This review and giveaway is part of the New Baby Event Part 2!

It is absolutely no secret that Bravado is my favorite nursing bra company.  I have become an unofficial evangelist to my readers (you guys) and anyone else I meet in person or online looking for advice on a great nursing bra.  In fact, I recently wrote about my quest to find my perfect nursing bra and how many crummy ones I bought before meeting Bravado.  I also took a belly photo every week wearing a bra and bottoms.  It turns out that I am wearing a Bravado bra in every single photo (and the tank top in my 41 weeker!)  You can view my “ad” for Bravado bras here. It seems I have reviewed almost every bra they make, and they are all fabulous, but my favorite is the Bliss.

Up until recently I had never had the pleasure of trying their Essential Nursing Bra Tank. Recently though, Melissa from Bravado was kind enough to send one for me to review.  Having a newborn means nursing very frequently.  It also means you need easy access and full coverage at home and on the go. A good nursing tank is truly an essential for a new mother!!!

What you’ll love about the Essential Nursing Bra Tank:

• Proprietary design gives you a full support (molded) bra on the inside, a beautiful shape and cottony comfort, all in one!
• Perfect to wear every day as you are out and about, around the house, going to yoga class, lounging or as sleepwear.
• Imagine…you’ll look terrific, feel great and it is easy to nurse in public because it provides tummy coverage where you need it.
• Fabric gently stretches while retaining its shape after washing. A two for one value because it is easy to find your tank size while pregnant and then continue to wear it after birth
• Soft, high-quality cotton/spandex outer fabric isn’t see through, even in white
• Cups drop down and away from your body, giving baby complete access and providing you and your baby with skin-to-skin contact
• Discrete nursing clips allow full breastfeeding access and only you will know this is a nursing tank
• Long length gives you a beautiful and flattering shape that’s fitted but not clingy, with a great hip length

What makes the Bravado Essential Nursing tank better than the other nursing tank tops I have tried:

No uniboob! Virtually every other tank top I have tried smooshes my girls together to creat one boob.  Not flattering.

Support! While I am not as well endowed as others, I have D cups so I do need a fair amount of support.  This tank keeps them where they belong, above my belly button and then some!

Quality! Bravado products are made extremely well and it shows.  I have no problems wearing this tank top with an open sweater or jacket.  It is visible but doesn’t scream “hey I am a nursing bra!”

Discretion! The nursing clips are discreet and flat.  No one can tell they are there unless you point them out.

Wearing the Essential Tank while in labor

I started wearing this tank top while I was pregnant, probably around 38 weeks when it came in the mail.  It stretched to fit over my belly.  It was so comfortable I chose to put it on while I was in labor after I got out of the shower!  I labored in it for a couple of hours before I got into the birth tub.  (You can see me “modeling” the Essential Tank in photos featured in my homebirth video)

Since giving birth I have worn the Bravado nursing tank over 2 dozen times at least!  Every time I do laundry I make sure this is included.  It usually gets grabbed out of the dryer or basket to be worn right away.

I prefer this tank top for daytime use.  The discreet nursing clips are a little harder to maneuver at night because they twist in rather then a straight pull on clip.  This allows the clips to be completely flat so wearing the tank top out and about is possible without telling the world you are in a nursing top.  I would rather wear a traditional style nursing tank top at night, or another easy to nurse in top.

My favorite time to wear the Bravado nursing tank has to be when I am babywearing.  I pair the tank top with an open over shirt or a button down sweater, something that leaves my tank top exposed at the top.  While wearing my son I can undo the clips and latch him on easily.  The tank top is also pretty slimming and flattering so that doesn’t hurt!

Another reason I love this tank top is that it is a V neck.  Most nursing tank tops I have seen are scoop neck and not as flattering for my bust.  This also has ruching in the center.

And lastly, Bravado Nursing Tanks come in more colors than you can find with other brands.  Besides the wardrobe staples of black and white, there is chocolate, purple, pink, teal, and green.  I chose the chocolate.  It has matched so many of my tops!

