Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
A nursing top, or feeding top, has a built in opening so you can breastfeed without undressing or lifting the whole top. The main openings are zip, button down, lift up, wrap and side access. Zips are quickest when you are out, and buttons look smartest at work.
Most everyday kurtas and anarkalis open only at the neck or the hem, which is exactly the problem a feeding top solves. Colour and print are the easy part. What decides whether you reach for a top every day is the opening, so this guide goes opening by opening.
Opening types compared
No single opening suits everyone. Vertical zips are the fastest and most discreet in public. Button down tops look the most formal and are the easiest for pumping. Lift up and wrap tops have no hardware, so they feel softest at night and in the newborn weeks. Side access suits thicker winter layers.
| Opening type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Twin vertical zips | Two concealed zips run down the front, one for each side | Feeding in public, travel, everyday wear |
| Single centre zip | One zip at the centre front, under a V neck or gathers | Quick feeds, anyone who finds two zips fiddly |
| Button down | A front placket with buttons or snaps | Office days, pumping, doctor visits |
| Lift up | The outer layer lifts and the inner layer opens or pulls down | Home, sleep, keeping your tummy covered |
| Wrap or crossover | Front panels overlap and pull aside | Newborn weeks, lounging |
| Side access | Zips sit in the side seams | Winter layers, feeding under a shawl |
| Horizontal zip | One long zip runs across the chest | Sweatshirts and thicker knits |
Zip tops
Two slim zips sit along the front, hidden in a seam or under a fold of fabric. Open one side, feed, close it. Nothing else moves, so your stomach and back stay covered. That helps, because the first feed outside the house can feel nerve racking enough without also feeling exposed. A single centre zip under a V neck works the same way with one zip to find instead of two.
Before you buy any zip top, check that the zip opens fully with one hand and that there is fabric behind it, so nothing scratchy touches the baby's cheek.
From our range
Gul Paisley Embroidered Maternity and Nursing Top
Two front nursing zips, a round neck and puff sleeves in 100% cotton, sizes S to 3XL. View product
Button down tops
A button down top looks like any smart shirt. Undo two or three buttons to feed, or open the front fully for a pump. A regular cotton shirt you already own does the same job at home. What a maternity and nursing shirt adds is length and room for a bump, often with side slits so it sits well over leggings. The cost is speed: buttons need two hands and a few more seconds than a zip.
From our range
Pink Lagoon Maternity and Nursing Top
Shirt collar, full sleeves, a button front and slits on both sides, in S to 4XL. View product
Lift up tops
Two layers. You raise the outer one, and the inner one opens or pulls down, so your tummy stays covered and no hardware presses on you when you lie down.
You can make your own version. The NHS advice on breastfeeding in public describes wearing two stretchy tops, lifting the top layer and pulling the bottom layer down, with a soft, non underwired bra that pulls up or down. At home, a loose tee over a soft crossover sleep bra does much the same.
Wrap and crossover tops
The front overlaps like a kimono or an angrakha, and one side pulls across. With no zip or button, they are comfortable for lounging and night feeds in the early weeks, but they can gape when you bend, so they suit home more than outings.
Side access and horizontal zip tops
A pair of zips down the chest can look bulky on a sweatshirt, so winter styles often move the opening to the side seams or into one long zip across the chest. Side zips also work well under a shawl. Cotton terry hoodies sometimes keep two front zips instead.
The kurta you already own
To feed in a kurta that opens only at the neck or the hem, you lift a metre of fabric to your chin, often with a dupatta held in your teeth. It is awkward, and it is the real reason feeding tops exist. The exception is a kurta that unbuttons to the waist. If you own one, wear it.
Four quick checks before you buy
Match the opening to your bra. Zip and button tops line up best with a clip down bra, while lift up and wrap tops work with a crossover bra. Our nursing bra buying guide explains both.
Try it with one hand. The other will be holding a baby.
Check the length. A top that covers your hips keeps your stomach hidden when you sit.
Check the size chart on the product page, and choose a fit with some room at the bust so the opening does not strain.
Practise opening a new top at home before you wear it out. A couple of minutes in front of a mirror makes the first feed in a cafe or at a family function less stressful.
Buy two tops with different openings before you buy five of one kind. The one you reach for after a fortnight tells you what to order next. If you are heading back to the office, our maternity workwear guide covers button down tops and nursing friendly sets.
