A rash guard and separates are the best nursing beachwear.

Skip the one-piece nursing swimsuits. They are overpriced, hard to get on and off when wet, and the nursing access is usually a dumb flap that bunches weird.

Buy a rash guard with a zipper or just a regular one you can pull up, plus high-waisted bottoms or a swim skirt. You get sun protection on your torso, easy boob access (just hike the shirt up or unzip), and you can wear the bottoms again with a different top. Bonus: you don’t look like you’re wearing a nursing swimsuit which is always a win.

If you prefer something more classic, a button-down swim shirt or a wrap-style suit works too. But the rash guard combo is the most practical—dries fast, doesn’t dig in, and the access is actually easy.

Avoid anything marketed specifically as “nursing” unless you find it on deep discount. You’re paying for a label that solves a problem a $25 rash guard already solves better.