Let me make the case for a maternity jumpsuit: They are comfortable, chic, and nursing-friendly. They are forgiving around the waist and more utilitarian than dresses — which are flowy and pretty but often don’t have pockets or shorts to facilitate play with toddlers or older kids. I know what you’re thinking: But Julie, I don’t want to get naked to pee. And I hear you, but parenthood is about to make you super-comfortable with nudity, and anything you can do to streamline your life — and your wardrobe — will be paramount. There are jumpsuits and rompers for all parenting activities and events — from binge-watching Abbott Elementary while nap trapped to pumping on the dance floor during a wedding (a thing I actually did). And if that isn’t enough to convince you, I talked to eight stylish parents about the best maternity jumpsuits, overalls, and rompers they swear by — and for which getting undressed to go to the bathroom is worth it.
Under $100
Both actor Isabel Santiago and Nom CEO Anna Capretto named the Francesa jumpsuit as their pick for pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. I owned the long-sleeve version and loved it. The fabric is super-soft, machine washable, and made to bounce back after wearing without stretching out over time. It also comes in four colors — including one patterned option, a welcome departure from industry neutrals — and five sizes, with an inseam that’s full-length on petites but perfectly cropped for people five-foot-four and above. Santiago also mentioned the Ines (which comes with pockets and a longer length). Both of us liked the side-wrap style that adjusted to our growing bumps, was stretchy enough to facilitate nursing, and had a buttery soft texture that felt like pajamas. The brand also just expanded its sizing to include plus sizes up to 4X — a rarity in maternitywear.
Five-foot-three-inch Strategist contributor Jenny Friedler swore by this drapey, pleated, “pleasantly amorphous” style during her pregnancy. Friedler said it’s the only thing she owned that neither itched nor constricted her growing belly. She writes that “the jumpsuit is presentable enough on top to wear on a Zoom call and, as someone who is peeing about 700 times a day, I can attest that the elasticized collar also makes it effortless to pull on and off.”
Even though I hated everything about getting dressed up after having my son, this jumpsuit made me feel put-together and confident at both black-tie weddings and on easy date nights. It is machine washable (a must after it easily hides milk stains) and is stretchy enough to fit a wearable pump but constricting enough to hold it in place. I like that it has a waistband that can be tied into a bow wherever is most comfortable and flattering, comes in an ankle-length crop that fits my five-foot-one height perfectly in heels, and is available in 16 colors.
Anna Campbell, mom and lead photographer at Anna Meyer Photo, loved Free People’s Hot Shot onesie so much that she bought three. “It’s just so comfortable. You don’t feel like you’re wearing anything constricting,” she says. Soft, drapey cotton straps permit breastfeeding, and the jumpsuit stretches with a growing bump. It’s also fully machine washable and a simple piece to layer for doctor’s appointments, a day at the office, or simply lounging at home. Free People also makes an official maternity version with adjustable straps, though it is currently sold out.
Did my husband describe these as “cosplaying as a farmer”? Yes. But I wore them for six months straight — to the farmers’ market, to the Thanksgiving Day parade (in Silver Spring, not New York), on errands, while I worked from home, and everywhere in between. And while most maternity bottoms have horizontal stretch clasps for adjustability, these have three vertical buttons on each side of the waistband that can be clasped or undone depending on how big the bump is and how high it’s sitting. The fabric is soft enough to be comfortable, but firm enough that tightening the straps lifts the belly from underneath and offers actual support. They also have a straight-leg shape that hits right at the ankle, come in sizes XXS to XXL, and are available in four colors.
Under $200
Woman-owned company Storq came up repeatedly during conversations about the maternity brands our experts love. Rachel Bowie, the senior editor of special projects and royals at PureWow and mom of two, wore the MVP style during her most recent pregnancy. Bowie says she relied on it so heavily she felt “paralyzed” when it was finally time to throw it in the laundry. She wore it with the brand’s easy button-up, to the office, and around Brooklyn with her older son. “I got so many compliments,” she tells me, “and it’s something I can continue to wear.” “I’m a big fan of Storq,” adds product advisor and Strategist contributor Youngna Park, who says she wore the brand while pregnant herself and now gives loved ones gift cards when they’re expecting. There are three patterns to choose from in a wide size range — XS to 4XL.
I bought this shorts-style jumpsuit before I knew I was pregnant but was able to keep it in my rotation until well into my second trimester — and then pull it out again basically immediately after giving birth. The adjustable waist both cinches and loosens to fluctuate with weight and body shape, and after delivery the fabric remained comfortable because the structure didn’t cling to my C-section scar. The button-down front was perfect for breastfeeding, and the six different pockets held pacifiers, burp cloths, small bottles, and toddler toys. Equally important — to me, anyway — the color offset the structure’s sort of car-mechanic vibe. I’m still wearing mine in dusty purple more than two years later.
Author and Strategist contributor Molly Prentiss typically prefers to “delete her curves” by wearing boxy, drapey shapes, but after one day wearing Bumpsuit’s Lucy maternity jumpsuit, Prentiss confidently called it “the most comfortable thing I have ever put on.”
The Lucy is form-fitting but not constricting, cozy but not hot, soft but not cloying. It makes Prentiss feel “a little more taken care of, a little more like the fullest version” of herself. It can be worn solo for prenatal yoga or as part of a layered outfit, and it’s part of a widely beloved Bumpsuit line (you can’t scroll Instagram without seeing it) worn by the likes of Mona Mohammed Al, Hannah Bronfman, Miranda Kerr, and Miss Turkey 2011 Melisa Aslı Yazıcı.
Personally, I didn’t mind whipping my boobs out in public when my kids were nursing. What I did mind was being pinched or scratched by razor-sharp baby talons while doing it. I wish I had known about the Sofia nursing jumpsuit from woman-owned, sustainably produced brand ñuñuy, which makes its products at a fair trade-certified factory in Peru. The fabric of the Sofia is ultra-soft and stretchy pima cotton, which feels lightweight and cozy on the skin, but most important is its built-in privacy panel for those who prefer to feed their kids modestly (not me) that can double as fidget fabric for babies. (Read: mine, who wanted to grab, knead, or tug on something — including, for some horrific reason, my nipples). The model Mara Martin — famous for catwalking while nursing — said the jumpsuit is her “go to” via Instagram comment. It would have been mine, too, had I known about it.
Over $200
I wore the nurse-to-errands version of this for at least a year after giving birth to my son, but the everyday nursing style is a better choice as it’s made for pregnancy in addition to postpartum wear. It’s available in denim and corduroy styles — the latter of which was called out as a favorite by Cheerie Lane Popcorn CEO and co-founder Kate Greer. The dark color immaculately hides stains of various bodily fluids (ask me how I know), and the piece is an excellent investment for people who experience seasons or who live in cool-weather climates — and comes in four brand-specific sizes.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
