The Best Nursing Covers, Tested by Breastfeeding Moms

The We Are Amma Natural Cocoon is a favorite among parents on The Bump team, so it didn’t come as a surprise that it thoroughly impressed our tester, Ashleigh, mom of a 17-week-old, as well. In fact, Ashleigh told us that it was the highest-quality nursing cover she’s ever used, thanks to its thoughtful, premium design. The poncho is made from a polyester-rayon blend that’s been pre-washed to prevent pilling, shrinking and misshaping over time. Meanwhile, the flattering neckline features a shoulder seam reinforced with the brand’s signature metallic piping for added structure and durability.“The fabric itself is incredible,” Ashleigh said. “You can tell it’s high-quality just by how soft and durable it is.” What’s more, the finely knit yarn promotes airflow and allows baby to peek out when feeding, without anyone being able to see in. “My baby was comfortable at all times under this cover.”

This breastfeeding cover is one of the only options on the market that comes in two sizes, ensuring the perfect amount of comfort and coverage for almost everyone. The Cocoon is ideal for parents up to 5'10" and a size 12, and the Cocoon+ fits parents up to 6'5" and a size 24. Ashleigh, who’s 5'9", had high praises for the fit of this nursing shawl. “The length was perfect! It’s very flattering while being comfortable. One of my favorite things about this nursing cover was that you could wear it with the arm slit on the left or switch it and have the arm slit on the right,” she shared. The mom of a 17-week-old also mentioned that the flowing silhouette offers plenty of space for mom and baby, which is helpful for new moms whose bodies are constantly changing postpartum.

Setting the Natural Cocoon up for breastfeeding was also a breeze for Ashleigh. “My son was not disturbed by the nursing cover as it is very breathable. Wearing the Cocoon is literally just like wearing a loose shirt, so it was comfortable to sit, nurse and hang out in,” she explained. One potential drawback is that the neckline has to be propped open with one hand to see baby. That said, Ashlee Neuman, mom of two and content director for The Bump, didn’t find this to be a problem. “I was able to easily move my baby to adjust our position and get a proper latch, and could take quick peeks at my little one throughout our nursing session to see how things were going,” she shared.

Another quality moms love about the Natural Cocoon is its style, which doesn’t resemble a typical nursing cover. It offers a chic, poncho-like fit and comes in several neutral colors that’ll pair seamlessly with other items in your wardrobe. Natalie Gontcharova, mom of one and senior lifecycle editor for The Bump, has the oatmeal colorway and loves how aesthetically pleasing it is. In fact, Natalie liked the look so much that she “casually wore it around even when not nursing.” Ashleigh agreed, telling us: “I would wear the cover somewhere casual even without breastfeeding.” Overall, Ashleigh and The Bump team highly recommend this nursing cover to other moms. “The nursing cover's quality was better than expected and provides good value for the price,” Ashleigh said.

Material: 65% polyester/35% rayon | Dimensions: N/A | Care instructions: Machine wash in a laundry bag; tumble dry low or lay flat to dry

Our community says:

When breastfeeding in public, moms often worry about nursing covers getting too warm or sweaty for themselves and baby. However, when wearing the Quince Lightweight Cotton Cashmere Nursing Shawl, that shouldn’t be an issue. It’s made from a unique blend of organic cotton, LENZING ECOVERO (a breathable viscose made from renewable wood fibers) and cashmere, all of which work together to create a supremely airy, lightweight feel. “I didn’t sweat at all while wearing it,” our tester Abby said. “The fabric is incredibly soft—it didn’t irritate my skin. The fabric isn’t too thick or thin, which makes it ideal for any season.”

In particular, Abby praised the nursing poncho’s clever woven design, which features small holes throughout without sacrificing coverage. “The holes are small enough that they still provide plenty of discreetness while nursing, and they actually help with breathability, making the cover comfortable for both me and my baby. Despite the holes, it still offers full coverage and feels cozy,” the mom of a 4-month-old said.

