Support comes in all shapes and sizes!
By Katrina Cossey Updated on November 2, 2025
If you plan to breastfeed, a nursing pillow can help you find a comfortable position to feed your baby. These pillows provide the necessary arm and body support during feeding sessions—and sometimes, they can even double as a tummy time pillow. They come in a variety of styles, patterns, and colors, so we put 16 of them through multiple tests at home with breastfeeding parents to help you find the best nursing pillow for your needs.
Top Picks
Best Overall:
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
Best for Warmer Weather:
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow
Above all, a nursing pillow should be comfortable and supportive so that all you need to think about is how much you love the little person looking up at you. “My guidance is: Position your body, position your baby, position your breast,” explains Meema Spadola, a postpartum doula and certified lactation counselor. “You’re going to know it’s the right pillow if you're not straining your back to fit the pillow.”
Look for a pillow that fits comfortably around your torso and provides adequate support for both you and your baby. Note that the cost of a nursing pillow varies by brand, material, features, and more—which we’ve broken down for you here. After using and evaluating the support, quality, ease of cleaning, and value of nursing pillows over a month of at-home testing, we narrowed our list to seven winners that helped make breastfeeding experiences easier.
How to Use Nursing Pillows Safely
Never allow your baby to sleep on a nursing pillow, as that poses a risk of strangulation, entrapment, and suffocation. Keep all loose objects, soft bedding, and any other items that pose a hazard out of your baby’s sleep space, and be sure they’re alone and placed on their back in their crib, bassinet, or play yard for every sleep.
In August 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released new safety recommendations for proper nursing pillow use, first and foremost warning against using them for sleep in a statement to Parents. Additionally, the CPSC requested new federal safety requirements, which include:
- Nursing pillows should be firm enough so as not to pose a suffocation risk.
- They should have wide openings for the adult wearing them, reducing the risk of the baby's head getting trapped.
- Nursing pillows should have no straps for securing infants, which can lead to a false sense that babies are safe to be left alone on the pillow.
- They should also have labels warning caregivers of the fall risks and suffocation hazards associated with the product.
Best Overall
My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow
Why We Like It: This sizable pillow holds the baby high enough to keep your back in alignment, and it's very easy to remove the cover for machine washing.
But Take Note: The slipcover is hang-dry only, and this pillow cannot double as an infant lounger.
Firm, supportive, soft, and roomy, the My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow tops our list for several reasons—even if the name is a little silly. We love the wraparound design with an adjustable Velcro strap that accommodates various body types. Most importantly, it has a raised end that supports your baby’s head while they’re nursing.
Additionally, the spacious pillow had ample room to hold little ones at an ideal height for breastfeeding. While using this at home, our editor loved how the pillow kept her back in alignment during feeding without sacrificing comfort.
This pillow attaches around your waist with a silent-release buckle, which we could effortlessly open with one hand. That means you don’t need to worry about a loud sound each time you're done nursing—because who wants to risk waking a sleeping baby? The pillow also stays put even if you stand up and move around the room. A nearby front pocket was a welcome addition to the nursing pillow, especially since we fit a 40-ounce cup inside it to stay hydrated during nursing sessions and could stash a baby bottle, too!
The zipper of the slipcover wraps almost completely around the pillow, making it easy to get the fabric on and off for washing (no nail breakage here!). While the cover is machine-washable, the company recommends hanging it to dry instead of tossing it in the dryer. One drawback is that it's not waterproof, so a major spill or spit-up could reach through to the foam pillow inside if you don't remove it quickly.
In testing, we also discovered that you should position the strap to cover its Velcro closure to protect your and your baby's delicate clothing. Also, note that this pillow cannot double as an infant lounger.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 23 x 15.5 x 5.5 inches
- Material: Polyester (slipcover), foam (pillow)
- Machine-Washable: Yes (slipcover)
Best for Warmer Weather
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow
Why We Like It: It offers great support and stays in place, while the polyester fabric feels cool.
But Take Note: There's no hook-and-loop strap, and the slipcover is air-dry only.
The My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow features the same great support as its deluxe counterpart—our best overall pick—with a few differences. Similar to the company’s deluxe option, the original nursing pillow has a wrap-around design, giving back support while staying in place. Instead of the plush cover of the Deluxe, this version comes with a polyester cover that feels much cooler, making it a great choice for nursing during the warmer months.
While the deluxe has Velcro to keep the ends of the adjustable strap in place around the cushion, this version's strap is more like the strap of a backpack. It does have the same silent-release buckle, however. We love how the company maintained the feature of raised head support for babies on one end of the pillow for a convenient nursing position.
This slipcover is easy to remove for cleaning thanks to a near wraparound zipper. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions to wash the slipcover in warm water and didn’t notice a difference in quality, but we wish it were safe to toss in the dryer; it’s hang-dry only. We recommend purchasing an additional slipcover so you don’t have to wait for the first one to dry.
