Do I really need a nursing pillow?

goldenB · October 2013

Hi mamas! The hospital bag thread got me thinking whether or not I need a nursing pillow...Personally, I was going to use a regular pillow when BFing, but maybe STM+s can help me decide that they are worth it.

If you used one, what would you recommend? Boppy vs Brestfriends vs_____?

TIA

vstevens · October 2013

I rarely say you "need" anything for a baby, but a breastfeeding pillow was an absolute must have for me...otherwise you spend so much time arranging throw pillows / side pillows to get in just the right position, it's a PITA. Everyone has their own preferences, but I loved the Boppy because it worked and I could use it for things other than BFing (i.e. a makeshift seat, tummy time etc.).

KEfam5 · October 2013

Do it. I didn't have one for the first 4 months thinking it wasn't a big deal. Then I found a Boppy at Once Upon A Child for $10 and thought I'd try it; it made nursing so much nicer and more comfortable.

jessicacss · October 2013

I used the Boppy, but you will see whatever works best for you. You need something when you are in public (at first), and the Breast Friend has a strap thing that could snap on your diaper bag. Once we got into the groove, a couple months in, I noticed that Chloe MUCH preferred side laying for eating. I got bad arm and wrist pain from holding her while nursing, instead of using the pillow (but I had de Quervain's tendonitis).

cpm1223 · October 2013

vstevens said:

I rarely say you "need" anything for a baby, but a breastfeeding pillow was an absolute must have for me...otherwise you spend so much time arranging throw pillows / side pillows to get in just the right position, it's a PITA. Everyone has their own preferences, but I loved the Boppy because it worked and I could use it for things other than BFing (i.e. a makeshift seat, tummy time etc.).

FTM here, but I was going to say this (the bolded) that they're good for other things besides bf-ing.

HappyDoc · October 2013

I am a FTM, but have heard such good things about them that I registered for two; one to keep downstairs and one to keep upstairs.

Piach · October 2013

I used the breastfriend for the first two weeks, but I think I am the special snowflake on this one. I developed pre-e after delivery, was hugely swollen and as a result had carpal tunal in both wrists. The breast friend was wonderful since it was secured with a buckle and didn't move.

After 2 weeks, I use the boppy almost every time I nursed at home (and on airplanes) for the entire time I nurse by DD (about 14 months). It just worked!

goldenB · October 2013

thanks for the responses ladies, I am now sold!

2Dash · October 2013

I really liked mine much better than a pillow. It was really helpful for getting baby in the right position. I got a larger long one as a present and a smaller more firm one - the smaller one was WAY more useful for me and I could even use it as a little prop/seat for the baby.

And that reminds me - I'm going to bring mine to the hospital this time - because what they have there is NOT comfortable!

alinafed · October 2013

K I try never to give advice as a FTM when questions are geared to STMs but... I have to say, I was hanging out with a newborn a few months ago and the nursing pillow helped EVERYONE! Even for us friends who were a bit scared to hold a 1 week old baby, we just passed him around on the nursing pillow and it made it so much easier and comfier to hold him. I obviously cannot speak to breast feeding specifically but in that moment I was like "I am for SURE getting one of these"... even when I bottlefeed or hold my 3 month old niece and such, I think it would really help."

Sorry to interfere when you are asking for STM's opinions!

MrsGraham06 · October 2013

The Boppy was good for just about everything. DH was able to use it while feeding the kids a bottle, too.

Firefly9 · October 2013

Nah, you don't *need* one. I bought a Breastfriend but then got a used Boppy for really cheap. Both worked well, but I didn't like strapping the Breatfriend around me when I used it. Also, I agree with other people who said you can use the Boppy for other things.

valigrl21 · October 2013

I ended up with 2 and rarely used either one. (Maybe I should save this for UO tomorrow) I found it really annoying to tote around when a pillow worked just fine for me.

