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Nursing pillows are one of the essential items for breastfeeding moms, especially for first-time moms. Research has shown that breastfeeding positioning is very important to ensure effective breastfeeding process and nursing pillow is one of the tools used to help mothers achieving good nursing position. Nursing pillows alleviate the challenges which are associated with breastfeeding and make the process more comfortable for the mother and baby.
As you get into the world of breastfeeding, you might want to consider purchasing a nursing pillow to make your life a little easier.
But before purchasing one, do you know how to choose the best nursing pillow for your need. Here are some things to consider before you decide which nursing pillow is the best for you.
Table of Contents
- 1 How To Choose Your Perfect Nursing Pillow | Things to Consider
- 2 Best Nursing Pillows for Breastfeeding Moms Reviews
- 2.1 1. Bobby Original Nursing Pillow: Best for Budget
- 2.2 2. My Best Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow: Best for Back Support
- 2.3 3. Leachco Cuddle-U Nursing Pillow: Best for Multipurpose
- 2.4 4. Blessed Nest Organic Nursing Pillow: Best For Organic
- 2.5 5. Infantino Elevate Nursing Pillow: Best for Unique Design
- 2.6 6. The Twin Z Breastfeeding Pillow : Best for Twin
- 2.7 7. Lansinoh Nursie Breastfeeding Pillow: Best for On The Go
- 3 Conclusion
How To Choose Your Perfect Nursing Pillow | Things to Consider
1. A good fit
Different moms have different waist sizes, and a good nursing pillow should fit snug enough around your waist. The best way to do this is to simply try the pillows and see how you feel. Does the pillow feel too tight or just fine? If you can’t try it yourself, reading reviews in Amazon, particularly the detailed one mentioning posture size would tremendously helps.
Another thing that you should pay attention is how baby will fit onto the pillow. Remember that a good nursing pillow is supposed to help you breastfeed comfortably. So the baby should be in the breast level without you needing to bend forward. If the baby position becomes too high or too low, that indicates that the pillow may not be a good fit for you.
RELATED: 30+ Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
2. The Shape
Different types of nursing pillows come in different shapes. Some common ones are:
- C-shaped nursing pillow, such as Boppy Original Nursing Pillow. This classic shape tend to fit moms of various sizes and provide arm support no matter which position you are using to feed your baby.
- Crescent-shaped nursing pillow, such as Blessed Nest nursing pillow. This crescent-shape nursing pillow will not hug your waist tightly so it could be a good choice for moms having C-section. Additionally, larger size moms were reported to prefer these kind of nursing pillows compared to the C-shaped ones.
- O-shaped nursing pillows. These pillows come with a belt to secure the pillow around your waist, so your baby won’t fall easily between you and the pillow.
- Other shapes. There are some other shape of nursing pillows, such as arm-shaped nursing pillow that’s perfect for travel and book-shaped nursing pillow such as Infantino Elevate.
Each of these shapes are designed to help you feed your baby better. But again, the performance of each shape would depends on your posture size, your baby size, and your intended usage.
3. Ease to use and portability
Do you want a nursing pillow that is easy to grab and easy to remove? Do you need the one with strap so it feels secure around your body? Or you prefer the adjustable one so that you can adjust baby’s height as they grow from newborn stage to older baby. Additionally, some nursing pillow is compact enough to while you are going out or travelling, while others are too bulky and are meant for using at home only.
4. Ease to clean
This is something big to consider. Baby spits and it’s easy for the nursing pillow to get stained. So you need to check, whether the nursing pillow is easy to clean. Does it have removable cover? Can it be machine-washable?
5. Pattern and prints
If you like to look stylish, this can be an important consideration for you. Do you prefer a nursing pillow that comes with various options of pillow cover prints? Or a simple plain one will do. Some nursing pillows offers abundant types of prints that you can choose from (such as Boppy) while others only have limited pattern selection (such as Blessed Nest nursing pillow or Lansinoh Nursie).
Alright, we have discussed several factors to help you choose a good nursing pillow. Next, I’ve personally handpicked some of the best nursing pillows (including the unique ones to consider) and you can check out our reviews of the best nursing pillows below.
