Nursing pillows, also known as pillows are a great help for pregnant women and newly minted mothers to allow at least some comfort in everyday life. The practical helpers exist in many different sizes and colours and are filled with very individual materials. Nursing pillows can be used in many ways by women and even men and can be a valuable addition to everyday life.
Nursing pillows are not only a real treat right after the pregnancy and during that time, but can also be used for a long time afterwards and prevent back pain and tension. We’ll show you the different ways to use a nursing pillow, and why they can make a valuable contribution to your health after pregnancy. In addition, we inform STERN.de about the different types of side cushions and show which pillow suits you and what you should pay attention to when buying!
Top 10 Nursing Pillows
- Original Design, Great Support for Mom and Baby: Our nursing pillow for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding encourages better posture during nursing,...
- Large size for All Around Support: Through the feedback of many customers, we have widened the sides of nursing pillow to provide more comprehensive...
- With adjustable waist strap, it is fit most size, it help this pillow hugs your body securely and stays in ideal position, eliminates the gap between...
- ️GREEN IS GOOD - At Wolf Manufacturing, we strive to preserve our planet for the next generation of travelers. By using recycled fibers for our neck...
- ️TRUSTED BRAND - A Texas Trusted Brand and manufacturer since 1946.
- ️STAIN RESISTANT - Parenting can get messy, no worries here. Our Nursits are durable and easy to clean! Just do a quick wipe down, or toss in the...
- VERSATILE AWAKE-TIME SUPPORT: Feeding (0+ months), propping (3+ months), tummy time (6+ months) and sitting (9+ months). For baby’s awake time only....
- CREATED FOR COMFORT: Designed by a mom, the Boppy Pillow provides relief to your arms and back by lifting your baby to a more ergonomic position when...
- DESIGNED TO CUSTOMIZE: Just the pillow so you can choose the Boppy Pillow Covers that match your style. Care & Cleaning: Machine Dry
- VERSATILE AWAKE-TIME SUPPORT: Feeding (0+ months), propping (3+ months), tummy time (6+ months) and sitting (9+ months). For baby’s awake time only....
- CREATED FOR COMFORT: the Nursing Pillow provides relief to your arms and back by lifting your baby to a more ergonomic position when breastfeeding or...
- YOU HAVE OPTIONS: Works for multiple feeding styles—cradle, cross cradle, football hold, bottle feeding.
- VERSATILE AWAKE-TIME SUPPORT: Feeding (0+ months), propping (3+ months), tummy time (6+ months) and sitting (9+ months). For baby’s awake time only....
- CREATED FOR COMFORT: Designed by a mom, the Boppy Pillow provides relief to your arms and back by lifting your baby to a more ergonomic position when...
- YOU HAVE OPTIONS: Works for multiple feeding styles—cradle, cross cradle, football hold, bottle feeding
- REMOVABLE LAYERS: Find the right height from lap to latch - layer up (or down) to find your nursing sweet spot
- FIRM-TO-SOFT CUSHIONING: Adjust cushioning as baby grows - from when they need cradling to just the right support to no longer being a rolling risk
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: 1 pillow + 1 removable backrest
- MADE FOR SUPPORT Essential nursing pillow for breastfeeding and bottle feeding encourages better posture during nursing alleviating strain in your...
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN Wrap around design and backrest with adjustable silent-release straps secures to the body helping mom and baby maintain ideal...
- FIRM FLAT CUSHION Superior cushion technology eliminates the gap between you & baby most crescent-shaped and U-shaped nursing pillows have & keeps...
- 【MULTIFUNTIONAL NURSING PILLOW】 Our nursing pillow for breastfeeding provides alleviates strain on your back, neck, and arms by lifting your baby...
- 【CONVERTS INTO BABY NEST】By closing the clasps at both ends the breastfeeding pillows can be used as a baby nest to hold it in your arms whilst...
- 【LARGER FOR ALL BABY STAGE】Our multifunctional baby feeding pillow is designed for: Feeding time (0+ months), Propping time (3+ months), Tummy...
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN Enhanced wraparound support back support to ensure maximum comfort and ideal positioning helping maintain ideal nursing position
- SUPERIOR CUSHION TECHNOLOGY Our most thick and plush cushion delivers the most comfortable firm & flat support eliminating the gap between you & baby...
- ENHANCED LUMBAR SUPPORT My Brest Friend’s super deluxe nursing pillow features an enhanced backrest to maintain healthy posture to prevent sore back...
- VERSATILE AWAKE-TIME SUPPORT: Feeding (0+ months), propping (3+ months), tummy time (6+ months) and sitting (9+ months). For baby’s awake time only....
- CREATED FOR COMFORT: Designed by a mom, the Boppy Pillow provides to your arms and back by lifting your baby to a more ergonomic position when...
- YOU HAVE OPTIONS: Works for multiple feeding styles—cradle, cross cradle, football hold, bottle feeding
What is a pregnancy pillow?
