Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra

It’s no secret: pumping can sometimes feel like a chore. But having the right tools can make the process easier and a whole lot more comfortable. Supportive, soft and compatible with any breast pump, the Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra allows you to customize the fit as your size and shape change. Our editors and mom testers all agreed that this bandeau-style bustier gives you the support you need while freeing up your hands to do other things. 

EASE OF USE

Designed to fit women from extra-small to large, with a plus-size version available should you need additional coverage, the Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra features a Velcro back panel with a 10-inch adjustment range to accommodate the fluctuating size and shape of breastfeeding moms. But this isn’t your average Velcro—this heavy-duty strength Velcro requires a good grip and some flexibility to reach behind you to get a snug fit, which explains why some of our parent testers felt this bustier was a little hard to adjust. There’s a first for everything, so if you’ve never used a bustier, a little help from your partner can really help until you get the hang of it. On the plus side, the handy zippered front makes it easy to get the bustier on and off once you've got a good fit. 

Elastic reinforcement along the top and bottom of the band helps prevent slippage as you’re pumping, but if you want some extra support, the bra comes with straps that you can attach either in a straight or criss-cross configuration. All of our moms said they felt the bra was nice and secure, and agreed that it was comfortable against their skin, even with a snug fit.

Most of our testers were able insert the breast shields easily in the four-way opening, but a couple said it took a bit of fidgeting to properly position the breast shields so that the flaps lay flat overtop. One mom said that while the flaps were effective, they were a bit cumbersome to deal with, and while our editors agree, it's worth keeping in mind that they do help with breast pump compatibility and keep the breast shields flush against your skin to prevent any discomfort as the bottles become heavy. While one of our testers said she leaked "a few drops once or twice," this was the same as when she pumped without the bustier. Meanwhile, another mom who previously leaked a few drops occasionally found that she didn't experience any leakage at all when using this pumping bra. In the end, all of our mom testers said that pumping with the Simple Wishes bustier was a truly hands-free experience that allowed them to do everything from change diapers to work on their computers to cook dinner.

FABRIC AND CLEANING

The cotton-Spandex blend of the Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra is soft against the skin and breathable. None of our testers reported of any irritation or discomfort while wearing it, saying that they felt supported and their movements were unrestricted. We love that the bra is machine washable in cold water (though it has to hang to dry). In our lab tests, we noticed some very light fraying near the Velcro seams after washing, but our editors and testers were overall quite happy with the fabrication. It is worth noting that the heavy-duty Velcro on this pumping bra is a magnet for pet hair and sweater fuzz, so we'd recommend washing it in a lingerie bag, with the Velcro fastened.

FINAL WORD

All of our parent testers said they would recommend the Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra to other moms, and agreed it's worthy of the Today’s Parent Approved seal. Pumping hands-free with this bra gave moms more time to get things done, and the majority of our testers were impressed with the quality, ease of use and value. Our editors were also impressed with the adjustability, comfort and support it offers moms, not to mention the price tag (it's the most budget-friendly pumping bra we tested—though you may find it costs more at some boutiques). The fabric feels good against the skin, it can be machine washed and, most importantly, moms were able to comfortably and efficiently pump hands-free with it.