3 kinds of bra shopping as a mum – which are you?
Posted by Claire Hewitt, on March 10, 2026.
Estimated reading time: 8 minute(s)
Are you a new mum, a mother of a teenager, or a mum simply juggling your way through busy family life?
Hey, mums: we know Mother’s Day is on the horizon, a whole Sunday ‘off’ (in theory) when you shouldn’t feel guilty for not doing a tonne of household chores while running an at-home café (opening hours: all day; customers: demanding small people). But we know that motherhood never really includes a ‘holiday’ option and after Mother’s Day it’s back to the job.
Life is busy and shopping is just another chore sapping time and energy. We don’t have all the answers on how to make this quicker and easier, but we know a fair amount about one kind: shopping for new bras. You probably don’t do it as regularly as your grocery shop, but you consider replacing your bras every six to twelve months or so. To make it as fuss-free as possible, here are some top tips for bra shopping, whatever stage of motherhood you’re at…
How to shop for bras: as a new mum
Throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, your boobs have specific needs that your regular bra can’t provide, so choosing the best maternity and nursing bras for this period is essential.
Get measured
In pregnancy, it’s not just your belly that grows. Your boobs may increase by several cup sizes, and your ribcage expands to accommodate everything your growing baby is squeezing in the latter months and weeks. As soon as your regular bras start to feel tight around the underband or you spill out of the cups, book a fitting with a professional fitter to find out your new bra size.
Look for comfortable features
In your third trimester, you may struggle to move smoothly, your breathing may feel constricted, overheating might be more common, and you may tire easily. Don’t make it worse by suffering with sweaty fabrics and underwires that dig in. Look for comfy features in a bra such as smooth seams, a wide underband, breathable fabric (such as cotton) and no underwire.
Think easy-access and adjustable sizing post-partum
When your newborn arrives, you need a bra that can cope with a lot of change. If you choose to breastfeed your boobs will grow and shrink frequently, so a dual or triple cup-sized bra will keep you properly supported throughout. Retainer staps will keep on-demand feeding fuss-free and encourage more skin-to-skin contact with your baby. Even without breastfeeding, you’ll find your boobs and band reduce in size over time – you may even feel more comfortable in crop top style bras or your pre-pregnancy bras.
Browse our full maternity/nursing bra range or shop our top picks:
Cara Nursing
Years in the making, this fuller-cup bra features side slings, a firm underband and double-layered cups for extra support.
Blossom
Our best-selling bra for new mums everywhere, Blossom can be worn as two different styles and features triple cup-sizing and retainer straps.
Mia
For fuller-cupped mums, our ultimate lounge bra in soft organic cotton is one of the comfiest around with a wide underband and no awkward components; its crossover style allows for easy access when breastfeeding.
How to shop for bras: as the mother of a teen girl
If your daughter is entering her teens (or even in the final year of primary school), her body is changing. Don’t presume it’s too early to think about bras: even small cups need the right support in the early days. Whether she’s excited about this, or perhaps a little embarrassed, choosing her first bra with her can be a good bonding experience.
Get measured by a professional or at home
You can assure your daughter that all professional bra fitters have measured countless young girls, so they’ll know exactly how to make her feel at ease. But if your girl really doesn’t want an in-person fitting, we’ve created a teen-friendly DIY fitting guide to use at home.
Look for school-appropriate features
Most of the time, your daughter will be wearing her bra under a school uniform, so simple, non-patterned, neutral colours that work with her skin tone won’t keep it school-friendly. Don’t forget that some teen bras can also be worn during PE, ensuring your daughter doesn’t miss out on sports at school.
Let her make the final choice
You may have your own ideas about what bra your daughter should wear, but if you want her to want to wear them, she needs to love them. Once you’ve picked a selection that match her practical needs, it’s best to leave the final word on style to her. Teen bras today may look a little different to teen bras of years ago – nowadays sporty, athleisure-styles are popular, including crop tops and bralettes, or she may prefer something sleek and modern. It’s her choice.
Browse our full teen bra range or shop our top picks:
Lola
A non-padded crop top style that still provides the right support for a growing girl, it comes in dual cup sizing.
Posie
This athleisure-style T-shirt bra features soft padding and an optional racer back, and comes in a wide range of versatile colours.
NEW Madison
our latest teen bra (launching this summer), honey-coloured Madison, is a superb new option for DD to G cup size girls.
How to shop for bras: as a busy mother
You’ve picked bras with a baby in mind, chosen bras for your teenage daughter, but what about you? It’s easy to put the needs of everyone else first when you’re a mum, but if that means you haven’t updated your underwear drawer since your carefree pre-parent days, it’s time to act.
Yes, you probably need another fitting
We might sound like a stuck record here, but getting the right fit is the foundation of your bra-drobe. Bodies change all the time – whether you’re a few years post-baby, or now in perimenopause – it’s likely that you’ll need to reassess your current cup and band size (and you may be surprised). Don’t have time for an in-person appointment? You can measure yourself at home using a mirror, some of your current bras and our DIY fitting guide.
Pick versatile styles
When you’re busy, it’s useful to have bras that suit a variety of needs simultaneously, so you’re not having to get dressed again for each new activity. Think about what a typical day (or week) looks like for you – do you squeeze in a Pilates class between work and school pick-ups? Do you work from home, but like to meet friends on a Friday night? Look for bras that meet multiple needs, such as supportive athleisure styles, or everyday T-shirt bras with elevated design details.
Reward yourself
You’re probably so good at juggling motherhood with social commitments, your relationship and a job, that your hard work may often go unnoticed. You know it though, so treat yourself by adding an extra gift to your shopping basket. Check out the accessories and nightwear from brands we love, or join our new loyalty programme Comfort Club where you can get little treats throughout the year.
Browse our comfort bra range or shop our top picks
Comfi-Bra
Our updated version of this top-selling, front-fastening bra gives a clean modern line and superb shaping under clothes.
Maisie
Our best-seller is the ultimate in versatility, as a moulded T-shirt bra it’s perfect for everyday wear, but the satin trim detail adds that extra special touch for a night out.
Impact Free
This 100% cotton, fuller cup sports bra is comfy enough to wear for work, before you finish the day with a fitness class.
