Breastfeeding in Fall and Winter: What Moms Say Is The Hardest Part

Breastfeeding in the fall and winter can come with an unexpected challenge: all those layers.

We asked 78 breastfeeding moms in the Nursing Queen VIP community:

“What’s the most annoying part about breastfeeding in fall and winter clothes?”

The answer wasn’t even close.

74% of nursing and pumping moms said: Too many layers to move out of the way

Nearly three out of four moms said their biggest frustration was dealing with layers while trying to breastfeed.

Here's what moms said in our informal community survey:

• 74% — Too many layers to move out of the way
• 16% — Finding warm clothes with easy nursing access
• 7% — Lifting my shirt = freezing stomach/back
• 3% — Sweatshirts and sweaters bunch up while nursing

One mom added another cold-weather struggle: finding nursing dresses with sleeves past the elbow—or dresses that still look good layered with a cardigan.

Why breastfeeding in fall and winter clothes can feel so complicated

A typical fall outfit might include a nursing bra, tank top, shirt, sweater and jacket.

When it's time to feed, that can mean pulling several layers up, moving them to the side or trying to keep bulky fabric from falling back down. That's no easy task! 

And lifting everything from the bottom creates another problem: your stomach and back are suddenly exposed to the cold. The last thing anyone wants is to be cold! It's especially uncomfortable when you're nursing outside, sitting in a chilly car, walking around a fall festival or simply feeding your baby in a cold house at night.

The easier option: nursing access built into warm clothes

Instead of taking layers off, nursing sweatshirts, nursing sweaters and hoodies with built-in access allow you to stay dressed while you feed.

Many Nursing Queen fall and winter styles use discreet hidden zippers positioned across the bust. You simply unzip rather than lifting the entire sweatshirt.

That difference shows up repeatedly in customer reviews.

One mom described a Nursing Queen sweatshirt this way:

“A nursing sweatshirt is GOLD!”

She explained that regular sweatshirts meant “battling layers” every time she nursed, while the zipper eliminated that problem. Nursing Queen

Another customer specifically mentioned cold weather:

“Very warm but lightweight. SO convenient not to have to remove your warm layers to nurse.” Nursing Queen

And one mom who purchased a Nursing Queen hoodie for fall said it was a:

“Nice lightweight hoodie for the fall. The zippers are well hidden...” Nursing Queen

What to look for in fall and winter breastfeeding clothes

For colder weather, the most useful nursing clothes aren't necessarily the heaviest. They're the pieces that let you stay warm while getting quick access to nurse or pump.

Look for soft, comfortable fabrics, a relaxed postpartum-friendly fit and nursing access that doesn't require pulling the entire garment over your chest or stomach.

Hidden zippers can be especially useful because the clothing still looks like a regular sweatshirt or sweater when you're not nursing.

One Nursing Queen customer summed it up well:

“Very happy to have a warm and accessible top that makes breastfeeding easy in public.” Nursing Queen

Fall layers don't have to make breastfeeding harder

Our small informal survey isn't scientific, but the response from these 78 breastfeeding moms was striking: layers were overwhelmingly the biggest frustration with fall and winter nursing clothes.

The good news is you don't necessarily need fewer layers—you just need easier access through them.

A nursing sweatshirt, breastfeeding hoodie or warm nursing top with hidden access can help you keep your stomach covered, stay warm and feed your baby without rearranging your entire outfit.

Because when it's 40 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is pull your sweatshirt up to your shoulders just to nurse.