Topless undershirt makes a great nursing coverup

Nursing coverup? Bah! Who needs 'em? At least that's what I thought while nursing my first child during the temperate Northern California fall. But there's nothing like a blast of Northwest winter air while you're nursing outside to open your mind.

Rachel of Blush got in touch to introduce me to a solution: the "topless undershirt" -- a fashionable layering accessory without the bulk of a second shirt. The idea is that you pull the soft, stretchy tube top-like thingie over your midriff and hips, and you get a cool look and insulating layer all in one. Now, when you nurse, only the main attraction gets exposed...your back and stomach remain protected from the elements. Nice.

This product appealed to me for the same reason BabyLegs does -- so versatile, useful, and well-made.

Blush topless undershirts are available online and in select stores.

I've got two lovely topless undershirts to give away! Enter to win my random drawing by leaving a comment here. I'll pick winners tomorrow at 5pm!

[Update 12/9/07 4:38pm: Comments are now closed and I'll be doing my drawing for both the topless undershirts and the BabyLegs this evening. Apologies for the delay. -- Asha]

Comments

[Charlotte]

I ve also seen these marketed for wearing during pregnancy over non pregnant pants. I just found out we are expecting number three, but I gave away all my pregnant clothes after number 2 was born. I would LOVE to win this! Merry Christmas to me :)

[Kirsti]

I have a "belly band" (same idea) that has been great for pregnancy. Baby #3 arrives in February, so this would definitely help me stay warm!

[mel]

My preggers friend would love this!

[Cheri]

How perfectly wonderful. It can also cover up all that extra post baby belly I just can't seem to get rid of.

[Wendy]

Baby #2 is on the way now - these would be GREAT!

[Betty]

These are so easy to make! I made three (for pregnancy, not nursing - wish I'd thought of that but she's weaned now) out of different colours and patterns of stretch cotton. They let me wear regular jeans/skirts into about 5 months with the button and zipper undone - nobody was the wiser because the band kept the pants snugged in and covered up the open fly. I don't want to win one, just wanted to share!

[Andrew]

My wife is always looking for longer shirts to wear under her t-shirts. This would be a great gift for her.

[Monica]

I really want one of these!

[Jen]

I would love to win one too! I have been layering a spaghetti strap tank tops under some of my shirts--I lift my upper shirt up and pull the tank top down so I have my belly and back covered when I nurse my three month old.

[Marta]

I am still nursing my first (11 months, and still a few more months to go...) and this would really be helpful in the Wisconsin Winters. Now, if you only have something to keep him from exposing my whole breast while he's eating? I'm just saying, it would be a nice compliment to this product...
Marta :)

[Aprille - The Muddled]

I did not think to use my belly band for this while I was nursing! I have some cousins who would love this though!

[sara]

What a neat idea? I have never heard of this but I love it! This would come in VERY handy! Thanks for the awesome chance to win!

[The NON-Superwoman]

About to deliver baby #2 any day now. This will make nursing so much easier and discreet this time around!

[Misty]

Such a great idea! I'm always self-conscious when I show off my post-baby belly during nursing.

[WendyW]

Great idea!

[angela]

I would love to try one of these! i always feel shy about my belly showing when nursing...

[Paul]

My wife would love one of these, almost as much as I'd love seeing her in one of these.

I'm here all week.

[adrienne]

These look so fabulous!

[Nichole]

I could use something like that!

[Lisa]

Ooh! I'm nursing on the cold northern Cal coast. I need one of those!

[The Chatty Housewife]

I think it would be great!!!

[Melissa]

This would be a fantastic accessory - my nursing toddler constantly pulls my shirt half off to take a quick sip and it would be so nice not to worry about my tummy hanging out. And not have to worry about if my pants are sagging off my butt as I sit on the floor!

[Annika]

What a great idea! I've been out on the WGA picket lines with my son, and nursing him in front of all those cameras makes me uncomfortable (nobody needs to see this pasty belly, trust me).

[wto]

Fabulous!

[Alexandra]

Oh, yes, please. I am still wearing my nursing tanks with a cardigan over them, and it is COLD. OK I live in Southern California but it is grey and rainy, I swear. :)

[Mary M]

Oh pick me! Please please!!! I am due with my third child in February, and only just discovered that nursing accessories do exist! Who knew? This is even better than the pumping bra tip I just got!! It's coooold in the northeast in February...

[Lesha]

That's fab. Thanks for the giveaway! :)

[Leah]

Baby #1 is due in 2 weeks and this would be perfect for nursing in the cold Canadian winters!

[Melanie]

Wow...why didn't I think of this? This would be fantastic for those wintertime-have-to-nurse-in-the-car moments!!

[Page]

Darn it, why didn't I know about these before. What a fantastic idea for nursing moms!

