Rating of the best pillows for sleeping and feeding: characteristics, pros and cons

Do you need a feeding pillow for breastfeeding?

Definitely yes! And here's why:

Learn how to properly attach your baby

In the first months, it is very important to learn how to properly attach the baby to the breast; to do this, you need to lift him to breast level, and not reach for him. To raise the child to the desired height, you can use sofa pillows, a folded blanket, or just your lap, but it is the use of a special pillow that is most comfortable and has many other advantages.

Take the strain off your back and arms

On average, feeding a baby takes about 15-30 minutes per latch, and during the day, breastfeeding can take you about 4 hours a day , and often much more. Without the use of ergonomic devices, pain in the spine, arms, and neck muscles very quickly occurs. A good nursing pillow will save you from all these problems.

Free your hands while feeding and sleeping your baby at the breast

In an ideal world, newborns sleep soundly and for a long time in the crib immediately after feeding. But in the real world, as a rule, this never happens! Babies sleep well in their mother’s arms, at the breast, but as soon as they are shifted, they immediately wake up. In order to do chores around the house, you can use a sling, and for tasks that can be done while sitting, a pillow with a flat surface is perfect. The child will sleep perfectly on it without slipping anywhere.

A nursing pillow is not a luxury! This is one of the most necessary and important devices for a nursing mother.

Comparative characteristics of pillows

A newborn baby is defenseless and vulnerable. The mother needs to give the baby all her care and love and provide him with complete comfort. Special pillows will help with this. They will also allow you to establish the correct lactation process. The above criteria will help you choose the most comfortable option.

Types of nursing pillows

All nursing pillows can be divided into 2 types: universal (for pregnancy and nursing) and specialized (only for feeding).

Universal pillows (pregnancy + breastfeeding)

Most pillows on the market are universal. Their main advantage is budget savings, because... you don't have to buy two different pillows. But that's where the benefits end. It is impossible to create a device that will equally ideally serve both purposes - supporting the growing belly of the expectant mother for her comfortable sleep and rest (at the pregnancy pillow) and breastfeeding, comfortable for both mother and baby (at the nursing pillow).

However, let's look at the different options for pregnancy pillows that can also be used for breastfeeding.

Double-sided pillows: U, G shape

Double-sided pregnancy pillows support both the belly and back of the expectant mother.

During breastfeeding, these pillows are placed around mother and baby. As you can see from the photo, such a pillow performs the function of lifting the baby to the chest, but cannot provide good support for the child, you have to support him, he easily slides down the pillow, the goal of “relieving tension from the mother’s back and arms” is not fulfilled. In addition, such pillows take up a huge amount of space and are not suitable for small apartments.

Single-sided pillows: shape C, G, I

Such pillows take up much less space; their advantage is also that such products can be used for other purposes - as a restrainer and nest for a baby, a cushion under the knees.

However, we see the same disadvantages as other universal pillows - the surface is too soft, so that the child rolls off it towards the mother; lack of support for the mother’s back, lack of fixation of the pillow on the mother’s body.

The most famous brands of such pillows: Theraline, Trelax, Red Castle and many Chinese and Turkish copies of No Name

Specialized pillows (for feeding only)

Specialized breastfeeding pillows cannot be used during pregnancy. They are usually smaller in size than any pregnancy pillows - because... no adult body support required.

Now there are a huge number of brands and variations of specialized pillow designs. Let's look at the various options and evaluate their comfort, as well as list the factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing a pillow.

Types and brands of special nursing pillows

Non-ergonomic round pillows

The cheapest and most common option is a round pillow in the shape of a horseshoe.

Variations are possible - add to the pillow:

• a tie or Velcro at the back to secure it around mom’s waist;
• an additional pillow under the baby's head (puts on the pillow, so you can change sides)

Pillows with these variations are better than pillows without them, but in any case, the only advantage to this design is the price. They are easy to produce, so they are cheap for buyers. However, the disadvantages are the same as those of pregnancy pillows:

• a soft round surface from which the child rolls off;
• lack of support for the mother's back and arms;
• lack of strong fastening around the waist, the pillow slides;
• Very often, the cheapest pillows have a cover that cannot be removed and you have to wash it along with the pillow.