Best Nursing Pillows for Breastfeeding Moms Reviews
1. Bobby Original Nursing Pillow: Best for Budget
This nursing pillow is very popular and has been around for thirty years. It’s an award-winning project with a cotton blend fabric. This nursing pillow has won several awards voted for by parents and people in the baby community. It won the Baby Center Mom’s Pick Best of 2018 and was 2018’s What to Expect Must-Have Winner.
The Bobby Original Nursing Pillow is one of the best in the market. Both the pillow and the easily removable cover are machine washable. The nursing pillow has a cotton fabric.
I love that how you can continue using nursing pillow throughout the first year of your baby’s life. During the first few weeks of the baby’s life, the nursing pillow can be used to position the baby for comfortable breastfeeding, especially when your baby is a newborn.
When your baby is three months old, the nursing pillow can be used to prop the baby up. It’s excellent for tummy time when the baby is six months old.
The baby can sit on the nursing pillow when they are nine months so that the baby doesn’t fall back and hurt themselves. It offers great ergonomic support for breastfeeding moms. The pillow is light, and only weighs 2.6 pounds.
Pros
- Cover is available in many designs
- Useful for many purposes
- Reasonably priced
- Helps for holding a baby after C-section
Cons
- if you have long torso, you may need one or more pillows to prop the baby up to the breast level. Better suited for petite mothers.
- Some moms notice that the pillow is too soft and unable to support the baby properly
Boppy Original Nursing Pillow is also selected as Amazon Choice among the vast varieties of nursing pillow. Interested? Click here to read other moms’ review about Boppy Original Nursing Pillow.
PS: Boppy also has another nursing pillow which comes with strap and two levels of firmness, called Boppy Best Latch Breastfeeding Pillow. One side is firmer than other, meant for newborns, and the softer side is meant for older babies. Click here to learn its detailed specification.
2. My Best Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow: Best for Back Support
This impressively designed pillow has excellent features that give you value for your money. Comfort and quality are integral to its design. It’s light in weight and is an excellent choice for lactating mothers and also used in hospitals.
This nursing pillow is made of 100% cotton and is comfortable for your neck, back and arms. It is firm and flat and ensures the baby will not roll out of position while you are breastfeeding.
You can secure the pillow firmly around you. This gives you an ideal position for holding the baby. This pillow will likely to be your best friend during those constant nursing and growth-spurts day whereby you spend a lot of time nursing.
Pros
- Removable cover
- Can be fastened around your body
- Firm and comfortable, baby will not fall easily
- Has a variety of designs and colors
- Pocket for bottle, burp cloth, and other things
Cons
- Babies outgrow the nursing pillow fast
- It can be a hassle to use this pillow because of time taken to fasten and unfasten the pillow
FAQ
What’s the difference between My Brest Friend Deluxe and
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow? Both have patented My Brest Friend features that’s supportive for nursing moms. But My Brest Friend Deluxe comes with super soft removable fabric cover and double-featured strap for easy on and quiet removal. Eventually, both designs are well loved by nursing mothers, shown by the huge number of positive reviews on each of them.
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow? Both have patented My Brest Friend features that’s supportive for nursing moms. But My Brest Friend Deluxe comes with super soft removable fabric cover and double-featured strap for easy on and quiet removal. Eventually, both designs are well loved by nursing mothers, shown by the huge number of positive reviews on each of them.
3. Leachco Cuddle-U Nursing Pillow: Best for Multipurpose
If you want a multi-purpose pillow, you should consider getting Leachco Cuddle-U nursing pillow. It’s made from great materials and includes a safety wrap that protects your child.
This nursing pillow is made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. The nursing pillow is specially designed so that the material doesn’t slide off but instead stays in place even if the baby wiggles. The nursing pillow doesn’t have a removable cover.
The pillow has a seat wrap that makes it easy for it to be used as a recliner for the baby. The baby will stay in place and not roll over. The U-shaped design makes the product comfortable to hold the baby while nursing without straining your muscles.
