What Matters About Breastfeeding Tops?

When it comes to breastfeeding tops there’s so much choice! How do you choose which one to buy? What really matters?

Something that varies greatly between nursing tops is accessibility … we think it’s all about the opening.

Too big and it gapes, too small, mum will struggle to take out her boob. That is why Ubere Mama’s Sarah-Jane Hingorani developed a nursing top that facilitated breastfeeding with the use of zips. She made the first top in 2014, to wear for herself. Then, she had the pattern cut for commercial use, and evolved the Ubere Mama brand to what you see today.

Where is the best place for the zipper? At Ubere Mama, we’ve thought through all the possibilities and what they mean for breastfeeding mums. Our recommendation? The side zipper is best!

Why Side Zippers in Breastfeeding Tops Are Best

Comfort – For Baby: - No under chin chaffing with side zipper placements (other brands do place zippers across the chest or through the breast area which can chaf at babies chin.)

In addition with a side zipper a larger area of Skin to Skin can still happen. (see my pics)

For you: side zippers offer the best comfort, allowing for changes in your breast size. Plus, you can keep you warm while you’re breastfeeding, (no lifting up the bottom of your top leaving your sides bare) which is so important if you’re nursing your baby outdoors. It’s an issue we don’t think about until we need to wrap up!

1.       Convenience – quick and easy access means you can breastfeed anywhere without feeling self-conscious. This is especially important when you’re out and about.

2.       Concealment – a side zipper offers more control over how much of your breast is exposed when you’re breastfeeding. You can manage your own modesty.

3.       Confidence – your side zipper is carefully hidden, so your top doesn't scream ‘I'm breastfeeding!’ when you wear it. The zipper position helps your breastfeeding top look like regular, stylish clothing boosting your confidence.

4.       Sustainability Conscious – breastfeeding tops with side zippers are so versatile. They can easily be worn after you’ve stopped breastfeeding. You already know your t-shirt and hoody are super comfy … why buy new tops if you don’t need to?

5.       The Ubere Mama bonus! An extra benefit of Ubere Mama’s breastfeeding tops with side openings in the type of zipper we use. All our zippers are now selected as recycled by YKK making them reliable and environmentally friendly.  

Breastfeeding mums should be able to breastfeed anywhere. While many people and places have embraced this inclusivity, some people still feel awkward around breastfeeding mums. This seems sad and outdated to many; however, it’s still out there. 44% of women who breastfeed would have liked to do so for longer. (You Gov, 2024). A fifth (21%) felt that breastfeeding was marginalized, and another fifth (22%) cited wider social issues as influencing their decision to stop breastfeeding.

The UK has some of the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the world. Less than half of infants are breastfed exclusively at one week old. Just 1% of infants are exclusively breastfed for six months, with rates lower in deprived communities. (The Food Foundation, 2023)

Barriers to breastfeeding include:

·       insufficient support from healthcare professionals (42%),

·       financial challenges while breastfeeding (28%),

·       Length of maternity leave (22%),

·       wider social issues (22%), and

·       the marginalization of breastfeeding (21%).

In addition, increased marketing of formula influences breastfeeding. Sales across the whole UK formula milk market grew by 9.1% between 2021 and 2022, despite the birth rate in the UK growing only by 1.7% in that time. (Scaling Up Breastfeeding, 2023)

Long-lasting and practical breastfeeding tops are not the answer to address these issues. However, they can help breastfeeding mums feel more confident and comfortable as they nurse their babies. As a result, they may want to breastfeed longer and share this confidence with other mums.

If you’d like to discover the benefits of our side zipper to help your breastfeeding, please explore our range of nursing tops with concealed zips:

Francesca Breastfeeding Hoody

Florence Breastfeeding T-shirt

Suzie Breastfeeding Crew Neck Top

You’ll also find some great options in our Peter Rabbit range.