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The must-have nursery item for busy breastfeeding mums

Life is busy with a new baby, what with the feeding, settling and changing about a thousand nappies. There's little time for anything else. And if you need to pump milk regularly, that's another time-consuming task to add to the list.

This is where a hands-free breast pumping bra can be an absolute lifesaver. Not only does it make the process much more comfortable and efficient, but it also leaves your hands free to multi task (something we all love to do). You can pump while on the phone, sending emails, working on the laptop, folding laundry, playing with your older child or simply enjoying time out with a cup of tea. Whether your at home or at work, this bra will make pumping a seamless part of the day that allows you to care for your little one's well being while ticking off those many jobs that always pile up. And to make life even easier, we've sourced the best hands-free pumping and nursing bras available this year, so keep reading and get ready to go hands free...

This stretchy hands free pumping bra, from Australian owned brand Ally & Co, is soft and comfy, while allowing you to switch effortlessly from pumping to nursing. It has been designed to fit all electric and manual pump brands and comes with bra extenders, removable cup inserts and adjustable straps. It's also machine washable and comes with a 100 per cent money back guarantee.

One mum was so thrilled with this purchase, they left the following review: "I bought this before baby was worn, not knowing if I’d pump or not, but figuring it’d be useful if I did. Glad I did! Because it turns out my baby has a bad tongue tie and can’t latch properly, so I’ve been pumping since birth. Having this bra on means I can at least do things with my hands (settle baby, text, read etc) and not have to have the pump in my hand."

This stylish but comfy hands-free pump bra has no clasps and is ideal for low impact workouts such as yoga and pilates. It's double layered design slips easily over your head while pull-aside panels allow for easy pump access.

Made from a soft and sustainable organic cotton-modal fabric blend, this hands-free nursing bra features a figure eight opening for easy bottle insertion and removal. It also has an adjustable four-row hook and eye closure at the back, a wide stretchy and comfortable bottom band and the option to pump one side and breastfeed on the other.

This new and advanced bustier is super stretchy to fit many different body types and provide comfort and support while pumping. The re-designed opening features reinforced stitching to give added support to the breastshield and bottle, while soft nylon and spandex fabric is comfy next to mum's skin.

This multi-purpose hands-free bra features magnetic clips that allow for an easy switch between pumping and nursing. Outer cups pull across to reveal opening while the inner cup firmly holds the pump in place. And to top it off, it has a sleek and stylish look - just because you're pumping milk, doesn't mean you can't look good while doing it!

This bra not only looks chic and stylish but also offers hidden flange openings to hold all pump brands. It also features an extender tab to allow extra room for an in-bra pump as well as a four-row hook and eye and adjustable straps for added comfort. One happy purchaser commented, "Fantastic fit and really, truly works with every kind of pump! As a woman with larger breasts (normally a double D) I'm always worried about cup-to-band ratio fit. Sydney has great coverage and fits snugly (but not uncomfortably) around my body!"

This bandeau style hands-free breast pump bra is fully adjustable and works with all major breast pump brands. It features an adjustable velcro  back panel to allow for a perfect fit as your body adjusts during postpartum. A zip-in centre panel allows for correct positioning of pump flanges while a layered support system provides a reliable tight seal of both breast shields and falanges.

Online customers have left favourable comments about this bra such as "This is the pump bra to buy! Comes with a Velcro band that allows you to change the size easily. A comfortable fit that isn’t too tight. Look no further!" and "Now I can do things with both hands when I pump! The material is good quality and design and structure work well."

Hands-free pumping can take a little getting used to, however reliable breast pump brand Medela offers some helpful tips on its website to help you on your way:

While you've got your hands free, why not not check out our best newborn baby clothes and the best toys to help your 6-month-old baby develop essential skills