To boppy or not to boppy?

sabrinafair · March 2010

Filling in the registry a bit more and torn about if I need/want a BF pillow like boppy or my breast friend.

Anyone who's used these and can give advice?

Butterbean52 · March 2010

Well, I used the Boppy for DS... but my BFF who just had #2 (and used the Boppy for #1) has told me that My Breast Friend is much better (I think the surface area is larger.)

Food for thought.

LCB34 · March 2010

You might want to try posting this on 0-3 months as well since they all have new babies and will probably be using the products!

StephanieDM · March 2010

I say definitely add a Boppy! Every mom I've ever talked to swears it was super helpful to have! You can use it for other things too like helping the baby sit up, or tummy time. Not just BFing. Super useful.

FYI, if you don't get a Boppy for your shower I've seen them at TJ Maxx and Marshalls with covers for cheaper than the regular store sell the plain non-covered ones.

tifvolley · March 2010

I hated my Boppy for nursing. It was bulky and I could never get it positioned where DS and I were comfortable. I ended up using some regular pillows and used the Boppy for tummy time.

I have heard a lot of people rave about My Breast Friend.

CarolinaKatie · March 2010

YES!!! Register for one. You will LOVE it. Register for a couple of covers too so you can switch one out in case of spit up, messes, etc. They are awesome for both breastfeeding and nursing. Or just holding the baby. My mom loved it to just help hold him (a pillow would work in that situation too under your elbow, but boppies are so comf.

They also work for propping baby up - supervised of course. When I was alone with son during his early months, half the pictures I took of him (first smile, posing in Halloween costume, etc) were of him being propped up with the boppy. Another use - for you to sit on after birth. This was actually the original purpose for the boppy actually! You want to sit and rest, but your coochie hurts for a few days!

Mrs.Rose · March 2010

I never really used mine for BFing, but did use it for propping up DS until he could sit unassisted. I also put it under him when he was laying on the playmat so he was not laying flat on his back and could reach the toys. For that stuff, it was super useful.

mbyoung · March 2010

I had a boppy with DD and hated it! It would always slide down when I was using it. I ended up using a regualr pillow instead. I did use the boppy when DD was learning how to sit though!

Kateysomething · March 2010

While I've never used the other, I loved my Boppy so much I bought a 2nd one to have elsewhere in the house.

lily225 · March 2010

I'd say get a boppy (over nothing - I don't know anything about the My Breast Friend). Even if you don't use it a ton with BFing (I found it to be more of a hassle than anything and rarely use it to nurse) it's a great baby item to have for tummy time or to lay the baby in. That's what I use mine for the majority of the time.

miketaylor · March 2010

I LOVED my Boppy. Used it every day for almost the entire first year with DD.

GinEthansMom · March 2010

This. I couldn't get used to feeling like I was in an inner tube. I just propped a regular pillow under the arm that cradled the baby. I think My Breast Friend is the same circular design. I know a lot of women love both though...

JinglesChic · March 2010

I prefer the Boppy. It can be used for different things while the other cannot. DS is always in it, we use it for tummy time, it makes a good between the knee pillow, and my dogs have held it hostage for a little while (we cleaned the cover afterward). I heard that the other is better for BFing. This may be the case, but it is usually only used for BFing. My milk never came in at all no matter what I did so it's good that I had the Boppy so that I can get more uses out of it. It's also easier to find covers and everything for the Boppy.

caymanbride · March 2010

I didn't even BF, and we used the Boppy alot with DS when he was a newborn. It was great to have in the hospital, and it helped a lot of people hold him so their arms didn't get too tired (our grandmothers, etc....)

katie277s · March 2010

I didn't use a boppy. Instead, we just bought a pillow that fit in a corner (on side was slanted and the other had a right angle) and it worked perfect for us. I think we spent $10 on it, instead of the boppy.

niccole_e · March 2010

I used both, and I have to say I loved my Breastfriend, it positioned the baby 100x's better (for me) than the Boppy. i actually gave up on the Boppy and used a regular pillow before getting the Breastfriend, world of difference.

I did use the Boppy for many other things b/c I had it.

stellablue96 · March 2010

If you are only going to get one and you plan on bf-ing I strongly suggest the brestfriend. I had a boppy and a brestfriend and there is NO comparison. I thought the boppy was useless for bf-ing (I did use it for other things...tummy time...help with sitting...etc).

Here is a great blog article on it: https://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/my-brest-friend-review-and-giveaway/

LittleMs.Wifey · March 2010

I used a Boppy with DD and loved it. Used it multiple times a day for the 16 months we breastfed. Plan on using it again with this baby.

Like pp said, it's also good for propping baby up when they aren't quite ready to sit unassisted or laying them on their tummy on it so they are propped up.

I used my bff's Breastfriend pillow while at her house and didn't care for it. But that could be just because I wasn't used to it!

VABride2008 · March 2010

My mom got me a nearly new boppy with a safari cover at her local second hand store. She got it for $7.00. Can't complain, hopefully it works out for us!

Temp700366562504480 · March 2010

My new boppy (2 years ago new) was not very supportive in the middle because it allowed for expansion (a little anyway). The older style that I bought on craigslist was much better...something to keep in mind. I'd check the My Brest Friend and see how it really differs. I've also heard the MBF is better--although a really bad name!

littleanomaly · March 2010

My SIL LOVES her boppy. She used it with both of her boys. She's a little tall, so even though both were over 10 pounds (!!!) she had to prop them up a little extra the first 2 weeks or so. But she loves it. I'm totally signing up for one.

mrsjenni · March 2010

It's a must-have IMO.

amygauntt@windstream.net · March 2010

Love LOVE the Boppy. It worked prefect for BF and DH even loved it & used it every time he held DD. Then we used it for tummy time, prop up a little (sitting right next to us) b/c of relux, and even when she wasn't quite sitting unassisted it worked great for her to be able to sit up.

Out of ANY of the baby stuff, that was by far what I would choose as the best thing we bought & the most used.

LovingMyHubby · March 2010

I have both and the BreastFriend is hands down better for breastfeeding. Like pp said, the boppy is good later to help them with sitting, tummy time, etc., but for breastfeeding, I thought it sucked. I would definitely get the Breastfriend if you are planning to BF.

sabrinafair · March 2010

Thanks for all the advice! I asked for two reasons:

1. I was visiting a friend using MBF and watching her get in an out of it seemed like too much work

2. Since I had a breast reduction it's a lot less likely I'll be able to breast feed so I wasn't sure if either were actually useful for other purposes

MrsMucker · March 2010

I registered for a boppy, you can also just use a regular pillow. I would not recommend My Breast Friend. We have one at work and it is the worst, it is big and bulky and soooo stiff! I would go with the boppy.