A pregnancy pillow is primarily a help for pregnant women and nursing mothers. The sizes vary and range from 80 cm to 190 cm. As a rule, nursing pillows are U-shaped and very flexible, allowing them to adapt to almost any position. Pregnant women who often suffer from back problems, it serves as a back support or as a side sleeper pillow. In the first case, the back is relieved and pressed into a square shape, so that the pregnant woman does not hump while sitting due to the higher weight.
This relieves not only the back muscles but also the pelvic floor. As a side sleeper pillow, it is also very good to use, since pregnant women often suffer from symphyseal pain. These express themselves in a strong pull, which can be very painful. By using the nursing pillow while sleeping, the pelvis is brought into a straight position, thereby relieving the ligaments. This also relieves the symphysis, which is located in the foremost part of the pelvis and loosens during pregnancy, to ensure the baby a pleasant start to life.
Why should one use a nursing pillow?
“Nursing Pillows” is another word for pregnancy pillows, whereby primarily the support of nursing mothers under the microscope is taken. The pregnancy pillow can help in that the mother can rest on the pillow and not have to carry the full weight of the baby while breastfeeding. This is important because such a “session” usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes.
If the mother has to raise the child from her own strength all the time, without being able to support herself, she tires quickly. This, in turn, has a negative effect on the back muscles, which tense with time, as well as on the arm muscles. As a side sleeper pillow or back support, the pillow is also very helpful and relieves the pregnant woman, which is very important especially in the puerperium to achieve a speedy recovery.
What should be considered when purchasing a nursing pillow?
Before buying a nursing pillow, you should be clear what to expect from this. Should it be used exclusively as a nursing pillow or used as a positioning pillow? Support pads usually have two straps attached to both ends. This allows them to tie together and the pillow gets a doughnut shape. The baby can be placed in the resulting hollow without fear of falling out or rolling away. The two bands increase the stability in this position and thus the safety of the baby.
Furthermore, attention should be paid to the appropriate filling, with most buyers indicate that microcapsule-filled nursing pillows feel better. These are particularly flexible and lightweight, yet provide the necessary stability. Nursing pillows are offered in different degrees of hardness, which should also be considered when buying. If a cushion is to be used predominantly supporting, a stronger filling and thus a higher degree of hardness is advantageous. If you make sure that the nursing pillow is as flexible as possible, the pillow should not be too stable. Cushions that can be topped up are best because the degree of hardness can be changed afterwards.
What does a pregnancy pillow cost on average?
The costs of a pregnancy pillow vary greatly and start at around 20, – €, with the upper limit, can be several hundred euros. However, an expensive model does not immediately mean it’s your best bet. There are quite favourable nursing pillows that fulfil their functions more than satisfying and represent a relief for mothers and pregnant women.
As a rule, a good nursing pillow costs around 40, – to 50, – €. If you pay attention to the required qualities, you can hardly go wrong. The cost of a nursing pillow is also dependent on the material used and the filling. Midwives always recommend nursing pillows that have a cotton cover. Furthermore, it is conducive to the comfort of the pillow, if you can refill this. This allows you to determine the hardness of the nursing pillow appropriate. As a support, the pillow should be stronger than if it is used as a side sleeper pillow or storage cushion.
What is a nursing pillow filled with?
Nursing pillows are usually filled with small, lightweight materials to allow the highest possible flexibility. These are usually small beads of specially developed or at least tested substances. These are usually:
- microbeads
- chaff
- Polyester hollow fibres
Of course, all materials that fill the pillow and are used as a reference to the use are checked for their safety before they are used. Which filling is best for you, you can not say blanket. It depends on how you want to use the nursing pillow. Harder materials such as chaff are particularly well suited as a support while polyester hollow fibres are also very comfortable for sleeping. If you want to use the pillow to store your baby, make sure it’s tough enough to give your baby the necessary stability. On the other hand, the storage cushion should be soft enough for your baby to sleep comfortably.
Which materials should be used with a nursing pillow?
The German Midwives Association recommends the use of 100% cotton. This is particularly robust and can be washed at a relatively high temperature. As a result, the pregnancy pillow can always be kept clean and is also suitable for use as storage cushions for newborns or for use by allergy sufferers. Partly also other substances, such as jersey, are used. However, these may only be washed at a maximum of 40 ° C, while cotton can be washed every now and then at 80 ° C.
This reduces the number of germs. Especially if a pillow is used by several people or if there are several children in the house, good hygiene is enormously important. In the first 3 years of life, children are very often ill and can easily infect each other. Since babies under one year have an immature immune system, it makes sense to provide and to spare your baby as well as you the hardships of a cold or something similar.
How do you refill a nursing pillow?
Some nursing pillows offer the possibility of changing the degree of hardness as desired. This has the advantage that the pregnancy cushion can be tailored to the respective needs. However, very few cushions have such a function that makes refilling possible. However, this is not a problem since the pad can be kinked or doubled if necessary to provide greater support.
The nursing pillows are refilled via a special opening, which is usually attached to one of the two corner edges. This refill opening is usually provided with a zipper and can be used as often as you like. For refilling the same material should be used, with which the pillow has already been filled. Of course, in a too hard or too bulging breastfeeding pillow, the amount can be reduced.
How to use a pregnancy pillow while sleeping?
Especially in the last trimester, many women have a problem sleeping on their backs. Of course, since the prone position is also eliminated, only the lateral position remains as a possible alternative. Midwives and doctors always advise sleeping on the right side for the best possible blood circulation and oxygenation. At this point, the side sleeper pillow comes into play. This is clamped between the legs and increases the distance between the knee joints so that they are no longer on top of each other. This has the advantage that there is no pain in the knee area. On the other hand, the use of the nursing pillow when sleeping brings the pelvis into a straight position, which relieves the back, pelvic floor and symphysis.
How big should a nursing pillow be?
The nursing pillow should be tailored to the size of the mother and the purpose of use. Especially tall women should opt for XXL pillows, as they give them the necessary space and the required support. If the pillow is to be used as a storage pillow, an XXL pillow is also better than an 80 cm nursing pillow. If the partner is not to be molested or the woman is small, then the use of a small pillow is sufficient. If the pillow is to be used as a storage cushion, a larger copy should also be chosen. This is closed at the ends and forms a doughnut shape into which the baby should fit. For this reason, the cushion should also be at least 80 cm long, in the optimal case even 90 cm.
How can a nursing pillow be used?
A nursing pillow is very versatile. Among other things, it can be applied as follows:
- As a nursing pillow
- As a support pillow
- As a storage cushion
- As a side sleeper pillow
Thus, it is not only a welcome support and relief for pregnant women and nursing mothers, but can also be used in other life situations. As a positioning pillow for babies, this gently surrounds the baby, prevents it from rolling away and supports the development of the neck and back muscles. When used in sleep, it increases the quality of sleep and can, therefore, be used by men as well.
What do you do with the nursing pillow after weaning?
Even after pregnancy and after weaning a pregnancy pillow is still quite useful. Due to the supporting feature, it can be used very well as a neck pillow. This relieves the neck, spine and upper back muscles and can relieve tension. In addition, the pregnancy pillow can be used as a side sleeper pillow. In non-pregnant women, it also relieves the pelvis and spine and thus has a positive effect on the quality of sleep.
- Also, for babies who learn the head lift, a nursing pillow can be quite beneficial. This can be used as a prone position to help the baby build his neck muscles. This makes it possible for the infant not only to keep the head longer but also to hold it up more stably.
- For babies who are learning to crawl, a pregnancy pillow is also a relief. It is also used in the prone position and supports the formation of the neck and back muscles.
- Furthermore, a pregnancy pillow is suitable as a support for babies who are learning to sit. Here it is designed in the typical U-shape and set the baby in the bend. It should be ensured that the baby is not forced to make a hollow back, as this could have a negative impact on his health.
Why do men use a pregnancy pillow?
For men too, a nursing pillow can be a great relief. Used as side sleeper cushions or support cushions, it also relieves the back of the man while sitting or while sleeping. In the lateral position is relieved with the use of the side sleeper cushion even in men, the pelvis and straight. Even though women are more likely to suffer from pelvic pain thanks to the soft symphysis during pregnancy, they can still be found in men. In summary, pregnancy cushions can be used by men as follows:
- As a support pillow for the back and neck area to avoid pain and tension
- As a side sleeper pillow for a restful sleep
It is therefore quite possible, and in some cases even advisable, to use the nursing pillow well beyond pregnancy and lactation, although its use is not limited to women. Even men can get relief by using a pillow while sleeping.
Where to buy Nursing Pillows?
Nursing pillows can be bought at most baby and children’s shops on site. Here you can get advice on the various manufacturers and models and try the nursing pillow usually on site. This gives you a feeling from the beginning and can choose the right nursing pillow right away. Likewise, outlets now and again have the opportunity to buy a pregnancy pillow from them. However, these are rather actions that are rare. The second option is to acquire nursing pillows on the Internet. Especially wholesalers such as Amazon or eBay offer a wide range of different pregnancy cushions, often even the filling can be determined by the customer.
This variant is particularly suitable for people who want to buy the nursing pillow as low as possible. Discounts or reductions are often granted online, which can save a lot of money. It is best if you decide for yourself whether it is more important for you to consult and assess the product on-site or at a lower price, and then decide which variant suits you best. In the first case, it is worthwhile to visit a specialist shop and in the second case, you are well served with an online shop. It should be mentioned that today many online shops offer a counselling chat.
Will the nursing pillow flatten over time?
A good nursing pillow, will not flatten even after years of use. This is because the filling usually consists of microspheres that are unable to change their shape. The fact that the pillow is not filled to the utmost allows a certain flexibility and the nursing pillow can adapt to the respective pose of the user. If you want to take a different position, you only need to pile up the cushion briefly and can bring the beads back into the required position.
Cushions filled with spelt chaff or the like may appear slightly flatter over time, and the individual particles can become entangled, as they do not have a round, smooth surface like microspheres. Nevertheless, this phenomenon can be prevented from the beginning by regularly shaking the nursing pillow. As a result, the chaff is loosened and does not clump. In general, it can be said that good nursing pillows are very durable and retain their shape even after many washes. Most nursing pillows hold on average at least two years, after which time the nursing pillow does not break, but the cover is worn. By changing the pillowcase, the pillow can usually be used for a while.
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