Such a pillow is better than nothing, however, there are other, more comfortable and ergonomic options. The most famous brands : Chicco, Boppy and many Chinese and Turkish copies of No Name

Ergonomic pillows

This category includes those pillows that take into account the specific body position of the nursing mother and baby and are created taking into account maximum comfort for both. As a rule, they have a smooth, dense surface.

Ergobaby pillow

The pillow from a well-known manufacturer of ergo-backpacks has a semicircular shape, a smooth, dense surface slightly angled towards the mother. It provides comfort for the mother's hands and helps position the baby high against the chest. The disadvantages of this pillow are that the baby needs to be supported (the surface is at an angle), and there is no back support.

Bebe Au Lait Pillow

It has a dense, flat surface on which it is convenient to place the child; fastening with a belt around the waist. It is quite high and has a small pocket for small items. The downside of this pillow is the lack of support for the mother's back.

My Brest Friend pillow and analogues

The My Brest Friend pillow was developed almost 20 years ago in the USA. It is rightfully considered the best pillow for nursing mothers, thanks to:

• a flat, elastic surface, so that the baby does not roll towards the mother;
• special support for mom's back;
• tight fixation around the waist with a carabiner;
• bulges on the surface of the pillow;
• convenient pocket for small items;
• removable cover, easy to wash.

Such a pillow not only lifts the baby to the breast, but also relieves tension from the mother’s back, neck and arms, and also frees her hands for other things if the baby falls asleep at the breast. Unlike all other pillow options, this one is filled not with holofiber or polystyrene foam balls, but with foam rubber.

The My Brest Friend pillow has only one big drawback - the price. That is why several of its analogues are produced in Russia and the CIS; we will briefly talk about them.

Milk Rivers pillow

The Russian brand of clothing and accessories for nursing has been producing pillows for several years. They have the same design as My Brest Friend, but have a flat surface without bulges and use one type of foam, not two, like the original and other analogues. The cover fabric used is knitwear. This is a good, inexpensive analogue of a well-known brand. It looks very simple, there is no packaging, the pillow itself may not be completely flat, but it is the cheapest option.

Ergofeed pillow

The pillow brand is a complete copy of My Brest Friend; the pillows are made in Russia. The company appeared at the end of 2021, but after a couple of months the Internet was flooded with a huge number of similar reviews (obviously fake), discussions on forums and comments praising this pillow. This is a good product, but the business ethics of this company raises big questions. Therefore, we cannot recommend this brand for purchase.

Loona Baby Pillow

The pillow brand has the same pillow shape as My Brest Friend, but has a few upgrades: a Memory Foam pillow top, microfiber plush for the cover, a much better-made cover, a silent clear closure.

Is it possible to make a nursing pillow with your own hands?

Women who love handicrafts can sew a pillow for themselves or their loved ones on their own.

For this you will need:

• several meters of fabric, depending on the model;
• threads;
• scissors;
• chalk or soap for marking the canvas;
• filler;
• zipper or Velcro for fastening.

Cutting and sewing can be done in several stages:

• Lay out the canvas and draw your chosen shape (bagel, circle or banana).
• Cut out 2 parts with a margin of 1.5-2 cm per line.
• Place both elements facing each other.
• Sew a clasp on one edge.
• Sew the seam from the inside out by hand or by machine.
• Turn the finished case inside out and fill it with paralon, padding polyester or other filler, as desired.

This handmade accessory is a good gift for a sister or friend and an indispensable assistant for the mother of a baby.

Benefits of an ergonomically designed pillow

In our store we offer several different options for nursing pillows, in different price categories, universal and specialized. But we consider pillows of an ergonomic design, with back support and a smooth, elastic surface to be the best and recommend for purchase.

