Breastfeeding is best for babies, but it can sometimes take a bit of getting used to.

Some women are still too nervous to nurse their babies in public so decide to stay home and breastfeed instead. The secret to successful breastfeeding is confidence and it makes a difference when you’re wearing the right clothes for the job.

Having said this, there are public places and there are very public places! When first venturing outdoors, go somewhere peaceful such as a park or a quiet café with cosy, hidden seating areas. And remember, practice makes perfect! Before you know it you’ll be a dab hand at feeding your baby anywhere!

Essentials:

You’ll need a few nursing bras and breast pads to protect your clothes. Think of these as the building blocks for your outfit. Look for a bra made from cotton (to keep the nipple area cool and dry) with wide straps to give support to your breasts - which will fluctuate in size between feeds.

Keep cool

You may feel slightly warmer than usual due to hormones which circulate when you are breastfeeding. If you need to cool down, fill a travel-sized atomizer with water and a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. Simply spritz it over your face and neck and you’ll be cool as a cucumber! Muji (www.mujionline.co.uk) has a good selection of spray bottles from £2.95.

It’s also a good idea to wear cool, natural fabrics. Avoid acrylic and polyester, as they can cause excessive sweating. Seraphine (www.seraphine.com) do a lovely nightdress made from bamboo, which has cooling and antibacterial properties.

How to feed discreetly

Those of you who have previously or are currently in the throes of breastfeeding will be familiar with the ‘revealing too much flesh’ scenario. It can be particularly embarrassing when your post-baby love handles and tummy are on display to all.

Most women tend to operate in one of two ways:

1. Hitching up a t-shirt (thus displaying a wobbly midriff)
2. Buttoning down a shirt/t-shirt with buttons (encountering the problem of showing more bust than we’d like to).

The solution to this age-old problem is to choose pieces specially designed for breastfeeding with clever openings and layers to make feeding totally discreet. Designs have come a long way and there are plenty of specialist breastfeeding clothes, some of which double up as maternity wear too. Check out Bella Mama www.bellamama.co.uk (an on-line breastfeeding boutique), which offers aspirational designs for chic and trendy mums.

Mamaway (www.mamaway.co.uk) also offers an alternative to baggy t-shirts. Marketing Director, Teresa Chu explains how they specialise in discretion:

“Our clothes are designed and tested by mothers who have breastfed. In addition to easy access, we ensure each garment covers not only the breasts but the tummy or any other part of their body that they don’t want to expose.”

Although breastfeeding clothes are ideal, they’re not cheap. Invest in a couple of breastfeeding tops for when you’re out (or at a special occasion) and stick to long tops at home. If you are wearing regular clothing, choose a top that is loose, so you can slip the baby underneath and your breasts remain covered up during feeding.

A practical but stylish alternative to specially designed clothes is the Breastfeeding Butterfly from Faye and Lou www.fayeandlou.co.uk. This a stylish breastfeeding cover which assures complete privacy whilst feeding in public by covering your front, back and side, offering a great solution to breastfeeding in public.

Pashminas are also useful - larger than muslin and infinitely more stylish. Pop one over your shoulder and the baby can feed underneath it. Plus it will double-up as an impromptu baby blanket. Actress Rachel Weisz used this trick successfully when feeding her baby Davy.

Practicalities

Babies are messy, so forget about clothes that need dry cleaning or hand washing. Look for garments that can be thrown in the washing machine and washed again and again. It’s also worth avoiding scratchy fabrics, zips, buttons and embroidery, which could irritate your baby’s delicate skin.

If leaking milk is an issue, opt for darker colours and thicker fabrics. A cover-up style cardigan is good for hiding stains. Babes with Babies (www.babeswithbabies.com) do a ‘magic wrap,’ (£65) which is great for discretion. Made from super-soft fabric, it can be draped and tied in lots of different ways.

It’s likely that you’ll have a post-natal tummy for a while so opt for longer tops to flatter your breastfeeding figure. Avoid high neck tops and frills around the neck and bust area. Go for v-necks and scoop neck styles, which work well with a larger bust.

Where to get it:

The following brands all offer breastfeeding clothes with discreet access:

Mamaway (www.mamaway.co.uk)
Babes With Babies (www.babeswithbabies.com)
Bella Mama (www.bellamama.co.uk)
Jo Jo Maman Bebe (www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk)
Blooming Marvellous (www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk)
Seraphine (www.seraphine.com)