10 of the best nursing and support pillows to help with feeding

We also have the best nursing chairs to keep you comfortable when feeding your baby. To help you have a peaceful night's sleep take a look at our best pillows too.

Best nursing and support pillows at a glance:

• Best for easy storage: Babymoov 2-in-1 Maternity Pillow, £75
• Best stylish nursing pillow: DockATot La Maman Wedge, £70
• Best adjustable pillow: Bbhugme Nursing Pillow, £82
• Best pillow for pregnancy and nursing: BellaMoon Full Moon 7-in-1 Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow, £210
• Best pillow for baby's comfort: Hippychick Feeding Pillow, £39.95
• Best pillow for positioning baby: Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow, £49.90
• Best multi-use pillow: ClevaMama ClevaCushion 10-in-1 Nursing Pillow and BabyNest, £53.99
• Best pillow for twins: Thrupenny Bits Breastfeeding Pillow, £89
• Best pillow for travelling: Feeding Friend Self-inflating Nursing Pillow, £39.99
• Best for easy washing: Chicco Boppy Feeding Pillow, £39.99

Do I need a nursing pillow?

Specially designed with breastfeeding mothers in mind, a nursing pillow can be worth its weight in gold when you find the one that works for you. They can provide support to your back and neck as you nurse, as well as help with positioning your baby for the best possible latch. You can always use a normal pillow to help raise your baby up a little as you feed, but it won’t provide the same sturdy support as a nursing pillow.

It’s not just breastfeeding mothers who can benefit from a nursing pillow, as it offers the same support to help reduce arm, back and neck strain as you bottle feed. They are also a great investment if you’ve had a c-section birth, as many nursing pillows will protect your scar and take any pressure away from those healing muscles.

What to look for when buying a nursing pillow

How big is it? – Chances are your nursing pillow is something you’re going to be reaching for a lot, especially during the first few weeks of newborn cluster feeding, so you need to consider how much space you have at home for storing it. Most nursing pillows are relatively compact – at least in comparison to pregnancy support pillows – however some are bulkier than others, so it’s worth keeping that in mind.

What kind of support does it offer? – Many pillows sit around your waist to provide full, wraparound support. These are a great choice if you’ve had a c-section birth, or if you don’t want to rearrange your pillow as you move your baby from one breast to the other when feeding. Other smaller nursing pillows are teardrop or wedge-shaped in design, but still offer support for your arms, neck and back when feeding, without taking up so much room.

How easy is it to clean? – Babies are unpredictable little humans when it comes to feeding, and, particularly in the early days, breastmilk and formula can end up everywhere. Having a nursing pillow with a cover that can be washed quickly and easily is essential.

Can it be used for anything else? – Some nursing pillows can be used before the birth, as a pregnancy sleeping support, while others double-up as tummy time aids. This is often reflected in the price, but if you’d prefer one piece of kit rather than different products, it may be worth spending more.

How much should I expect to pay?

In our round-up prices vary from just under £40 to a more considered £210, but as mentioned above, this is down to the product’s versatility. A stand-alone nursing pillow doesn’t need to cost the earth, however it’s something you’ll be using a lot, potentially for many months, so make sure you find one that really ticks all of your boxes.

Here’s our pick of the 10 best nursing and support pillows:

1. Babymoov 2-in-1 Maternity Pillow, £75

– Best for easy storage

Type: Nursing/Pregnancy | Size: 52cm x 15cm x 48cm

This 2-in-1 maternity and nursing pillow is made with non-toxic microbeads that mould to your shape (and your baby's). It's durable and should hold its shape well, however if you did need more microbeads the pillow is refillable and you can purchase a bag of extra microbeads throughthe Babymoov website.

The microbead filling means the pillow is able to change its shape to suit your needs. It can start off as a U-shape pregnancy pillow to support your bump, before converting into a C-shape feeding pillow for when your baby arrives. To convert the pillow you zip off the cover and essentially shake the microbeads into a different section of the pillow. It sounds a little confusing but there is a link to video instructions that you can access via the QR code that comes with the pillow. One parent tester initially found it baffling that there was no paper instructions included with the pillow but when she watched the video she felt perhaps the demonstration was more digestible via video.

Parent tester Madeline commented, "I really like the clever way that this pillow converts from a maternity pillow to a feeding pillow – it was super quick and really simple to do. It feels high quality and well made and the fabric is really soft."