I did use it a few times to prop DD up when she was first learning to sit up. But for BFing - I didn't like it.

cyndilouwho77 · October 2013

I LOVED my boppy with both of my DD's, they were a new fad back then...lol! I can not breastfeed but I do have c-sections and let me tell you the boppy was my best friend because it was really hard to lift any kind of weight the first few days so just holding my DD's to bottle feed became a chore....a friend brought their boppy to the hospital to help and OMG I made my ex go buy me one before we went home so that I didnt have to steal hers! Both of my girls used theirs for longer than a year....it became "their" pillow at some point...sadly in the last few years they have both given theirs away, looks like I am buying new ones!

moosebaby2011 · October 2013

I would said you don't need to have one, but they can be useful. I had both a boppy and a brestfriend, but neither really worked well for me for nursing. I just couldn't get comfortable. Of the two, I definitely found the boppy more helpful since it can be used for other things.

KimberlyTX · October 2013

I love my Boppy and used it all the time with DD. When we traveled, I just used regular pillows, but the Boppy was a lot more comfortable for me.

Unknown · October 2013

This content has been removed.

LatteLady5 · October 2013

I love my boppy. Right after delivery and for the first few weeks while everything was still healing I used it to sit on. It was perfect for giving my sore lower half cushion

I nursed with it for the first few months but could do without it if I had to.

Armyratt · October 2013

By far my most used item with my younger two.

barnowl0901 · October 2013

If I hadn't been gifted a hand-me-down one I wouldn't have thought twice about it (FTM). But it sounds like it's going to really come in handy, and they're not hard to find. Every time I go garage sale hopping I see one for $3 to $8.

jldubb0626 · October 2013

Love my Boppy. And I agree that it's not just for you, everyone can use it! It really helped my grandma and MIL out when they were holding DS when he was a baby. I still use my Boppy when I'm laying in bed reading. Keeps my arms from getting tired. Lol.

LittleMommaBlueHen · October 2013

I didn't have one with my first and I just used regular pillows or nothing at all. When I had DD someone gave me a boppy as a gift. Both DD and I hated it. I don't think I will be using pillows with this LO at all.

LittleMommaBlueHen · October 2013

cpm1223 said:

vstevens said:

I rarely say you "need" anything for a baby, but a breastfeeding pillow was an absolute must have for me...otherwise you spend so much time arranging throw pillows / side pillows to get in just the right position, it's a PITA. Everyone has their own preferences, but I loved the Boppy because it worked and I could use it for things other than BFing (i.e. a makeshift seat, tummy time etc.).

FTM here, but I was going to say this (the bolded) that they're good for other things besides bf-ing.

I kept mine for those other things. It was nice when DD was just starting to sit up.

gracete · October 2013

FTM but a friend recommended the Boppy so that's what I registered for

bethughknee · October 2013

HappyDoc said:

I am a FTM, but have heard such good things about them that I registered for two; one to keep downstairs and one to keep upstairs.

This. Even my friends who ended up not BFing had more than one! I've heard they're very versatile.

LexGator · October 2013

Yes, you need one. I had a Boppy and liked it, but I've heard good things about the My Breast Friend as well. A pillow just doesn't offer the same support/positioning that a nursing pillow does. You can get away with not using one when the baby is bigger, but it's tough to position that tiny newborn perfectly w/o the pillow. And bring it to the hospital with you!

nbbride06 · October 2013

Yes. My favorite was the Luna Lullaby.

LatteLady5 · October 2013

Oh and the boppy is great for tummy time too. I always propped DD up on it because she liked looking around and she'd happily play on her tummy for much longer than if she was just lying flat.

2Dash · October 2013

Also - another thought. I often used it with a baby blanket draped over it to take pictures of DS. When they can't sit up yet - this is great. And as others said good for tummy time too!

ChuggingWater · October 2013

All of this!!! It is one thing I kept.

vstevens said:
I rarely say you "need" anything for a baby, but a breastfeeding pillow was an absolute must have for me...otherwise you spend so much time arranging throw pillows / side pillows to get in just the right position, it's a PITA. Everyone has their own preferences, but I loved the Boppy because it worked and I could use it for things other than BFing (i.e. a makeshift seat, tummy time etc.).

katie-lynn3313 · October 2013

I hated my nursing pillow when I was trying to nurse but loved the pillow to help prop DS up....we got a ton of use out of it. Mine didn't come with a cover so I bought one bc you will want to wash it often

goldenB · October 2013

The Canadian BRU doesn't have the boppy pillow

is the mombo (pictured below) or jolly jumper nursing pillow just as good?

precious72381 · October 2013

Can I ask a question about this...I live in a two-story house and read that it is great to have two (one for each floor) but was curious if anyone uses their pregnancy pillow instead. I figured it was shaped the same but wasn't sure if it is as stable. Any opinions about that?

vstevens · October 2013

goldenB said:

The Canadian BRU doesn't have the boppy pillow is the mombo (pictured below) or jolly jumper nursing pillow just as good?