Moreover, Abby mentioned that the poncho was incredibly simple to pull over her head and stayed exactly where it needed to be when in use. “It was easy to keep covered while positioning and feeding my baby—no exposure at all, as the cover stayed securely in place throughout,” Abby reported. She appreciated the nursing shawl’s flowing, spacious silhouette, which allowed her to be completely covered and at ease while she nursed discreetly. All in all, Abby thinks this Quince nursing cover is worth the price tag. “It’s perfect for new moms who want something functional, fashionable and comfortable,” she shared.

Material: 65% organic cotton/32% LENZING ECOVERO viscose/3% cashmere | Dimensions: N/A | Care instructions: Machine wash; tumble dry or hang dry

Our community says:

Several parents who responded to our survey told us that length and fit were the top qualities they considered when choosing a nursing cover. If you’re looking for something that offers ample coverage, you’ll appreciate that the Indi by Kishu Baby Organic Nursing Cover measures 50 inches long and 55 inches wide, making it the largest cover for breastfeeding in our roundup—and one of the largest on the market. Christina, our tester and mom of a 7-month-old, was a fan of the fit. “It's very big, so I imagine it would fit literally every mama. It completely covered me and baby,” she told us.

This breastfeeding scarf is more unstructured than other types of nursing covers and may come with a learning curve at first. That said, the flowing design makes it super simple to adjust to your liking, whether you’re getting situated or positioning baby, according to Christina. “The Kishu nursing scarf is super easy to set up because you just throw it on. It couldn’t be easier. [It’s] perfect for throwing on without disturbing your baby,” she explained. Better yet, she loved the privacy that it offers. “I felt great while nursing in this cover. It made me feel more confident, and honestly, I don't think anyone could tell I was nursing at all while wearing this,” Christina praised.

Another detail that stood out to Christina was the cotton muslin material, which she described as lightweight and breathable. It’s also Fair Trade- and GOTS-certified, which she appreciated. “I love how it's organic since it will be touching baby for a larger part of the day,” she said. It’s worth noting that this material isn’t as stretchy as other fabrics, which may be a downside for some parents. However, even with that in mind, Christina would still highly recommend this cover-up to other moms. “I think [it’s] so much more beautiful in person than on the Kishu website, and I really loved the product,” she shared.

Material: 100% cotton muslin | Dimensions: 50" (L) x 55" (W) | Care instructions: Machine wash

Our community says:

Poncho nursing covers tend to be the most stylish breastfeeding cover-ups, but they can also come at a higher price point. If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing option that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with the Wee Sprout Baby Nursing Cover. Our tester, Christina, mom of a 7-month-old, was thoroughly impressed by this budget-friendly cover. “I've tried nursing covers three times the price of this one, and this surpassed them [in terms of] quality, design, cut, style and print. The quality of this cover is amazing,” she praised.

As she mentioned, Christina was a big fan of how well this poncho was designed, and she loved its silhouette and color. “This is my favorite nursing cover I've ever tried because of the shape and size. It's so easy to put on and take off,” she shared, “I actually wore this the whole day because it's so stylish.” Even better, she said that the flowing bottom hem and long length made it straightforward to position baby while breastfeeding. “Because of the way it's designed, it's impossible for it to come undone or show any skin on the sides,” she explains, adding that it’s also “impossible for baby to kick off while nursing.” Christina also told us that the neckline allowed her to easily make eye contact with her 7-month-old when feeding.

Other aspects Christina appreciated were how easy it was to slip on and offer over her head and the fabric, which she described as stretchy and luxurious. This cover is made from a blend of Lenzing Modal and spandex, the former of which is known for its superior softness. Needless to say, this budget-friendly poncho nursing cover offers plenty of bang for your buck.

