their fullness, this bra does a fantastic job keeping up with constant fluctuations. And since this bra actually looks like a cropped tank top instead of a traditional bra, you can wear it on its own or underneath your clothing.

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If you prefer more coverage and a held-together feel, this comfy cami provides support for your breasts as well as a bit of shaping for your entire torso. The built-in shelf bra has seamless, fabric-molded cups to support your breasts, with drop-down cups for easy breastfeeding, and a side sling for shape. This camisole is also longer than average, so you can rest assured that your midsection stays fully covered. The adjustable straps help you get the right fit, and the nylon and elastane (aka, spandex) fabric provides a rigid stretch that will conform comfortably to your curves without riding up.

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If you’re pumping only once or twice a day, or even just a few times a week, this bra gets the hands-free pumping job done without the need to wear a pumping bra all day. It’s compatible with most major breast pumps, and although it does convert to a regular bra using the included straps, it’s not our choice for long-time wear. Most parents just zip it over their nursing bra (cup flaps down) when they’re ready to pump, then take it off when finished. The best feature of this bra is that it’s basically one-size-fits-all thanks to the super stretchy back panel.

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