Here’s a trick that I learned early on as a cosleeping, contact-napping mom: What you wear on the outside affects how you feel on the inside.
Every stay at home mom, who contact-naps throughout the day, needs to invest in loungewear that’s comfortable, airy and roomy, easy for breastfeeding, and most importantly — helps her feel beautiful.
Because… you are.
A shockingly hard part of being a cosleeping, contact-napping mom, for me, was spending all day around the house. Going from the morning contact nap on the couch to the early afternoon one on the floor bed, and back again.
I felt like I was on a hamster wheel, in a dirty cage.
I wore the same baggy shirt that a friend had passed along when I got pregnant… And it started to get crusty and stinky with breastmilk, but I barely even noticed because I was so focused on just making it through the long afternoon, alone in my house…
I’m sure you can guess how I felt, because you’re probably feeling it too. Pretty crappy.
And I can honestly say that I felt better later on, when I invested in a couple loungewear sets that matched, weren’t pilled, weren’t stretched out, weren’t faded… It completely altered my day.
I didn’t cringe when I walked past a mirror, I didn’t smell funky breastmilk on my top as I tried to sleep, I didn’t feel embarrassed when my husband walked in the door after work.
So take this as you will. It’s not something to add to your to-do list, it’s not something you have to do.
But it is a trick that I learned throughout my own postpartum experience. What you wear on the outside affects how you feel on the inside.
With that in mind, here are my favorite loungewear sets that I’ve collected over the last four years of parenthood. I really hope you can find something for yourself that cheers you up. You deserve it.
pullover crew | joggers | slippers
These are extremely soft and stretchy. They’re a bit too snug for me, so I’ll size up next time. I love the big stretchy pockets, where I can easily store my phone, headphones, and some snacks on my way to the couch for another contact nap.
2-piece set | slippers | night weaning book | cotton blanket | velvet scrunchie
I love this set so much, I bought it in two colors! The fabric feels substantial, yet it’s lightweight and airy.
I wear this on warmer days, when shorts and a long-sleeved top will be enough. Especially with fluffy slippers or socks, I’m good to go.
Here’s a close alternative that I love and can’t wait to try.
3-piece set | dinosaur stuffies | bamboo duvet cover
I feel like a genie in this flowy 3-piece set, so I wouldn’t wear it with company over. But who am I kidding — what company?! I’m usually home alone, just with the little guys, and this set is perfect for that.
It’s exactly what I need in this season of life: it’s loose and comfortable, convenient for nursing on demand, and it helps me stay warm.
Safety note – We sometimes sleep with an empty duvet cover as our blanket. We always remove the insert, since it would make the duvet way too fluffy for safe bedsharing.
2-piece set | slippers | haakaa milk catcher | bamboo blanket
This set is made of thicker material, and it helps me stay warmer. There is a lot of fabric, and it’s not form-fitting in any way. But I certainly feel cozy and cute and put-together, especially in this fun pink shade.
top | pants | slippers | shorts | socks | safe bedsharing book
If shopping on Amazon gives you a guilt hangover, like it does to me, consider only purchasing from their Aware line. All Amazon Aware products are certified as carbon neutral and are part of the Climate Pledge Friendly program.
I wanted to check them out for myself, so I bought several Aware loungewear pieces to mix and match. And guess what — I love them! They are all thin, roomy, and cute.
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