When it comes to picking the perfect nursing pillow, there are a lot of things to consider. Not only do you want it to be supportive for your child, but you also need to make sure that it’s actually comfortable for you to use. Plus, you’ll likely want it to be versatile enough to be utilized for both breastfeeding and floor activities, such as napping and tummy time. It’s an important investment that you won’t want to make lightly… so how in the world do you ensure that you’re making a good one? Well, I’m so glad you asked!
In this guide, I’m going to introduce you to some of the best nursing pillows on the market. Though they differ in terms of style, construction, and price, they’re all solid examples of how useful and impactful a great nursing pillow can be. After I go over my picks, I’ll also make sure to share the methodology I used to select them, so you know exactly what to look for in your own search. Then, I’ll wrap things up with a few expert tips you can employ to improve your buying experience!
Best Nursing Pillows
- Editor’s Pick – My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow
- Most Versatile – Boppy Bare Naked Nursing Pillow and Positioner
- Most Affordable – Leachco Cuddle-U Basic Nursing Pillow
- Best for Twins – THE TWIN Z PILLOW
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How We Picked
Now that we’ve gone over my picks, let’s take a minute to chat about how I picked them. You can think of this section as an introduction to the major factors you’ll want to consider when shopping for a nursing pillow of your own.
Shape
Shape is a crucial characteristic to consider when buying a nursing pillow! The shape of your pillow can impact both the support and comfort of your nursing experience, so landing on the right one for you is going to be super important.
The most popular shape is by far the U-shaped crescent, intended to either wrap around the stomach or back of the nursing parent. This shape provides support to the lower back and cushioning to the baby while you nurse. Another favored shape is the full-on wrap-around pillow, which closes the gap of the crescent to fully encircle the adult. This shape provides even more support to the lumbar region and can be great with parents who suffer from aches and pains. Less common are standard, rectangular pillow shapes, which may not offer as much comfort to the parent or child.
If you’re unsure about what shape to go with, feel free to grab a few different models! That way, you can move through shapes depending on your needs in the moment.
Usage
It’s also important to think about how you’ll be using this pillow! Are you going to be using it just for breastfeeding? Do you want to incorporate it into tummy time with your newborn? Do you want to be able to use it as a napping pod for your little one while you’re getting ready in the morning? Thinking about how this pillow is going to fit into your care routine will help you to figure out what shape you need and how supportive you’ll need the pillow to be.
Support
Speaking of support, this is going to be a major factor to consider when shopping for a nursing pillow. Not only does this accessory need to comfortably support your baby during a crucial time of growth, it also needs to support you while you nurse. Breastfeeding can put a lot of strain on the shoulders, midsection, and lower back, so finding a pillow that alleviates tension is going to be crucial.
To do this, I’d recommend snagging a pillow that has a wrap-around design with buckles or straps. This helps to secure the spine and bring a bit more stability to feeding time. You may also want to consider buying a pillow with a more dynamic foam fill that’s able to contour to the body.
As far as supporting the baby is concerned, a fantastic nursing pillow should be able to hold up a child without any help from the parent. So, if you’re breastfeeding, you can rest easy knowing the pillow will keep the child secure while you’re using your hands for other things. A flimsy pillow may not be great for hands-free use, so that’s definitely something to keep in mind on your search.
Wash Care
Considering how messy nursing can be, it’s important to find a nursing pillow that can be easily washed. Many come with handy slip covers that can be zipped off and tossed into the washing machine. Others feature water- and stain-resistant fabrics that are easily spot cleaned. So, when researching a nursing pillow of your own, make sure to take note of the wash care details. If no information is listed, I’d recommend moving on!
Sleepopolis Tips
Still not sure how to find the nursing pillow that’s going to be perfect for your unique needs? No worries! I’m going to round out this guide with a few expert tips you can use to improve your search.
- Read as many customer reviews as you can! Breastfeeding is a highly personal endeavor, so it’s important to see what other parents thought of the pillows they ended up buying.
- Remember that you’re going to be using this pillow a lot, so it’s important to land on one you really like. This is not a purchase to be made lightly, which is why it’s crucial to do your research.
- If ease of care is important to you, I recommend going with a bare pillow and dressing it with different slipcovers. That way, you can always have covers in the wash and ones available for use.
FAQs
What are the best nursing pillows?
The best nursing pillows are comfortable for the child and supportive for the parent. They typically feature machine-washable covers as well as versatile designs that allow them to be used for naps and tummy time practice.
Are nursing pillows worth it?
Definitely! While every nursing situation is different, many parents find nursing pillows to be useful tools for supporting a great breastfeeding experience.
What are nursing pillows used for?
Nursing pillows are used to support the child during breastfeeding. Not only do they bring a bit of stability to a wriggling infant, but they can help ease a parent’s aches and pains while they’re bent over their feeding baby.
Wrapping Up
Well, that about does it for this guide to the best nursing pillows. When searching for one of your own, make sure to keep a tight focus on how you want to use it, how you want to clean it, and how versatile you need it to be. Then, you’ll be able to land on the nursing pillow that’s 100% right for you and your kiddo’s unique needs.