I can’t stress this enough: when it comes to nursing attire, spend the money the first time on a product that works!  I promise, if you buy the Essential Nursing Bra Tank you will wear it twice a week or more for the entirety of your nursing career.  And if you are like me, you are in it for the long haul.  49.00 is nothing for 1-2 years of comfort and quality.  Plus, you can continue wearing if long after nursing thanks to the discreet clips.  If you are having more kids, it is an even better investment piece for your wardrobe.

Bravado always has amazing sweepstakes going on.  Click the image to enter!

Bravado Designs is also sponsoring a giveaway for an Essential Nursing Tank for one lucky DDL Reader!

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Bravadodesigns.com. Take a look around their new website and/or blog.  Tell me an interesting fact or tidbit (can be from either) and leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Every new mom needs an Essential Nursing Bra Tank from @bravadodesigns.  Enter to win from @KimRosas. http://et9n3.th8.us Ends Dec 7.” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

(1 Entry) Follow on @Bravadodesigns Twitter. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Sign up for the Bravado Newsletter. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

(2 entries) Blog about this giveaway and link to it. Post a link in the comment.

(2 entries) Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

(1 Entry) Click “Share this” and share this giveaway on your Facebook page. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) “Like” Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook.  Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Go to Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and start a discussion or reply to a discussion.  Tell me what you did. Just leave your comment

(1 Entry) Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Leave a comment.

An Essential Nursing Bra Tank Top was sent for the purposes of this review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are 100% my own and genuine.  Seriously!  Giveaway ends on Dec 7. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*

Hotslings, a company known for their stylish and easy to use babywearing products, have recently launched MilkDaze, a stylish and practical nursing camisole.

Make sure to milk it in our nursing apparel! Designed with mom in mind, our collection aims to make nursing anywhere fashion-forward and as easy as possible. We’ve eliminated the need for clips, snaps or hooks and incorporated pull-aside layers that allow for quick nursing without the fuss. All of the pieces in this growing collection are cut to hit lower on the waist, ensuring full coverage and keeping that postpartum figure in check. Sized on a generic sizing scale, moms will wear the same size in MilkDaze as they would in other mainstream brands.

The MilkDaze nursing camisole is a pull over style, meaning you pull one panel over to reveal the opening, still leaving the base panel that supports your breast and keeps you partially covered.  This style has always been hit or miss for me.  I like the convenience of it, but I always get one that doesn’t have enough room in the opening, or the panel slides over slowly and gets in the way.

I was happy to find that none of those issues occurred with the MilkDaze Cami.  It is simple enough to pull the panel and latch my son on.  Then, I push the other panel around his mouth to make sure I am completely covered.  Out of all of the nursing tops I have owned, this is the most discreet.  Since receiving it to review I have made a point to wear it for every flight I take, and if I know I will be out in a large crowd, I wear it as well.

The best thing about the MilkDaze is the support it gives!  Most nursing tank tops I have tried give the dreaded “uniboob,” with the exception of a few notable brands.  But those still don’t lift my breasts as much as the MilkDaze.  I have, if I say so myself, amazing cleavage in this cami.  It gives almost as much support as a regular nursing bra.  I love the sweetheart cut too!  It is so flattering to my bustline.

The MilkDaze comes in two colors: black and white.  I would love to see it come in more neutral tones since I like to wear oranges and browns and deep greens.  But, I also wear a ton of black.  You could get by having either color, or both, and be able to wear it under most tops.  The cami has a generous length to keep your tummy covered too.  It gives a nice layering look under other tops.

If you are wondering why Hotslings would make nursing attire, think of how easy it would be to wear your baby in a Hotslings Pouch or Hotslings AP and nurse them while wearing your MilkDaze!  Since my son is now at a great age for the hip carry, that is how we babywear and nurse when we need to, and it works fabulously.

Wouldn’t you LOVE to add a MilkDaze to your wardrobe?

Hotslings is giving one lucky DDL reader their own MilkDaze Cami.

