What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and relies on credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, highly respected health organizations and experts in various fields. All content is fact-checked by professional journalists prior to publishing.
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links.
Quick Summary
The best nursing tank top is the Kindred Bravely Maternity and Nursing Tank Top, according to feedback from the What to Expect staff and our user community, because it fits well, offers effortless breast access and is soft and comfortable.
You don’t need us to tell you why tank tops are a wardrobe staple: They’re great for layering under sweaters, jackets and blouses. But the tank tops you wore pre-baby may not be as convenient to wear postpartum, particularly if you decided to breastfeed or pump. Enter the nursing tank top. It provides convenient access for nursing, often featuring easily accessible clasps or panels specifically designed to ensure you don’t have to expose too much skin to feed baby. And, some can even be used instead of a nursing bra or nursing sleep bra to give you one less thing to worry about.
Pretty much any top can transform into a nursing top if you wear a nursing tank underneath it, and having a nursing tank on in addition to another top can give you an extra layer of protection against leaks. Not to mention, you can wear a nursing tank on its own whether you’re lounging around the house or heading to the gym. Clearly, you’ll find plenty of ways to make use of this versatile top, so you may want to stock up on a few!
How we chose the best nursing tank tops
To help you find the best nursing tank tops, I first relied on my own personal experience wearing nursing tanks while breastfeeding my two sons, narrowing down choices based on features I found helpful and important. I also sought advice from moms in the What to Expect community and on the What to Expect staff who breastfed in order to gather a general consensus among different parents about what they looked for in a nursing tank. Additionally, I considered feedback from the more than 1,110 moms who voted for their favorite nursing-friendly clothing brands in the 2023 What to Expect Feeding Awards.
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Kindred Bravely has many devoted fans in our What to Expect community, and they’re a constant favorite for nursing clothing. In fact, they’ve won the Best Nursing Bra and Best Nursing Bra Brand in What to Expect’s Mom Must-Have Awards and Feeding Awards, respectively. Which means that they’re an obvious choice when it comes to buying a nursing tank, too. Made from soft and stretchy organic cotton, this ultra-comfy tank will be great for lounging, sleeping or wearing underneath other tops. Plus, the clip-down style is convenient and easy-to-use one-handed.
Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director at What to Expect, and mom of a 2-year-old, has high praise for this particular nursing tank top. “The built-in bra provided just enough support without feeling restrictive, which also helped ease some of my postpartum- and breastfeeding-related pains,” she says. “What I most appreciated, however, was how easy it was to operate the clip-on cup with one hand, a true lifesaver when you’re trying to support a newborn while nursing.”
“I had big boobs before pregnancy (36I) and now with baby #2 and breastfeeding/pumping I am closer to 38J. Kindred Bravely has the only tanks that i have tried that fit me well! I get the XL Busty size and love them! Kind of pricey but I have now worn my tanks and bras through 2 pregnancies and postpartum and they hold up great!”
With overwhelmingly positive reviews from moms in the What to Expect community, the Auden Nursing Seamless Cami is a favorite because of its comfort, durability and seamless silhouette. With a built-in shelf bra for extra support and padding for coverage and leak protection, you can skip your nursing bra and even nursing pads if you’re wearing it during the day. Plus, its customizable straps make it versatile to wear traditionally or cross them in the back if you’re wearing a racerback top over it. When it's time to nurse or pump, just unclip either of the front straps.
It’s an absolute workhorse of a top that really holds up. Although I only nursed for a few weeks with my first-born, I continued to wear these nursing camis until his little brother was born nearly two years later, and then wore them as a base layer under sheer tops, sweaters and button-downs for several years after that because they were great for smoothing down my midsection underneath clothes.
When you’re headed back to work but don’t want to purchase a whole new wardrobe, an easy-to-wear tank top is a no-brainer. With its sleeveless, scoop neck design and double front layers for easy breastfeeding access, this Bearsland nursing tank top is both classic and practical. This versatile tank is perfect to wear alone or pair with a jacket, button-down blouse or cardigan. And, it comes in a variety of colors and patterns that you can wear with jeans, pants, skirts or leggings for a comfy yet chic work look.
Though they are machine washable, some reviews note that these tanks can get wrinkly after washing, but simply laying flat to dry can help.
“I like the Bearsland brand on Amazon! But for me I mostly have just worn a nursing cami underneath regular shirts. This is my third baby doing it this way, and it’s saved me a lot of money not needing to buy tons of nursing clothes.”
“The Bearsland brand on Amazon is solid for the price. It even fits during maternity. I agree that the two shirt method is easy, but only if you previously have loose fitting tops. Otherwise, if you have to buy clothes anyway, might as well buy some nursing clothes.”
This three-pack of Old Navy nursing tank tops features adjustable spaghetti straps with detachable clips for a top that will be easy to undo and feed baby in the middle of the night. What’s more is that the scoop neck and built-in shelf bra provide extra support without sacrificing comfort, so you can sleep without needing to put on a bra.
What makes them especially great for sleep, however, is the soft-washed, lightweight cotton jersey that has a hint of stretch without feeling tight. Yet they aren’t too loose so you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in them when you sleep.