1.Back Support: Firm back means a snug fit for mom; it provides comfortable support and relieves pain from the back and neck. The nursing mother's arms, neck and back do not become numb. The child lies on a pillow at the level of the mother’s chest - and this is correct. It doesn’t matter what position you take (if you need to suckle the breast from different sides), the baby will be held correctly in any position.

2. Smooth surface with “mounds”: thanks to the smooth flat surface, the baby does not roll off the pillow, while the baby can roll off the rounded edges of other pillows and must be constantly held and controlled. At the same time, soft bulges on the surface support his head and your hand.

3. Filling with the “Memory Foam” effect: a soft but elastic surface made of two-layer hypoallergenic polyurethane foam ensures the baby’s correct position and comfort, and also retains its shape, unlike all other fillers (expanded polystyrene balls or holofiber).

4. Removable cover made of the softest plush microfiber, easy to remove and machine wash. Minky plush is a soft, velvety material most often used for blankets and bedding for newborns.

5. Adjustable silent clasp: easily fastened with fastex, adjustable in length, suitable for any waist (45-115cm).

6. A spacious pocket, which is so convenient to put small things - a bottle, a toy, a phone.

It is very important that the mother breastfeeds the baby from birth. Breastfeeding not only contributes to the development and strengthening of the child's immunity, but also calms and helps to form a close bond between mother and child.

In order for the feeding process to bring only positive emotions to mother and baby, a positive attitude and a comfortable position are needed. Chicco knows this better than anyone, so the Boppy pillow is designed taking into account all the physiological characteristics of mother and baby and their needs at the time of feeding.

Benefits of the right nursing pillow

There are many compelling reasons for breastfeeding. Firstly, the baby’s health improves. There are also many benefits for breastfeeding mothers: they are less likely to suffer from breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis. And this is not to mention the psychological and economic advantages of natural feeding.

For a positive result, it is extremely important to choose the correct position for the baby during feeding. There is no ideal position; as a rule, mothers vary positions depending on comfort at a given time. The most commonly used positions are “classic” (the most typical, the mother holds the baby in her arms), “side-lying” (mother and baby lie on their sides) and “under-arm” (the baby is located under the mother’s armpit of one arm, and she holds his head with her other hand).

It is easier to get comfortable if you have a feeding pillow that provides the necessary support for the baby and mother. Without the use of a pillow, the mother's arm muscles become tired and the baby may slowly sink lower, which can cause pain in the nipple.

There are many different pillows available in the market and often a mother finds it difficult to make a choice. Making the right choice is very important because the quality of the pillow determines whether your breastfeeding experience will be positive or negative.

A properly designed nursing pillow should solve most of the problems a mother faces during breastfeeding..

A good pillow has the following characteristics:

• reduces tension in the back, neck and shoulders of a nursing mother;
• has a rounded shape, as a result of which it reduces pressure on the stomach during feeding;
• reliably supports the baby's position;
• not too soft (otherwise the child will fall into the pillow, which makes breathing difficult) and not too hard (otherwise the level of comfort and safety will decrease);
• made of breathable material that prevents excessive heating (the thermoregulation mechanisms of newborns have not yet formed and excessive heating can be dangerous);
• made of hypoallergenic material and covered with natural fabric (not synthetic) to avoid irritation of the baby's delicate skin.

Chicco's Boppy nursing pillow meets the above characteristics and can also be used beyond the neonatal period. Using a Boppy pillow, you can elevate your baby's head after feeding to reduce the amount of milk regurgitated (all newborns have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux, accompanied by regurgitation of milk). As your baby begins to sit up and crawl, this type of pillow can be used to support him, helping him develop and strengthen his upper body muscles. In addition, let's not forget how helpful these pillows can be during pregnancy, as they promote blood circulation, and after childbirth, they provide the necessary support to the back and neck, which experience a lot of stress after the birth of the child.

Thus, we can confirm that a nursing pillow is very important for the health of mother and baby. Choosing the right pillow should be done based on reliable information.

The range of Boppy pillows from Chicco are presented on our website