The one you posted looks comparable, but my friends in Toronto all had Boppys - any other baby stores you can reach? Or what about Amazon Canada? (Although the prices there are definitely not as good as here!)

goldenB · October 2013

precious72381 said:

Can I ask a question about this...I live in a two-story house and read that it is great to have two (one for each floor) but was curious if anyone uses their pregnancy pillow instead. I figured it was shaped the same but wasn't sure if it is as stable. Any opinions about that?

Good question! although, my snoogle is sooo big I would think it gets awkward? But i'm waiting to see what other moms say

bookkitten · October 2013

Honestly, I only used my Boppy once to nurse (and I nursed my son two years). However, I did use it to prop him up a lot. @goldenB, that Mombo pillow is adorable!

goldenB · October 2013

vstevens said:

goldenB said:

The Canadian BRU doesn't have the boppy pillow is the mombo (pictured below) or jolly jumper nursing pillow just as good?

The one you posted looks comparable, but my friends in Toronto all had Boppys - any other baby stores you can reach? Or what about Amazon Canada? (Although the prices there are definitely not as good as here!)

Thanks @vstevens! apparently Target sells them, so I will check them out first before I order online. BRU also makes their own brand of nursing pillows (looks more C-shaped like the original boppy and less $$ - pictured below). Another question, I am 5'9 - will this pillow fit around my post-pregnancy belly? I'm worried they will be too small...

precious72381 · October 2013

goldenB said:

precious72381 said:

Can I ask a question about this...I live in a two-story house and read that it is great to have two (one for each floor) but was curious if anyone uses their pregnancy pillow instead. I figured it was shaped the same but wasn't sure if it is as stable. Any opinions about that?

Good question! although, my snoogle is sooo big I would think it gets awkward? But i'm waiting to see what other moms say

It is huge, and if I am in the nursery, which is upstairs along with my bedroom, it probably won't be easy. I'm sure I won't nurse sitting on my bed. Worth the thought. Guess I will put two on my registry and moms that love them will buy them, I'm sure!

shortstuff15 · October 2013

LittleMommaBlueHen said:

I didn't have one with my first and I just used regular pillows or nothing at all. When I had DD someone gave me a boppy as a gift. Both DD and I hated it. I don't think I will be using pillows with this LO at all.

I did have one with my first, but it just got in the way. We did use it as a support before she could really sit on her own, and for tummy time, and it's a great pillow to use for yourself for a nap on the couch, but for actual breastfeeding, it was a pain. I couldn't imagine hauling a pillow around with me wherever I went. That pillow has never left my house once. Its now shoved in a closet waiting for baby #3 to need it, but it may not even come out until 4 or 5 months when the supported sitting starts to happen.

rowanthefrog · October 2013

I'd put a nursing pillow as a must have. I have two of them, Brest Friend and Boppy, so that one was always handy. Also turned out to be an easy place to prop up LO before he was sitting.

I liked that the Brest friend was a little stiffer and you could attach it to you. (This is probably TMI, but once I was nursing DS1, when he was very young. Sometimes it took a bit to get him to latch, so anyway I had finally latched him and...um, I had a bathroom emergency. Like could NOT wait....but I was not about to unlatch him, so I remember being happy that the Brest Friend was attached to me bc I got up, keeping him latched and on the pillow and did my business on the toilet...didn't bother him one bit.) Anyway...you're welcome for that mental picture.

I also like my boppy though. I went and helped a friend register recently and it seems there is a new nursing pillow on the market that is a little stiffer than the boppy but softer than Brest Friend...so that might be a happy medium. Apparently it also vibrates.

A

Want a personalized experience?

Do I really need a nursing pillow?

Re: Do I really need a nursing pillow?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards