My Favorite Breastfeeding Pillow (and How to Choose the Right One for Your Family)
Best Breastfeeding Pillows for New Moms
As an IBCLC, the pillow I most often recommend is the My Brest Friend. It may not be as cute as others on the market and might look a little silly strapped around your body, but we can typically achieve better positioning with this pillow compared to others. Unlike softer C-shaped pillows, it provides a firmer, flatter feeding surface that helps keep baby positioned at breast level + the strap that goes around your back prevents baby from slipping down against your belly. Many parents find this reduces the need to hunch forward during feedings, which can help minimize neck, shoulder, and back discomfort.
Some of the features families often appreciate include:
Firm support that doesn't compress significantly under baby's weight
Adjustable waist strap that helps keep the pillow in place
Flat feeding surface that can make positioning easier while learning to breastfeed
Helpful support for a variety of feeding positions, including cross-cradle and football hold
Every family is different, but if you're building a registry and only want to purchase one nursing pillow, this is typically the option I suggest starting with.
How to Choose the Best Nursing Pillow for a Newborn
When evaluating nursing pillows, I encourage families to look for:
Firmness
A pillow should support your baby without sinking. If the pillow compresses significantly, you may still find yourself leaning forward during feeds.
Height
The goal is to bring baby to your breast, not your breast to baby.
Stability
A pillow that stays in place throughout the feeding session often provides better support than one that shifts frequently or allows baby to slip down your belly.
Washability
Newborn feeding can be messy. A removable, machine-washable cover is worth having.
How to Choose a Breastfeeding Pillow for Twins
For twin families, a standard nursing pillow is often not large enough to comfortably support two babies at the same time.
The two pillows most commonly used by twin families are:
My Brest Friend Twin Nursing Pillow
Twin Z Pillow
Both provide additional support for tandem feeding, though the best option often depends on your preferred feeding positions and whether you'll primarily be nursing, bottle feeding, or doing a combination of both.
Where to Buy a Breastfeeding Pillow Online
Breastfeeding pillows are widely available online through major retailers, including:
My Brest Friend
Babylist
Target Baby Registry
Amazon Baby Store
If you're creating a baby registry, adding a nursing pillow can be a practical item that many families use daily during the newborn stage.
Final Thoughts
A breastfeeding pillow isn't a necessity, but a good one can make feeding much more comfortable during the newborn period. If you're deciding between options, I typically recommend starting with My Brest Friend because of its firmer support and positioning advantages.
The right pillow can improve comfort, but it can't replace individualized feeding support. If you're experiencing pain, concerns about milk transfer, latch difficulties, or questions about positioning, working with an IBCLC can help you determine what's actually causing the challenge and create a plan that works for your family.