The cover is made with organic cotton and there are 2 lovely prints to choose from – Green Dandelions and Terracotta. It also comes with a recycled plastic zip case which is super handy for safely storing the pillow or using as a protective cover when taking it with you on trips away (during pregnancy and after the birth).

You can use the Babymoov maternity pillow to support your baby when they are lying on their backs (but not to sleep on), during tummy time and as a good alternative to the usual castle of cushions when they are learning to sit unaided (and toppling over a lot as a result). Coming in at under £75, it is on the pricey side but if you’re looking for a good-quality, supportive nursing pillow we think it’s an excellent choice.

Pros: Refillable pillow, convertible and multi-purpose, lovely patterns
Cons: Expensive

Available from: Babymoov, Very and Kiddies Kingdom

2. DockATot La Maman Wedge, £70

– Best stylish nursing pillow

Type: Nursing | Size: 58cm x 33cm x 17cm

When it comes to looks, this luxurious pillow is next level gorgeous. You’d be forgiven for thinking this was just a chic, accent cushion from a fancy interiors boutique, but it’s actually a cleverly designed nursing pillow from DockATot (formerly known as Sleepyhead of Sweden).

Thankfully it’s not a case of style over substance here, as this pillow provides plenty of support during nursing sessions with its ergonomic curved design that distributes the weight of your baby, helps with positioning and takes the strain off your arms, neck and back. The easy-clean velvet covers come in a variety of patterns, including a stunning William Morris design and a boho cheetah print, which look so good you’ll want to leave them out on display well after your baby is weaned.

Our MFM testers were full of praise for La Maman Wedge and its potential to become a family heirloom. MFM tester Lorraine said, “This pillow is definitely worth the money if you want a stylish, long-lasting product that will fit effortlessly into your home. It eases the strain on my back, neck and arms during epic mealtimes, and it also made baby super comfy, supporting him, snuggling him and giving him the extra lift to latch on properly. I think this is one pillow that will be passed down the generations.”

Pros: Incredibly stylish, made to last, soft material, great support
Cons: Tassel can get in the way when feeding

Available from: DockATot and Scandiborn

3. Bbhugme Nursing Pillow, £82

– Best adjustable pillow

Type: Nursing | Size: 60cm x 12.5cm

What makes this stand out from the other products in our selection is the beanbag-texture of the pillow, which provides a really comfy support for your baby as you feed. You can adjust the firmness of the pillow by moving the ‘pebbles’ at each end up and down, depending on whether you want a squishier or firmer support for baby and you.

Designed by female chiropractors, the bbhugme nursing pillow is tied around your waist to give relief to your neck and back, as well as providing comfortable and snug support for your baby. It also doubles as a hip carrier, when carrying baby around the house.

Made from eco-friendly materials, it comes in 3 tasteful colour-ways – a light blue feather print, pink feather print and beige melange – with machine-washable covers. MFM tester Sajeela found it particularly useful when recovering from a c-section birth. She said, “It was a superb support for my back, especially after my c-section. It helped me a lot when carrying my baby and gave great back support when feeding. I think it’s a must-have for anyone who had a c-section and I would definitely recommend it to all my family and friends.”

Pros: Adjustable firmness, stylish covers, easy to wash, can be used as a hip carrier
Cons: Long length

Available from: Amazon and Bbhugme

4. BellaMoon Full Moon 6-in-1 Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow, £210

– Best for pregnancy and nursing

Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing/Baby Recliner | Size: up to 140cm x 100cm

If you’d prefer to invest in one piece of kit, rather than a separate pregnancy pillow and nursing pillow, this offering from BellaMoon could be right up your street.

Made up of 5 separate pieces that can be zipped together in a number of ways, the Full Moon can be used as a pregnancy pillow, nursing pillow and breastfeeding daybed (for feeding safely and easily when lying on your side). When your baby is 4 months old it can be used as a tummy time pillow and recliner too. It also comes with a breastfeeding privacy cover that can easily be folded up and stored in your changing bag.

The variety of uses is reflected in the premium price tag, which at £210, is more than double the cost of the next priciest choice in our list, but our parent tester, Rachel, felt it was worthy of the price: "It really feels like a luxury item and the quality is excellent, with soft, thick cotton fabric and padding – extremely useful and well worth the money." Although it's worth noting that MFM reviewer, Cat, did find it fiddly to zip all the different parents together, so it may take some practice to get used to.

It's the only pillow in our round-up specifically designed to help when breastfeeding in the side-lying position (there's a clever 'dorsal fin' to stop you from accidentally rolling onto your baby), which can be really helpful if you're recovering from a c-section birth too.

Pros: Multi-purpose, helps with side-lying breastfeeding
Cons: High price point, fiddly to mix and match

Read our full MadeForMums review of the BellaMoon Full Moon Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow.

Available from: Bellamoon

5. Hippychick Feeding Pillow, £39.95

– Best for baby's comfort

Type: Nursing | Size: 48cm x 35.5cm

Compact and lightweight, the Hippychick is a great choice for an 'on the go' feeding pillow. Similar to the bbhugme nursing pillow, there are 2 long ties to secure in place around your waist when feeding, and you can also use these to tie the pillow to your pushchair handles when out and about. It comes with a carry case for travelling, too.

What really impressed our MFM testers was how well this pillow supported their babies and encouraged them into the correct position for feeding. Parent tester Precious said, "This pillow is the perfect height, comfort and firmness for me and my baby and I love that I'm able to breastfeed hands-free because of this."

The pillowcase is 100% cotton and machine washable and comes in a choice of inoffensive navy or charcoal – it might not be particularly stylish, but it's unobtrusive. It can also be used as a support when your baby is learning to sit up, for tummy time sessions and as a pregnancy pillow to help find a comfortable sleeping position – although our parent testers felt it was a little too small to be really effective and it worked better as a straightforward feeding pillow instead.

Pros: Portable, firm support, good value
Cons: Fiddly to tie up when in a rush, basic design

Available from: Amazon, Hippychick and Boots

6. Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow, £49.90

– Best for positioning baby

Type: Nursing | Size: 60cm x 36cm x 15cm

Developed with lactation experts, this firm, curved feeding pillow from Ergobaby is just the thing to make sure your baby is at the perfect height and in the perfect position for successful breastfeeding. The crescent shape of the pillow means your baby's head is raised above their tummy to help with digestion, as well as encouraging the tummy-to-tummy position – ideal for a healthy latch.

Comfort is key here, with the pillow raising your baby high enough so you don't need to slouch or lean over, taking all the strain away from your neck and back. MFM parent tester Anna said, "This is a really effective nursing pillow. It has a great shape that helps positioning really well, which makes using it a real pleasure. It's very soft to the touch and the cover can be easily removed and washed. Definitely one of the best nursing pillows I've tried." Although it's worth noting that some MFM users found it was more effective when used while sitting cross-legged.

The pillow has a convenient carry handle on one side, making it a breeze to move around the house with you, and the cover can be unzipped and popped in the washing machine when needed. A grey cover is included with the pillow, but if you'd prefer something a bit different there are 3 other cover designs you can buy separately for £24.90 each. Coming in at just under £50, the natural curve nursing pillow can also be used for bottle feeding and tummy time as your baby grows.

Read our full MadeForMums review of the Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow

Pros: Firm support, compact, carry handle
Cons: Most effective in cross-legged sitting position

Available from: Amazon, Ergobaby and Baby Planet Online

7. ClevaMama ClevaCushion 10-in-1 Nursing Pillow and BabyNest, £53.99

– Best multi-use pillow

Type: Pregnancy/Nursing/Baby Nest | Size: 48cm x 58cm x 12cm

This 10-in-1 pillow from ClevaMama aims to give you as much bang for your buck as possible, designed to be used in a number of different ways, providing around 2 years of use. It can be used when sitting or sleeping to provide back support when pregnant, as a comfy and secure nursing pillow, a safe and snug baby nest, as a tummy time support and more. You can even attach toys to the cushion when using it for tummy time, which is an added bonus to help keep your baby entertained.

As a nursing pillow it offers that all important support to your baby's body and head, as well as taking the strain off your back, neck and arms, thanks to the ClevaFoam filling (similar to a breathable, lighter memory foam material), which is scientifically proven to protect the round shape of your baby's soft head.

The cushion comes with a waterproof lining and the soft cover – available in 5 different designs – can be easily removed and machine washed at 40° too. A couple of reviews mention the material can attract fluff, so it may be worth giving it a once over with a lint roller every now and then.

Pros: Lots of different functions, comfy for baby, designed to support baby’s head
Cons: Material can attract fluff

Available from: Amazon and ClevaMama

8. Thrupenny Bits Breastfeeding Pillow, £89

– Best for twins

Type: Nursing | Size: 84cm x 48cm

The brainchild of mum-of-2 Melissa Wyatt-Fosbury, the Thrupenny Bits nursing pillow was developed to be the breastfeeding pillow she always wanted: stylish, portable and something that wouldn’t keep slipping mid-feed. The result is a hypoallergenic, crescent-shaped pillow that's tied in place around your waist with straps, making sure there's no gap between you and your baby as you feed, all while creating the ideal position for a great breastfeeding latch. With celebrity fans including Fearne Cotton and Edith Bowman, it's certainly doing something right.

This version, especially made for feeding twins, comes as a large c-shaped cushion with 2 smaller cushions to attach to the sides. This increases the stability of the cushion and provides extra support as your babies grow.

The soft-touch cover is machine washable and available in 4 striking colours. If don't have twins the classic design also comes in 2 sizes – 65cm x 27cm for up to 6 months and 65cm x 32cm for a taller or larger baby. When testing out the single pillow, MFM reviewer Natalie said, "Because my son was tongue-tied his face needed to be right in front of my boob, rather than reaching up from the crook of my arm, and for me the pillow is the perfect back-saving solution and really aided a comfortable feed."

Pros: Great independent UK business, good value, longevity
Cons: Not really multi-use, pricey

Read our full MadeForMums review of the Thrupenny Bits Nursing Pillow.

Available from: Thrupenny Bits

9. Feeding Friend self-inflating nursing pillow, £39.99

– Best for travelling

Type: Nursing | Size: 48cm x 15cm

Perfect for taking on holiday or on a weekend trip to the grandparents, this ingenious nursing pillow is unlike any other in our selection. Instead of being a traditional padded pillow, the Feeding Friend is a self-inflating wedge, complete with super-soft removable cover.

To inflate – or deflate – the pillow, you simply twist the valve. Working in seconds, there's no need for batteries and it really is fool-proof. Once inflated the pillow measures 48cm x 15cm and the long wedge shape neatly tucks under your arm to provide that all-important neck, back and shoulder support as you feed.

Parent tester Jennifer said, "My baby found it comfortable to lie on. The material covering the cushion is very soft, and I like that the cover can be easily removed and washed. It seems good value for money based on the design and material. The main appeal of this cushion is that it can be deflated and inflated to suit different sizes and to transport it – this is a great idea and very useful.”

When the pillow is deflated it measures just 28cm x 24cm and can be easily stored away in the carry bag, ready to throw into your changing bag or suitcase when travelling.

Pros: Easily portable, compact, lightweight
Cons: Not very stylish, basic functionality

Available from: Amazon

10. Chicco Boppy Feeding Pillow, £39.99

– Best for easy washing

Type: Nursing | Size: 48cm x 52cm x 15cm

The doughnut-shaped Boppy pillow is designed to fit snuggly around your waist (similar to the Ergobaby and ClevaMama pillows), whatever size you are, without losing shape or feeling too tight. Making sure your baby is at the correct height and in the right position when feeding, the pillow is designed to help you sit comfortably upright without the need to hunch forward, while reducing any tension in the arms and neck.

The soft, hypoallergenic padding keeps baby in the perfect position for feeding, without sinking into the pillow and it’s designed to keep its shape over time, even after being washed. One of the biggest plus points of the Boppy is that not only can you zip off the cover and wash it, you can also put the whole pillow into the machine to wash and tumble-dry – total life saver when you spill the dregs of a cold cup of tea onto the pillow, or if baby has a dramatic nappy explosion mid-feed! Talking of covers, there are plenty to choose from here, including a cute woodland print and neutral cloud design.

You can use the Boppy to support your baby when they are lying on their backs (but not to sleep on), during tummy time and as a good alternative to the usual castle of cushions when they are learning to sit unaided (and toppling over a lot as a result). Coming in at under £40, this is the second cheapest pillow in our round-up and if you’re looking for a good-quality, supportive nursing pillow we think it’s an excellent choice.

Pros: Good price, lots of cover patterns to choose from, keeps its shape

Cons: Basic design, can’t be used as a pregnancy pillow

Available from: Boots, Mamas & Papas and Baby Planet

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