Buying nursing-friendly clothing can add up, which is why getting a multipack of tank tops is a great way to save money. These nursing tank tops from Amazon are a favorite for moms in the What to Expect community because they’re comfortable, functional and affordable at around $10 each. These tanks also come with a built-in bra, and many say that they offer support without being restricting. Moms particularly appreciate the stretch and comfort and that the flowy style means it can be worn alone or paired with an open blouse or cardigan.
Different colors fit differently as they are made from different fabrics
Type: Pull-aside v-neck
Material: 95% viscose / 5% spandex blend or 61% polyester / 33% rayon / 6% spandex blend (black and charcoal)
Size range: XXS-4X
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It
Having a properly-sized nursing tank is the key to comforth. Enter the Latched Mama nursing tank top, with sizes ranging from XXS to 4X. There are several features that make this top different than an ordinary tank, starting with a hidden adjustable drawstring at the waist that prevents it from riding up over your midsection. It has wide, comfy straps and a sleeveless design for a cute look you can wear alone. Plus, it offers full coverage with a crew neck, and a lift-up v-neck for easy nursing access.
One thing to note is that the black and charcoal versions of this tank top are made from a blend of materials that is a bit clingier than the other colors, the brand recommends to size up for those colors.
“Latched Mama is really expensive but the quality is amazing. I am still wearing a sweatshirt I got from them over 5 years ago. I just purchased a few more things from their clearance page that I am happy with. Everything does run big.”
Crafted with soft, seamless fabric and four-way stretch, the Bravado Designs nursing cami is like a hug for your changing body. The knit-in bra is especially great because it not only offers lift and support, but it also ensures you're wire-free for total comfort. Many moms say that they wore this tank instead of a maternity or nursing bra. Plus, the removable foam inserts provide shape, while the clip-down design is easy to use with just one hand. Some nursing parents also appreciate that it’s long so it may cover your bottom, too.
“I just got some from Bravado, I love their seamless nursing bras and now I love their camis too! Made with nylon and spandex so they are silky feeling and super stretchy, also good for maternity. Great support too!”
The flowy fit and lightweight material of this yoga-style Bamboobies nursing tank make it a favorite for postpartum workouts. Because your breasts need extra support while working out, many moms prefer to wear a loose nursing tank like this one because the pull-down style works great when paired with your favorite nursing bra or nursing sports bra. The material is stretchy so it will accommodate for your changing body, and it’s machine washable for easy cleaning after your workout.
Based on feedback from breastfeeding moms in the What to Expect community and expert advice, these are the most important factors to consider when shopping for a nursing tank top:
Functionality: Many moms in our What to Expect community say they prefer to wear a nursing tank underneath tops that pull up from the waist to help keep their postpartum tummy covered. This was actually my preference when breastfeeding, too, so I often opted for a nursing tank with clip-down straps (explained below) for easier access while keeping mostly covered.
You should look for nursing tank tops with adjustable straps to ensure a better fit, especially as your breasts change size postpartum. It’s also important to look for nursing tanks that have a pocket for nursing pads if you plan on wearing your nursing tank as a bra, especially overnight.
Comfort:Look for nursing tanks that are made from soft and stretchy material like cotton or bamboo that won’t irritate your skin. This is especially important around the nipple area, where chaffing can become an issue.
Supportive:If you want to wear your tank to double as a bra, look for tops with built-ins that provide plenty of support. In fact, because too-tight clothes and bras can cause clogged milk ducts, wearing a nursing tank with a built-in bra is a great way to avoid overly-tight bras with underwire while still getting enough support and shape.
Versatility: Nursing tanks have a few features that make them different from a regular tank top.Like your favorite nursing bra, one popular style is the clip-down tank with a strap that, when undone, lets you fold down the top panel for easy nursing.
A pull-down style nursing tank, on the other hand, typically has a v-neck or crossover designed to be pulled down for easy access to your breast. These are more casual in feel, which makes them a good choice for days spent around the house or at bedtime. When I was nursing, this was the style I often chose for sleeping because I hated dealing with clasps in the middle of the night.
A third style is the two-layered tank top: The top layer, which ends somewhere in your mid-torso, can be pulled up, while the bottom layer, often a V-neck or scoop neck, can be pulled down.
Durability:When choosing the best nursing tanks for this list, we made sure they held up over time — often through nursing multiple children. For me personally, I wore my nursing tank tops long after I was finished breastfeeding because the kind I had held up incredibly well for at least five years. You’ll also want to buy one that fits in with your laundry routine, so ideally an option that can be machine washed and dried.
FAQs
What makes a nursing tank top different?
Nursing tank tops are designed to offer coverage, support and convenience while breastfeeding. They often have openings or clasps that are designed to give a nursing person easy access to the breast for feeding their baby while providing body coverage that some prefer while nursing in public. They’re also great for helping maintain a sense of style and smoothness under clothing postpartum as your body continues to change shape.
Do you wear a bra with nursing tanks?
Ultimately, whether you choose to wear a bra with your nursing tank depends on your personal preference and level of comfort. Some nursing tank tops come with built-in bras, while others are designed to be worn with a separate nursing bra, which some people prefer for extra support and comfort.