Pros
- Multi-purpose
- Concealed pocket beneath the pillow
- Safety wrap feature
- Can be used by plus-sized moms
Cons
- No removable cover
- Not machine washable
With more than 1000 positive reviews, I think Leachco Cuddle-U is definitely one of the most-preferred nursing pillows for breastfeeding mothers.
4. Blessed Nest Organic Nursing Pillow: Best For Organic
If you prefer an organic option, Blessed Nest Nursing Pillow is your perfect choice. It has crescent shape and tall enough to support your baby without leaning forward.
Not only it is made of organic and natural materials, Blessed Nest nursing pillow has special fillings (bukcwheat hulls) that makes it easy to mold around your body and provides great support, not only during breastfeeding but even during pregnancy.
The filling makes it heavier than other nursing pillow and for the organic material, do expect higher price compared to other brand.
Pros:
- made from organic and natural material
- good support for mother and baby
- removable cover for easy cleaning
Cons:
- the pillow feels heavy, use football fold first if you had C-section
- price is expensive
- limited pattern available
5. Infantino Elevate Nursing Pillow: Best for Unique Design
If you feel the classic nursing pillow does not serve the purpose because it does not bring baby high enough for feeding, you may be interested in Infantino Elevate nursing pillow. This pillow has a unique design, like a book, in which you can adjust the height of the baby by stacking up its layers easily. No more hunching forward when nursing.
Pros:
- adjustable height for better nursing position
- great for moms with long torso
- removable slip cover for easy cleaning
Cons:
- it’s not multipurpose, so the usability ends once your baby is old enough to nurse without a pillow
- limited pattern
- some moms reported that this pillow is too firm
>> Click here to read other moms’ review about Infantino Elevate Nursing Pillow <<
6. The Twin Z Breastfeeding Pillow : Best for Twin
The Twin Z Pillow is a soft and comfy product that offers support with its flat and firm design. It also comes with a convenient pocket, and all-round the design is both beautiful and ergonomic.
It provides twin support for infant reflux, bottle feeding and breastfeeding. You can use this pillow for support when nursing two babies at the same time, which is great when you have twins.
This pillow not only provides excellent back support, it’s also great for bonding time with your baby. You can use the pillow as your toddler grows up and learns to sit.
Pros
- Available in many colors
- Removable cover for easy cleaning
- Can be used with twins and multiples
Cons
- This pillow is huge, so it may not be useful if you need to nurse in a narrow place. You’ll likely use this only on a bed, couch, or floor.
>> Click here to read other moms’ review about Twin Z Nursing Pillow <<
7. Lansinoh Nursie Breastfeeding Pillow: Best for On The Go
If you want a compact nursing pillow that you can bring on the go, Lansinoh Nursie is your perfect choice. This nursing pillow is compact and can fit inside your diaper bag, making it a versatile companion on the go.
Unlike other nursing pillows which are usually placed around your waist, you slide Lansinoh Nursie into your arm, so that your baby is elevated to breast level for comfortable feeding.
The compact size means the whole pillow is easily tossed into washing machine for easy cleaning. And have I said that the cover is very soft and comfortable? I bet every one loves snuggling with this cute nursing pillow.
Pros:
- compact, great for travel and on the go
- easy cleaning
- great for C-section moms
Cons:
- might be better suited for older babies, not tiny newborns
- limited pattern
>> Click here to read other moms’ review about Lansinoh Nursie Nursing Pillow <<
Conclusion
These nursing pillows are some of the best in the market. A nursing pillow is an essential item to have, and you should consider your budget and comfort when making a choice.
If you’re on a budget, you can get with the Boppy Original Nursing Pillow. It will serve you and your baby well for a long time. But if you need something more specific, the Brest Friend Deluxe is the next best option, that will surely help you supporting your baby during your long feeding days, especially with the back support.
If classic shape does not seem appealing to you, Infantino Elevate or Lansinoh Nursie may be your best bet to try. Ultimately, it comes back to your own preference and intended usage. Do choose your nursing pillow wisely to ensure you get its maximum usage during the baby years.
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I hope this review helps you in determining the best nursing pillows that fit your need as a breastfeeding mother.
Now onto you. Have you used any breastfeeding pillow before? Which brand is your favorite and why?
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