When breastfeeding, just wearing a t-shirt or jumper and jeans works fine. But sometimes you like to dress up or simply wear a summer dress. You could start looking for a button-down dress, but they can be difficult to find, depending on the fashion of the day...

After 2 years of breastfeeding I felt like wearing a proper dress and ordered a breastfeeding dress through the internet. It is a simple dress, but so convenient... If you are ordering from abroad, don't forget in moste cases you will have to pay VAT and import taxes on top of the stated prices!

When you have a sewingmachine and some common sense, you can make your own breastfeeding clothes. Order a pattern through Elizabeth Lee or look at the 'ready made' links and get your inspiration. The basic idea is to make 2 front pannels: a normal one with one or two slits and a second one to cover it up.

I have just finished my own breastfeeding dress, maybe it can inspire you?

I chose a simple pattern with 'cut-on' sleeves. First I tried it out from an old sheet, to find where I needed the slits. Basically at the top you need enough space to close your bra and the bottom should be just below your breast. I would suggest you try it out on a left over piece of cloth first, because then you know how the tricky bits work and don't waste the proper fabric.

This is my pattern:

I cut the front in two on the waistline (blue line below). I cut the top bit twice: once normal and once in 3 pieces, cut along the red line from top to bottom).

I started out with the top half which I had cut in 3 pieces, sewed the bust allowance and the bust line (except for the red line area). I stitched the excess fabric like a seam. The arms of this part don't have a seam cut on.
Next I sewed this top half to the front skirt, so I had the original pattern.

Now I seam the extra front piece (with seams at the arm!): bust allowance first, then seam the side and the bottom.

Then the three parts are sewn together at the shoulders (be carefull to lay them correctly onto eachother). Next sew the sides of the long parts, in this bit don't sew the short bit.

Now finish the sleeves, folding the seam of the extra front bit around the long front. Finish the neck line and the hem and ready it is!

Advice on fabric: I had a fabric without a pattern and then you spot the extra front bit very good. Maybe a busy pattern is better (don't use stripes or checks or another pattern that is very difficult to align).

Here are some links to usefull sites.

Elizabeth Lee sells patterns for breast feeding clothes, accessories, childrens clothes, cloth diapers etc. etc.

If you are going to make your own pattern, Laura's Closet has some clear explanation of how their nursing openings work (look at other ready-made site for more idea's).

Check out this t-shirt, easy to copy.

Babydiner: example of t-shirt and sweater.

More examples and even more idea's

Ready made: (return to top)

Hot Mamas sells beautifull batik dresses made by a family business on Bali.

Motherwear This is where I ordered my dress, good customer service. Summer and winter collection.

Laura's Closet blouses, dresses, nighties, bra's.

Earthbaby a.o. nightgowns. If you live in the Netherlands it is wise to look at Beginnings, to save on transportation costs, import taxes and BTW and because you can try it before you buy.

Little Koala breastfeeding clothes, but also maternity wear, pregnancy bra's and nursing bra's.

Family resources sells different brands of breastfeeding clothes, so they have a wide range.

Nature and Nurture offers a small collection of nursing- and pregnancy clothes made out of a hemp/cotton mixture.

Mother and child, dresses and t-shirts

9monthsplus In Great Brittain. Maternity clothes, breastfeeding clothes, but also combinations of the two. Dresses, tunics, coat, blouses, sweatshirt.

Chia in Canada (with section for the large mother) dresses, sweaters, shirts. Doesn't sell online anymore.

Slings 'n things, very loud starting page... but they do carry breastfeeding clothes.

Japanese Weekend. Maternity and nursing wear, also for the pregnant-who-is-still-nursing.

Breast-is-best

One Hot Mama (including big sizes)

babybecoming: dresses, t-shirt, bra's, pyjama's and more (for big mama's too).

Moms in mind Tops, dresses and bathing suit

Pumpstation dresses.

Lillies of the fields Beetje stijf aandoende Amerikaanse mode.

Nursingbaby heeft een aantal jurken en topjes.

Creative expressions breastfeeding service blouses, jurken, zwemkleding, beha's, etc.

Mama T (with section for large sizes, not only t-shirts, but also dresses and underwear).

Thyme Maternity International: bra's, T-shirts and a simple dress, also a lot of pregnancy stuff.

Kyra Mommy wear has a range of breastfeeding dresses.

Momstops dresses, cobinations breastfeading blouse/skirt/short, bathing suits,... Their range of big sizes is not active at the time I am making this site but they have started a page for it.

The Nursing Mother (their dresses don't seem very flattering, but maybe some hints for do-it-yourself?)

Bathing suits (but I just move away my swimsuit)

Diana's design

With child, for the pregnant mom,but also 2 blouses that you can continue to wear while breastfeeding.

Lots of links (some overlap with this page)

Mainly t-shirts (return to top)

Beginnings sells breastfeeding t-shirts, bra's and more.

Babe in arms makjes t-shirts with applications .

Ecobaby: ecologically friendly breastfeeding shirts.

Birthexperience At the bottom of this page a few t-shirts and dresses.

Momsmaternity: preganancypage witha few breastfeeding t-shirts.

Plusmaternity A couple of breastfeeding nighties and t-shirts.

Nestmom sold t-shirts

Little Angels designs sells t-shirts

These companies specialize in big sizes: (return to top)

Welldressed mama, One Hot Mama, Chia and babybecoming

Miscelaneous pages (return to top)

Clothing advice for the breastfeeding mother.

Antique Russian dresses.

Article about breastfeeding in public.