July 14, 2015 Jill

Finding the right nursing pillow: Ergobaby vs. Boppy vs. Nook

New post! Breastfeeding Basics: The Necessities for Nursing

When I was pregnant with Reese, “breastfeeding” was one of the things I Googled most often. How would I know what to do? Would she latch (whatever that meant)? Would it hurt? Is it just me or does that pump look painful? As I did all of my research, I knew I would need some tools to achieve my goal of being a successful nursing mom. At the top of my list? A good nursing pillow.

I had many friends suggest certain pillows that worked for them. Boppy seemed to be the most popular, followed by My Brest Friend. But as you will find with a quick Amazon search, there are MANY nursing pillows on the market. They all have different benefits and features, but all with the same general purpose and goal.

So how do you know which one is worth the investment and will help you reach your nursing goals? It’s nearly impossible to say without trying them out. When it comes down to it, a lot of it is personal preference and what will work best with your body and your baby. Personally, I ended up being a huge fan of the Boppy and the Nook Sleep twin size pillow (read more on that below). Since I had Reese 20 months ago (I know, I can’t believe it either!) there has been some great innovation in the nursing pillow world, and I thought it might be helpful to review some of the newcomers and what they have to offer.

Boppy Feeding and Infant Support Pillow
Price: $32.99 – $44.99
Firmness: Medium to light
Style: Whatever you want it to be, as there are many covers.
The veteran in this category, the Boppy pillow has been around for 25 years. It is known for being versatile; not only can it be used as a nursing pillow to support your baby, but it can also be used for tummy time support and around your child as they are learning how to sit up.

As someone who used this product daily for many months, that additional function was super important. Reese was the queen of spitting up those first couple months, and I found it helpful to incline her on the Boppy after feedings. It made me crazy when she would spit up my liquid gold! When I went back to work after 4 months, her caregivers also found the Boppy pillow useful to support her during bottle feedings. Boppy’s best attribute is its longevity with your family. There are so many uses for it and it will truly grow with your child.

As for sizing: I am petite to average, and found that the Boppy hugged my body well so Reese was well supported all around. As she got bigger and longer, though, I wished it was a bit wider to support more of her body.

Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow
Price: $70
Firmness: Very firm
Style: Earthy and soothing

When I first saw the Ergobaby Natural Curve nursing pillow I was really impressed. The pillow is firmer than most others in the market and has a unique, contoured shape that rotates the baby towards your breast. As a nursing mama, you will find that one of the hardest things is keeping your baby rotated towards your stomach/breast without putting strain on your back. My husband learned this the hard way when I was constantly asking for shoulder rubs!

It is made of a firm foam material that will hold its shape and keep the baby supported. No slouching for mom or baby! I also like that this pillow is has much of its support in the front and does not wrap around so much. It can be tricky to fit a nursing pillow into a nursing chair and still have room for you and your baby, but I can comfortably fit this pillow on my lap and sit in the Monte Joya rocker with room to spare.

Nook Niche Nursing Pillow
Price: $99.99
Firmness: Medium
Style: Modern and chic

I’ve been a huge fan of Nook products since I started working at Magic Beans. One of my very first purchases was their standard size pillow, and to this day, I can’t live (sleep) without it. I would have tried this in a heartbeat if it has been available when Reese was born!

The Nook Niche also boasts versatility. It can be used for nursing and feeding, as well as a prop seat for baby and a side sleeping pillow for Mom. One of my favorite features about this pillow is that the corners are larger and square in shape (as opposed to rounded like a donut). This is great for when your baby gets a little bigger because the added surface is great to support them.

Nook’s memory foam composition is also fantastic. When I was still in the hospital after delivering Reese, the lactation consultant showed me how to support her using a basic pillow. When I got home, I used my standard size Nook pillow to do the same thing and it worked really well! It provides a great level of firmness to support the baby. The pebbled texture of the Niche also helps with breathability and keeps baby cool. No one wants to be overheated when they’re enjoying yummy milk!

Finding the right nursing pillow for you and your baby might take some trial and error, and you may wind up trying out a few, since every woman’s body is different and every baby is different, making this a difficult product to purchase before your baby is born. In the end, you just need something that will support you and your baby through the nursing journey, and we’re here to help you find the right one!