[anne nahm]

That is so clever! Me! Add me! Chose me! I love them!

[Hilary S]

I would love to keep my stomach from being exposed to the elements while nursing. Not to mention covering up those stretch marks. I tried some of those special nursing tops - they were too bulky and awkward - but this looks brilliant.

[Whitney H.]

What a great idea! My kids hate having blankets over their whole bodies, but I can manage to cover up the important parts- it just leaves my stretch mark covered stomach hanging out in the wind. This would be perfect.

[Gwen]

Again, why should such a simple idea not be one I thought of?

[MamaChristy]

Please pick me! I tried to order some of these a month ago and they were out of my size!

[Rachel]

it is super cold here in Maryland and with a five-month-old, I could really use a fashion update too! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Bessaroni]

I have been contemplating buying one of these recently. This would make my decision much easier.

[Lisa]

What a great idea. I would love to have one of these.

[Ally]

Cool!

[Kelly]

This is a great idea I have never heard of! Thanks for sharing.

[Jeanie Ripton]

Love it! Still nursing my little go and could definitely use another layer in cold New York!

[Lisa J.]

Awesome and fashionable idea!

[casey]

topless please

[Serena]

these sound great - and with my ever expanding pregnancy belly I would love to win one!

[Julie]

My little guy's not showing any signs of slowing the nursing this century, so this would be great! I try to wear nursing tanks during the winter to handle the midriff-baring issue, but none of them seem to be long enough for me. I'd love to try one of these out!

[angie]

Canadian mama up here needs one of these!

[Bethany]

Thanks for the chance to win... this would be awesome - solves the layering fashion issue and the bulgy belly issue all at the same time! :-)

I heart Parenthacks!

[Selena]

My nursling is going strong at nearly 14 months. Having this for tummy coverage would keep me cozy and confident here in Wisconsin. Great idea!

[Frankie]

Ooh... how neat! I'd love one of these!

[Jessica]

I have heard about these for pregnancy but not for nursing. I would love to get one so that my stomach doesn't have to be exposed all the time, especially in public. It would be nice for some privacy.

[SelimaCat]

i got tired of wearing tanks all the time. I think this is brilliant.

[Trisha]

This is one of those thing that you think "why didn't I think of that???" It's so simple and so perfect. I think I'll even cut off a few tanks to make some of my own! Seriously, that would help the nursing bare back issue so very much!

[radmama]

I'm pregnant with my third (my older kids are 12 and 9, so there are no maternity clothes left in the house) and I'm at that awkward in between regular and maternity clothes stage.

Would love to win one!

[Marsha]

A friend in Australia sent me one of these (they call them "belly bands" down there) when I was pregnant three years ago. I loved it--it was one of the most useful pieces of clothing I've ever owned.

[opal]

I'm a teacher who pumps full-time at work.

This would be a perfect way to be covered up for when my students or other staff somehow end up getting into my private pumping area while I am pumping!

[Leta]

Baby no. 2 is on his/her way. Looking for things to make nursing a bit easier this time around.

[Tracy]

I don't want to win one (not nursing and don't know anyone who is) but I did this using a boob tube (or whatever you call them in the northern hemisphere -- tube top?). Also good for layering, and cheap!

[Lisa]

That is so awesome! I am nursing my newborn in the cold Chicago winter and would love to keep my tummy warm and to not expose my stretch marks while I breastfeed. I've got a few nursing tanks, but sometimes you want to wear a bra.

[ChristieNY]

Breastfeeding in snowy NY here and forever bringing along blankets to cover up my belly when I'm nursing to keep from freezing, this would be great!!!

[Zed]

Would love it for #4!

[Zed]

I promise I'm not trying to enter twice, but let me just put in a quick plug for a company that I love Down East Basics http://downeastbasics.com/

Their shirts are intentionally long for modesty's sake, but they make a great stylish layering option too. Check out their wonder tee. (They also just added maternity).

[anjol]

Cute! I would love to have this toelongate all those short tees I was about to throw out.

[Katie]

I was just thinking something like this would be fabulous, and here someone is already making them and selling them. They even have a retail store in my town. Perfect!

[Lisa]

I also wear a cami or tank under any top I'm wearing as a way to keep my belly covered. I pull up the outer shirt, pull down the cami or tank, and away we go! I wish I hadn't wasted any money on nursing tops before I thought of this option. The belly band may even be easier than my solution...

[Michelle B]

I am nursing right now and would love to win this.

[carrie]

I wore one of these out during my pregnancy - I wish I had thought to use it when we were in the nurse around the clock mode and I couldn't stand to be in the house a minute longer. It would have made nursing in public a much less public thing! I could care less who sees me nurse, but I do care about the non-booby bits that were accidentally shown off by a baby doing acrobatic nursing stunts.