Material: 95% Lenzing Modal/5% spandex | Dimensions: 27" (L) x 54" (W) | Care instructions: Machine wash cold; lay flat to dry

Our community says:

Over half of our survey respondents told us that visibility was an important factor when choosing a nursing cover—and with good reason. It’s important to check and see that baby is latched properly. Plus, making eye contact promotes a healthy bond between parent and child. That’s why some parents prefer apron-style nursing covers, like this option from Blissful Diary. “Setting up for breastfeeding was effortless and quick because all you had to do was put the nursing cover over your head like an apron,” our tester Ashleigh shared. “The arch-shaped neckline is an incredible design because it allows you to make eye contact and see your baby without lifting a finger.” What’s more, she said that it was easy to move the fabric around and position her 17-week-old, making the process even simpler.

For a secure fit when nursing, this cover-up has an adjustable strap on the neck and one with several buttons on the back. Ashleigh told us that it was easy to use both of these straps to achieve her desired fit. “You only have to adjust the neckline once and can use it at that length every time. It's just as easy to use as an apron,” she explains. Ashleigh also appreciated how well it fit her body without being restrictive in any way. “I’m very busty, and since the neckline is an arch shape, the cover still fits without being too snug. I’m also taller than average, and the nursing cover was still long,” the new mom shared. “It's great because the one size fits all does actually fit all.”

Apron-style nursing covers are all about practicality when breastfeeding in public, so it’s not as versatile or stylish as a poncho, scarf or cocoon cover-up. That said, Ashleigh liked the color options and was a big fan of the cotton muslin fabric. “The cover was extremely soft against my skin and my baby's. This fabric is perfect for nursing because it's very durable, and the breast milk came out easily with a quick wash,” she shared. With all of its stand-out features in mind, Ashleigh couldn’t get over how reasonably priced it is; “I would without a doubt recommend this Blissful Diary nursing cover.”

Material: 100% cotton muslin | Dimensions: N/A | Care instructions: Machine wash

Our community says:

Dual nursing and car seat covers are ideal for on-the-go families who want a product that serves multiple purposes. The Milk Snob Original 5-in-1 Cover does just that. Our tester, Abby, and moms who responded to our survey all agreed that this cover is super stretchy, so it can be modified to meet your changing needs while out and about. In particular, it’s great for use as a car seat cover. “The cover fit my car seat well, providing good coverage when needed. It was easy to attach and transition between nursing and car seat cover use,” Abby, mom of a 4-month-old, told us. When not in use, it can be folded up neatly and compactly, which she appreciated. Plus, “this cover could easily be used as a burp cloth or even a blanket in a pinch. It worked well in all those scenarios, offering great versatility for busy moms,” she shared.

When it comes to breastfeeding, the Milk Snob Original 5-in-1 Cover is just as straightforward to set up. Abby said it slipped over her head easily (without messing up her hair or makeup) and stayed in place when nursing, thanks to the flexible rayon blend material. “The fit around my bust was great—no gaps, and it felt supportive without being too tight. The stretchy fabric made it easy to adjust,” she told us. Better yet, it kept Abby covered when positioning and feeding her 4-month-old. “The Milk Snob Nursing Cover provided excellent coverage while breastfeeding, keeping me super discreet and feeling secure. It never exposed me, which was important for nursing in public,” she said.

Abby was impressed by this breastfeeding cover’s multifunctionality; however, she noted that it fit more snugly than the others she’s used. She also mentioned that though it fit her body well, she wished it was longer to offer more comfort and peace of mind while nursing. “While the fabric has some stretch, I personally prefer a more relaxed style for easier maneuverability. That said, I could still see my baby while feeding, which was a big plus,” she told us.

All in all, Abby would definitely recommend it to other parents. “It’s stylish, versatile and functional, offering great coverage while nursing and as a car seat cover. The fabric is soft, breathable and durable, and I love the variety of designs,” she concluded.

Material: Rayon blend | Dimensions: N/A | Care instructions: Machine wash; dry flat

Our community says: