A while back on Facebook, I posed a question about nursing wear and requested recommendations. My friend, Aubrey, pointed me to this blog site and I knew I had hit the jackpot!
So here’s the little craft I’ve been up to lately: nursing tanks.
These tanks work with the nursing bras as an undershirt to keep you from baring your belly when lifting your shirt. Sure, you could just pull the neck of your shirt down instead, but you’ll likely end up with stretched-out necks. Additionally, if your child is anything like mine, you’ll end up with dribbled milk on your collar anyway.
So I gathered my supplies: a selection of $2.80 Forever 21 tanks, scissors, a needle, some thread (didn’t match, but didn’t care since it’s an undershirt) and some fray guard (’cause I already had it).
I cut the strap off of the back (though I’m sure a seam ripper would have looked more professional).
Leaving about an inch and a half to two inches of strap in the front, I sealed the ends with a fray guard.
Looping the bitty strap around, I stitched it into a tiny loop. (This shot is from the back of the left side.)
When finished stitching both sides, you get a tank that looks like this:
Those loops attach to the top of your nursing bra snaps:
So when you unhook your bra, your tank goes with it:
Thanks, Aubrey, for passing this along! This was such an inexpensive solution that has allowed me to continue wearing the shirts that I already own as now I can just layer them over all of my crafty nursing tanks.
Feel free to like/share and pass along this post if you know moms who would benefit from this! I’m tempted to make these as gifts for expecting mothers who are inclined to give nursing a go.
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Genius!
Oh my word. This is awesome!!!!!!!!! If only I had known!!!!!
Way cool !!!
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Very cool!!
Very cool wish I would have known like 3 babies ago..lol.
Passing it on to Joanna. Her little girl was born about the same time the Bennett was born.
Clever and Creative!
LOVE THIS IDEA! And I’m 5 months in, but it’s not too late for me! This solves so many problems.
Clever!
I love this idea! Takes away the bulk of wearing a nursing bra and a nursing tank! One question, though. What happens to the back of the tank? Does it just hang in place or so you attach it to the bra somehow? It is it held fairly tight like a tube top? Thanks!
The back is snug enough to lay flat against your back without slouching. Cool, huh?
Very cool! I am due with my second in two months. I will be making a lot of these in every color. =) I was also thinking these would make a great baby shower gift for breastfeeding moms! Thank you for replying. I am so excited.
what about the back? it did fall down at all?
Nope, never.
My children are late 20s and early 30s but couldn’t you buy a tank with the built in bra, cut the straps near the front and add a hook this way you have both the bra and the tank in one piece of clothing? Some of the tanks with built in bras have some decent support.
@Kathy,
I love that idea of using tanks with shelf bras and just adding hooks! I’ve currently collected many actual “nursing tanks” since I’m still nursing my#2 baby, but more than half are considered “full sling” and I now much prefer only “side sling”, as there is less material and it doesn’t feel as awkward. My problem is trying to figure out how to make my full-sling into side-sling nursing tanks. FYI, for those new nursing Mamas… If you plan to use actual nursing tanks, normally you would NOT need to use a nursing bra as well, the tank has more than enough coverage and support :-).
That only works if your girls are pretty small. I haven’t been able to wear one of those tanks with a built in bra since middle school. There is absolutely no way that would work for the majority of breast feeding mothers because the support simply isn’t there for most of us.
Ah, but you see, I actually wore this over a supportive, nursing bra. The tank isn’t a bra, but more an under-layer to cover your midsection when you lift your top shirt to nurse.
It’s not meant to wear without a nursing bra. I actually wore those tanks and I’m normally a D, during breastfeeding I naturally went up in size. Wish I had known this, it would’ve saved me so much hassle. It genius.
I measure at a 36 K(yes a K, not a typo) and I never wear a bra of any kind. I only wear tanks with shelf bras. Nursing or not – a bra definitely isn’t required. It takes some getting used to but your ladies will thank you!
I have no need for these but for those who do may I suggest you can buy white nursing bra’s and dye them to match the color of your tank.
Eileen, great idea! dying the bras to match the tank tops I would not be comfortable with a different color bra from the tank color. buying them is a good idea or just buying a black or dark colored tank tops to match dark bras
I used this for my first baby and I just wrote a blog post about nursing tanks and uncovered nursing and I have a link going to this tutorial. Let me know if you would rather I didn’t š
Totally cool. Thank you!
I was winding what do you do with the back? Does it just stay up on its own or do you attach it somehow?
It stays up on its own as it’s fairly snug. I’ve never had issue with it drooping.
I did this to my tanks too! (They were even Forever 21 tanks.) I used little rubber rings, like for knitting. You can find them at a fabric or craft store, and it works great! My backs do fall down, but I don’t notice it too much.
Ooooh, I think I know which rings you’re talking about. Great idea!
This is a great idea! Now if only I can find nursing bras that actually fit me properly and aren’t expensive!
I love this idea, I may even make the back of the tank straps that same way but sew them on the snap buttons and snap them around the back side of the bra if I notice any sagging. Thank you so much for the idea!
You bet!
Great Idea! I can’t wait to use these next month with baby number 2! I bought jr. tank tops at Walmart for $1.68!
I just remade my own for baby #2!
What did you do for the back of the shirt? How does it clip on to the bra?
The back does not secure to the bra, but always fit well enough to cover it without sagging.