5 Best Nursing Sleep Bras for Quick Nighttime Feedings

If you’re looking for the perfect nursing sleep bra, this racerback style from Kindred Bravely is a What to Expect mom favorite: It won the award for Best Overnight Nursing Bra two years in a row in our annual Sleep Awards. Moms love it because of how comfortable it is, as well as the ease of the crossover wrap design; simply pull the stretchy fabric aside for a quick nighttime feed. It’ll be a welcome addition to any wardrobe, as many moms say they wear it during the day, too, even once they’re done breastfeeding.

The soft, stretchy material (a rayon/spandex blend) will grow with your changing breasts and offers just enough support to be comfortable to sleep in without being restrictive. It’s also an extremely easy bra to nurse in, thanks to the pull-aside cups. There are no hooks, clips or underwire whatsoever, and What to Expect moms say it holds nursing pads in place.

Another major plus about this bra is that it features “Busty” sizes for those who have cup sizes between E and I. Kindred Bravely is consistently one of our top choices for any pregnancy or postpartum bras because their range of sizes is wider than most other brands.

Keep in mind that some moms say the sizing on this bra can be a little off, especially for those with larger breasts: To be safe, measure yourself using Kindred Bravely’s size guide.

If you’re looking for comfort over all else in a nursing sleep bra, this seamless style from Auden is a perfect match. The material (a nylon/spandex blend) is super soft and has a little bit of stretch to grow with your changing breasts, while offering light support that isn’t restricting. Plus, the V-neck design means that this bra is super easy to nurse in.

“The Auden sleep bra is so lightweight and loose, you hardly feel like you’re wearing a bra,” says Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director at What to Expect. “Despite that, I still felt like my breasts were, for lack of a better word, contained, which restricted the movement that would cause pain during those first few weeks postpartum.” 

Leah adds that the bra was snug enough to hold her nursing pads in place, which saved her from many late-night leaks. 

Even better, this Auden bra is one of the more affordable nursing sleep bras on the market at just $10 each (they’re sold in packs of two and are available in a variety of color combinations).

While not the most supportive bra on this list (that’s okay for most new moms, as you don’t want your nursing sleep bra to be overly tight) many What to Expect moms say that the material is comfortable and offers enough support that they occasionally wear this bra during the day, too. 

Like other pull-aside styles, keep in mind that you may experience some movement — some moms say they occasionally “slip out” when changing position during the night, especially if they opted to size up.

Although it wasn’t designed for nursing, this Calvin Klein bralette is a popular choice among nursing moms, many of whom say it’s the absolute comfiest option for nighttime wear — myself included. I wore this bra 24/7 when nursing my two sons. I loved that I felt like I was wearing a “real” bra during the day — especially important as the months went on and I was breastfeeding out of the house more — and had a comfortable, secure fit at night. The cotton/modal blend fabric is also so soft, while the racerback straps and elastane band offer just enough support, especially while sleeping.

Unlike many of the other styles on this list, the cups on this Calvin Klein bralette don’t pull aside. This means it’s a little trickier to feed baby in, though not by much: Because the fabric is super stretchy and the scoop neckline low, I found it easy enough to simply pull it down to nurse. And because there isn’t a deep V neck, it’s a good option for anyone who gets frustrated by the tendency for breasts to “slip out” while sleeping. 

And although nursing-specific bras tend to  be best for holding pads, I found that mine stayed in place with this bra, even at night.

As with the other styles on this list, there are no clips, underwire or hooks, and the fabric isn’t too tight. The elastane band is thick and a little more snug than some other styles, which I personally liked — but you may want to skip if you prefer a smaller band.

Many nursing sleep bras are made of materials that have a little stretch, allowing them to grow with you if your breasts become engorged at night. But it’s tricky to find bras in this style that also go beyond XL or XXL. Thankfully, there’s the Caramel Cantina Nursing Sleep Comfort Bra: Not only is this bra available up to size 3XL, but moms say it’s one of the comfiest, stretchiest styles on the market. This makes it a great option for anyone, but particularly for nursing moms with larger breasts.

Moms appreciate that there are no clips, underwire, tags or hooks to dig into your skins while you sleep. The fabric feels durable and sturdy, and reviewers say it gets softer after going through the wash. Even better, the Caramel Cantina bras are sold in packs of four (there are a number of different color combinations to choose from) and ring in at just $8.75 per bra, making this the cheapest option on our list, too.

Although most moms find these true to size, some say the arm holes can run a little small. So if you think you might be between sizes, sizing up might offer the most comfortable fit.

Many pumping bras are bulky and thick, so some moms opt to wear a regular nursing sleep bra to bed then switch to a pumping bra when they wake to pump. But there’s no need to do that with the Kindred Bravely Sublime Bamboo Hands-Free Pumping Lounge & Sleep Bra.

Made from a supersoft bamboo, nylon and spandex blend with easy pumping access, this is a pumping style that’s truly comfortable enough to sleep in.

This bra is worth considering whether or not you use a breast pump at night, though. Unlike many nursing sleep bras, this one doesn’t have pull-aside cups, making it a good option for anyone who prefers a “regular bra” style. But it’s still completely seamless — there are no clips, hooks or underwire — and the holes for pumping access are revealed by simply pulling back the outer layer of fabric. (You won’t notice they’re there if you don’t need them.) Though not as supportive as Kindred Bravely’s regular nursing styles, it still has enough lift to wear around the house and for lounging, moms say.