For your mandatory entry, tell me where you would use your MilkDaze.  Since I have used mine on my travels, I want to know where you would use it! ***no one word answers please, but don’t write a book either, mmk!

For Extra Entries do any or all of the following, remember to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “I want to win a MilkDaze Cami from @hotslings and @KimRosas. http://3dq44.th8.us #bfing” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet every day, once a day, for the duration of the contest.

Follow @HotSlings on twitter. Leave a comment.

Become a fan of Hotslings on Facebook. Leave a comment.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

The MilkDaze is Buy One Get One Half off until January 5th!  Use code MDHalf at check out.  Stock up!

Giveaway ends on January 6. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

***Open to US and Canadian Residents!***

I was not paid to perform this review or host the giveaway.  I did receive a sample to review, free of charge, which was kept.  All opinions expressed are my own.

How often do you hear that sentence?  In the past month, I have heard it once and experienced it wordlessly one other time.

While flying back from Charlotte NC I was alone with my son.  I don’t even want to count how many times we have flown by ourselves.  The only way I would consider it is if I am babywearing (godsend for flying, let me tell you) and nursing (godsend for inside of the airplane).  Since I am still able to do both it was no biggie.

On the flight from Charlotte to JFK I sat next to a large, but nice and friendly man who was more than happy to make conversation with Fletcher and I.  Once the plane took flight I knew what I needed to do to make everyone’s experience positive.  Nurse.  It was nap nap time for my son, and time for me to watch TV on Jetblue!  I was wearing a nursing tank, the Hotslings Milk Daze (which I am reviewing and hosting a giveaway for soon!!!) and I pulled over one layer and latched him on.  All the while, the man next to me is chatting us up.  I didn’t want to say anything to him, but I assumed he would figure out what I was doing and pay attention to his screen.

Instead, he continued talking to me.  He even tried peering over to see if my baby was asleep.  He seemed completely oblivious.  Since I am not shy at nursing in public, and I knew my nipples were covered by baby and my breast was mostly covered by my tank, I wasn’t offended.  Maybe, if I had a regular tank top on and my breast was pulled out of the top, I would have made more of an effort to tell him what was actually happening.  ”No sir, my son isn’t asleep yet, but he is breastfeeding.”

Soon, he did go to sleep, and I put on my headphones for the universal sign of “I would like to relax and discontinue conversation, thank you.”  Our conversation ended until landing and he never was the wiser.

Just a few days ago, a similar situation occurred.  I was at the mall with a friend, and she was chatting with someone she knew.  My son was a little hungry, and very grumpy.  After the usual tactics to calm him and save my sanity, I went to the tried and true: milkies.

We sat on a bench while they chatted and I pulled my sweater up and unhooked my nursing bra.  He laid across my lap and had a light snack.  Then, a woman and her 2 year old daughter came to the bench.  She stood her daughter up on the bench to outfit her in the proper winter attire to leave the mall.  That day, it was a full suit because it was freezing!

Next to me I saw the most adorable shoes I have ever seen.  They were Mary Janes with pandas on the tip.  I was dying!  I struck up a conversation with the woman and commented on her daughter’s shoes.  We chatted while they got dressed (the girl also had a matching hat and mittens!).  When they were close to leaving my son finished so I sat him up and pulled my sweater down.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were breastfeeding.”  I let her know it was no trouble, and nothing to be sorry about.  It was a normal thing we were used to doing.  Then she let me know she nursed her daughter til she was 16 months, and only weaned at her daughter’s cues.  That was a wonderful thing to hear!  Not many mothers make it to toddlerhood.  I think we had a little “bonding” moment as we gushed about how much we loved nursing our babies.  Then we said goodbye.

Encounters like this always make me wonder, what is the big deal about nursing in public?  There is always a way to be discreet (unless you simply don’t want to, which is another matter) and nurse with no breast visibility.  Maybe, if you are very large busted it is harder or impossible.  I have never had one of those so I don’t know!