[Wendy]

What a great idea. I definitely need one of these in my drafty house!

[Robyn]

what an awesome idea!

[Kayla]

This is a really great idea!

[Amy F]

These are soooo cool. I love it! Hope I win one!

[Fawn]

Your solution to fashion and function while nursing is tops! Haha!
I'll be sure to mention your product when I attend my next La Leche League meeting. We're all trying to find ways to show the public that nursing is a a natural feeding choice, not an excuse to flaunt your breasts. I don't know a mom who WANTS to reveal more than absolutely necessary in our modest society.

I'm Mama to two little nurslings. They occasionally like to feed at the same time. Embarrassing at the best of times!
I'm sure there would be many advantages in frequently going "topless".

[Amie]

This looks like a good idea. I have a friend who makes her own nursing "dresses" out of men's undershirts. She makes a simple skirt and attaches it to the bottom of the undershirt. Then she makes a shirt out of the same fabric, that is long enough to cover the undershirt. When she is ready to nurse her baby she lifts up the top layer and pulls the armhole of the undershirt over enough to expose her breast for the baby. She stays warm and covered. I believe she has used these since her first child and she is on nursling #5. I don't think I have ever seen her wear anything else. :)

[Crystal]

I am about to become a second-time mom and would love to try this out!

[Debbie]

What a great idea!

[Sheila Rich]

My husband and I found out this past week that we are expecting our first child. I just started browsing on-line lately about pregnancy and babies. I've never experienced breast feeding yet, but this is such a practical yet fashionable idea. I would love to have one.

[sarah]

I have heard of these, but haven't been able to get one yet. I would love to try it out for nursing my twins. When I've got both of them feeding at the same time, it's pretty hard to keep my tummy warm!

[heather h]

I'm still nursing, and this would be a welcome addition to my mixture of too-short pre-pregnancy shirts and oddly sized "transition" wear. Oh, this is a wonderful giveaway!

[Jana (sidetrack'd)]

I would so like to have one of these for the remainder my pregnancy and nursing days. Thanks for a chance to win!

[Deanna Gibbons]

They did not have all this neat stuff when my oldest was born. (she's 15 now) 5 kids later and people are finally starting to think of us Moms! I'd love to win one of these.

[Marnie A. Bodapaty]

What a fabulous idea! Now that I know about the topless undershirt I feel as though I can't live without it... Oooh, pick me, pick me!

[Caryn Bailey]

Lovely!

[Jennifer]

Wow, what a simple, but great idea!

[rachel]

These sound awesome!!!!

[Mommy Bee]

Wow, such a SMART idea! Great giveaway!

[Mary Anna]

I love this idea! I nurse everywhere and am always worried about my muffin top on display!

[julia]

I would love to try this out! We're expecting our first in January and certainly live in a wintery climate where layering is essential most of the time anyway.

[Katherine L.]

I just found out I'm pregnant again. Wish I had found something clever like this the first time around!!

[Jennifer La Riviere]

My friend just had a baby and is going threw this dilemma right now. This would make a great Christmas gift for her.

[tuesday]

I love these undershirts. I have had my eye on them for awhile.

[Lauren]

I used to have a belly band too, when I was pregnant with #1. Unfortunately, I accidentally gave away ALL my maternity clothes! Now that #2 is on the way, I guess I get to restart the wardrobe. *sigh* Thanks for posting about this! It's a great idea!

[Lauren]

I used to have a belly band too, when I was pregnant with #1. Unfortunately, I accidentally gave away ALL my maternity clothes! Now that #2 is on the way, I guess I get to restart the wardrobe. *sigh* Thanks for posting about this! It's a great idea!

[SJ]

Seriously, why didn't I think of this? Three kids that I've nursed and three years that I've been chilled at some point. These people are geniuses!

[Kate]

What a fantastic idea! I'm nursing my 7 month old daughter and just found out that #2 is on the way so I'd be overjoyed to win one of these. I'm in the midwest and it's not just a cool breeze here, it's all out icy cold!

[Patricia]

Fantastic idea! I am getting tired of layering with tank tops for nursing....

[Laura P]

Man, this product sounds amazing!! We're anticipating baby #2s arrival in January!! This would be great!

[Naomi]

I would love these for nursing!

[Jackie]

I can think of all the crazy plces I've nursed my son already, and this would be great!

[Jennifer Zerangue]

I SO wish they'd had these when I was nursing my oldest!

[Glernnen]

I'm a big fan of nursing camis, but this could help when those are all in the wash. Very clever idea. I loved the extra warmth my belly band provided during my winter pregnancy, so this could keep my nursing self warm, too!

[mama k]

me please! I could really use this.