There isn’t much difference in cost between the deluxe and original My Brest Friend nursing pillows. This has the same back support, raised head support for babies, and machine-washable slipcover—all at a lower price. Like the deluxe version, this nursing pillow cannot be used as an infant lounger.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 23 x 15.5 x 5.5 inches
- Material: Polyester (slipcover), pillow (not listed)
- Machine-Washable: Yes (slipcover)
Our Testing Process and Experts
Eight testers evaluated 16 nursing pillows in the comfort of their homes for one month, assessing each on several attributes, including quality, ease of cleaning, support, and overall value. We also consulted with Meema Spadola, a postpartum doula and certified lactation counselor, to find out what to look for in a nursing pillow.
First, we removed each breastfeeding pillow from the packaging to look for any rips, tears, or loose threads while examining the quality of the fabric. Next, we washed the pillows or pillow covers (whichever the manufacturer recommended) to determine if the covers were removable, easy to clean, and difficult or easy to put back on.
We took time to test the pressure and softness of the pillow, as we wanted to know if the pillows felt adequately supportive, too firm, or too soft. While we understand a pillow's softness is a matter of personal preference, nursing pillows should always be stable and never so soft that the baby droops or sinks.
Testers placed the pillow in a way that supported their backs—if it was meant to do so—making sure the baby was lined up against their body at breast level. Testers then breastfed their babies using the pillows, ensuring they didn’t strain their back, shoulders, arms, upper back, or abdominal muscles. Testers then switched sides to see if they experienced any strain.
Finally, we carefully considered all other attributes compared to the price of each nursing pillow to assess overall value.
We tested 16 nursing pillows for an initial one-month period, rating them on quality, ease of cleaning, support, and overall value.
Factors to Consider in a Nursing Pillow
Size and Shape
One of the most important factors to look for in a nursing pillow is its size and shape. Breastfeeding can put you in uncomfortable positions, so you’ll want a pillow that fits comfortably around your torso. According to Spadola, the right nursing pillow won’t cause you to strain your back to fit the pillow.
Consider different styles of nursing pillows. For example, some pillows feature a wraparound design for 360 degrees of support, while others resemble a shrimp, with one end fuller than the other, which may be a better fit for some breastfeeders. Overall, you don’t want a pillow that’s too bulky, and if you gave birth via C-section, you’ll want one that doesn’t press uncomfortably against your stomach.
Support
The goal of a breastfeeding pillow is to provide you and your baby with stable support and comfort while nursing. However, nursing pillows aren’t one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing support—the best fit will depend on the needs of you and your baby.
“If you’re straining to get up to the baby’s level or down to the baby’s level, it’s going to be harder for both of you,” says Spadola. “The pillow should put the baby against you. The baby should feel stable and supported, and their face should be against your breast. Your nipple should be resting on their upper lip. The baby should not be bobbling. You should not be hunching over to get to the level of the baby. If you are, that is a crummy pillow.”
Care and Cleaning
Spit-up, leakage, spilled drinks—a lot can happen during breastfeeding, so you’ll want a machine-washable pillow or one with a removable slipcover. When the material can go in the washing machine, it’ll make for easier cleanup in the long run. Double-check whether your pillow or cover is safe for the washing machine before tossing it in the washer and dryer, as you may ruin the pillow or cover during the process.
Versatility
Many nursing pillows can double as a pillow for tummy time (or even decor). However, it’s vital to check what the manufacturer recommends and follow those instructions. Babies should sleep alone, without pillows, bedding, toys, or bumpers, due to the risk of suffocation.
The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.1 If a manufacturer states you can use the pillow as an infant lounger or tummy time pillow, ensure you use it during supervised awake time and never for sleep.
Your Questions, Answered
What kind of nursing pillow is best?
The best nursing pillow provides support for both the baby and the user, is comfortable to use, and is easy to clean when accidents inevitably happen. “In terms of softness: That’s a personal thing. The squishiness or firmness should not annoy you,” says Spadola. “Ask if this is a pillow you can use in another context when you are done nursing.”
How do I choose a nursing pillow?
A nursing pillow should fit your torso comfortably while keeping your baby at nipple level for easier breastfeeding and less strain on your back. To continue using a nursing pillow outside of breastfeeding, opt for a versatile one that doubles as decor or an option that works for tummy time use.
Do I actually need a nursing pillow?
While nursing pillows aren’t a requirement, they’re helpful to have on hand for nursing. Regular pillows often lack the firmness and support needed for breastfeeding, so you may end up using two, three, or more to achieve the necessary height for feeding. In addition, nursing pillows feature special designs to cater to a breastfeeding parent's unique needs.
How much do nursing pillows cost?
The price of a nursing pillow depends on the brand, material, and features such as adjustability, versatility, and portability. The nursing pillows we tested ranged from $30 to $139. Expect to pay more for higher-end brands or larger pillows.
Who We Are
Katrina Cossey is a writer and editor for Parents. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her B.A. in professional media. Her love for service journalism, helping others, and becoming a parent led to her writing role, which allows her to research and recommend the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages.
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