Do I really need a Bobby?

katgirl_4

Okay, I'm a new mom on a tight budget (isn't everyone these days?) and I'm trying to figure out what's truly necessary for our new baby... So I know it's convenient, but do I really want to spend $40 for a boppy pillow when I have about 15 regular pillows in my house that I don?t use right now? Can I stack 2 or 3 regular pillows on my lap to get the baby at the right height for nursing? Any opinions? Thanks for your help![Poll]

mngildersleeve

I'm a first time mother as well but I know from babysitting my niece and nephew when they were little that the boppy pillow is so useful for so many other things besides just breastfeeding. I always get it as a babyshower gift for my friends who are expecting. I think its definitely your preference though. You can try using other pillows and if you find its a hassel a boppy might be worth the investment.

JuneBugsMommy

I got one and only used it for nursing in the beginning but I could've easily did without. I did love it for propping DS up and tummy time in the beginning so he could actually see toys. Definitely a personal preference.

Bink720

I voted yes.  And I do believe that it's a personal preference, but I couldn't have done it with out one.  I'm very busty and even with a boppy it takes me 2 hands to properly position the baby.  I'm planning on taking it to the hospital with me when I deliver this time.  I wish I had done that last time.  I used to dread nursing any place other than home, simply because I didn't have a boppy with me at all times.

That said.  You don't have to run out and buy one new.  Start shopping the consignment stores in your area and start building a small collection of baby essentials.  I recommend Kid to Kid.  They are nationwide and very selective on what they will allow people to trade in.  I actually have a spare boppy from a mom who couldn't trade hers in due to slight discoloration on one seam.  They wouldn't accept it, so she just gave it to me. I wouldn't have even noticed the blemish.  I buy all of my son's clothes there.  I don't see the point in spending a couple hundred dollars every couple of months on an entirely new wardrobe for him. And the prices are great.  GL!  I hope you find something that works for you!

KellyM10

I'm not voting in the poll because I'm a FTM, but my sisters both swear by the boppy.  Said they wouldn't have lasted breast feeding for a week without it.

kristinrvb21

I brought mine to the hospital when Ladybug was born. The lactation nurse had me use 2 pillows instead. I used mine when I got home, but after a month or two I found it easier to nurse laying down with Ladybug laying next to me. In my opinion we do not need most of what we buy, it is just kind of nice to have.

KrisM86

I agree that none of the answers fit. Some people don't like the boppy, but most new moms find it helpful for breast feeding, especially in the beginning. I loved it for the first 4 or 5 months and used it nearly every time I nursed DD so for me it was worth it. It is the perfect added lift for nursing and stays nicely around your body even when you are constantly adjusting your baby. I definitely recommend it, but you certainly can nurse without it.

msharpe2

If money is the issue; I would buy another, less expensive breast feeding pillow. Department stores have tons of them. For me, I had one, and often found myself just using regular couch pillows just as often?so I wouldn?t call it essential. It was also awkward when DS was small.

UberBiz

I don't know if I could justify the cost, I got mine as a shower gift, but I can say that my daughter was so tiny (and my boobs so tiny), it took more than the boppy to lift her high enough to nurse. A few months in and I didn't use any pillows at all, but she did use it to sit up in, lay over, etc. for a long time after I was done using it for nursing. It's all a personal preference. Do you NEEEEED one? Probably not, you could probably get by without one. Was it handy for a while? Yeah, but so are so many other things that get thrown by the wayside after a few uses.

xxswebbxx

I don't think my vote would really count since I didn't bf BUT I did have a Boppy for my daughter & I loved it. It was worth the $40 for us because it was something we used everyday until she was too big to lay in it. Do you need one? No.

mypalbabs

LOL at the 20 different spellings of "Boppy".

We bought a used one for $10 at a consignment shop.  That might be the route to go if you plan to breastfeed.

branmuffin2112

mypalbabs:

LOL at the 20 different spellings of "Boppy".

We bought a used one for $10 at a consignment shop.  That might be the route to go if you plan to breastfeed.

Hahaha!

I'm a FTM so I can't really say. However I will say that I had a friend give me her boppy and then another friend send me a "congrats package" and it included a My Breast Friend (I know...terrible name) nursing pillow. I have compaired the two (minus a baby) and the My Breast Friend seems way better and sturdier. It stays firm and it has a latch that you can use so it won't move around. I'm very excited to try it out.

 

Buggygirl84

I put that it's up to you and your preference. That said, I had one and I LOVED it! It made nursing much easier and more comfortable for me. That allowed me to go longer and do a better job with it than I thought possible. I also used it for tummy time and now I use it with a blanket over it when I take infant photos (rarely, I'm just an amateur).

I think I would have been lost without it. We even got to the point where I could nurse LO and sleep at the same time (LOVE!).  

kelsea1031

branmuffin2112:

mypalbabs:

LOL at the 20 different spellings of "Boppy".

We bought a used one for $10 at a consignment shop.  That might be the route to go if you plan to breastfeed.

Hahaha!

I'm a FTM so I can't really say. However I will say that I had a friend give me her boppy and then another friend send me a "congrats package" and it included a My Breast Friend (I know...terrible name) nursing pillow. I have compaired the two (minus a baby) and the My Breast Friend seems way better and sturdier. It stays firm and it has a latch that you can use so it won't move around. I'm very excited to try it out.

 

I received both a Boppy and a My Brest Friend for my shower. I decided to keep both and while you don't need both, each have their pros. MBF is far better for actual nursing, IMO. It's sturdier, fits around your body better, and for me, sat higher up on my body so I wasn't killing my back. I even used it when I pumped to just have a sturdy spot to sit the bottles on and rest my arms. 

The Boppy was okay for trying to nurse, but I used it in the hospital more because it was a little 'cushier' and after having a c-section, I really appreciated having that soft barrier between DD and my incision. I could have managed nursing with the Boppy, but preferred the MBF. However, the Boppy has gotten way more use in the long run for non-nursing things. Before DD could sit up it made a good cushion for her. As she was learning to sit up it made a good landing spot. And even now, she'll use it as a little pillow as she's crawling/walking around and playing. And DH uses it as a couch pillow allll the time. 

old_time_girl

I never had one so you don't need it. Would it be nice? Maybe. But certainly not a need.

mollyskywalker

As PPs have stated, the Boppy is a big help when BFing because instead of holding your baby you can use your hands to do other things to pass the time (i.e. read, check your phone, etc.). BUT it's useful for a lot more than just BFing. When DS was a newborn, he would often fall asleep in it and we could prop him in it if we needed to tend to something else for a minute (we obviously supervised him whenever he was in it). When DS started sitting up and was still unsteady, we would put it behind him to cushion his fall if he tipped over.  

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synchrosally

The nursing pillow my SIL gave me SUCKED! I used stacked pillows and it was way better. I've heard great things about My Breast Friend though and am thinking of getting one.

ETA: I did use the nursing pillow when my son was learning to sit up. It was awesome for that! I learned the hard way not to nurse crosshold for too long. I developed tendonitis in my left wrist from wanting to type on TB with my right hand while nursing.

kikis first

I honestly hated mine for nursing. I kept trying to use it, but found that it really only got in my way. I ended up using it a handful of times to sit DD in. I found that it was easy enough just to hold her without any pillows.