How to Use a Boppy Pillow: From Newborn to Toddler Age

If I had to count the top 5 must-have necessities for a new mom-to-be, nursing Boppy pillow support would definitely be one of them. If you are wondering do you really need it, how to use a boppy pillow for nursing, and all the ways to repurpose it, read on!

When I gave birth for the first time, my daughter wouldn’t sleep without my breast near her for the first 10 months. It can be quite challenging for a new exhausted mom.

When she was a month old my husband bought me a Boppy pillow. There are no words I can describe how much this made everything easier. The baby was safely snug, and my arms and back didn’t suffer as much anymore. Don’t know how I would make it without my Boppy!

What is a Boppy Pillow?

A Boppy Pillow is a perfectly u-shaped support for nursing your baby in an ergonomic position, just what you need for bonding with your baby, for easier bottle feeding, but also great for encouraging grandparent and sibling relationships. The award-winning Boppy Original Nursing Support is a registry must-have and a family favorite.

How to Use a Boppy Pillow for Nursing?

Before you start nursing with Boppy, prepare everything you need – a glass of water, a book, your mobile phone, remote control… This step can be quite important. You don’t want to move once your baby starts to nurse in this cuddly position, right?
Sit in a comfortable position
Place the Boppy pillow around your waist
Take your baby and place him on the side facing your body
The baby’s head should be at breast height. For me, it was best to place the baby’s head on my arm, while my arm is resting on a Boppy and completely relaxed.
Feed your baby and try to relax
Never lean towards your baby. Just sit back and enjoy.
Pro Tip: As I knew my baby would fall asleep, and I loved to have her in my arms while sleeping – I would place a pilates ball under my feet or a soft stool. We can afford this only with our firstborn – so why not enjoy it 🙂

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Boppy Pillow Positions

Versatile positioning supports the feeding style that works for you and your baby. Small enough to fit easily in your rocking chair or glider, but big enough to give the support you need.

You have 3 positions available while using a nursing pillow:

cradle,
cross cradle,
football hold, best for C-section birth, or for twins for tandem nursing
or a bonus one for bottle feeding for dads too. It’s just a variety of cradle nursing

** DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy something via my links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I always support only products that I truly love and use.

BUY A Boppy 😉

How Can I Reuse a Boppy Pillow

Once your baby is bigger, don’t even consider getting rid of your Boppy. It will come in handy for a long time! While searching for images for this post I couldn’t believe how many photos there are of my Boppy on the side. My babies loved using it later on.

#1 Propped Position

We can reuse a Boppy to help see the world from another angle
Once your baby is three months old you can prop up his head and shoulders so they can see what is going on around them
Always be nearby, and never leave your baby unsupervised

WHAT ELSE CAN I USE A NURSING PILLOW FOR

#2 Boppy Pillow Tummy Time

Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics say that 30 minutes of active tummy time spread over a 24-hour period is recommended from day 1 to optimize healthy growth and development.

As newborns are small you should start with tummy time on your chest slowly
A Boppy Pillow will be suitable once they are 3 months old
You can start earlier with their Boppy Tummy Time Prop Pillow. It is smaller and suitable for smaller babies

#3 Boppy Pillow Sitting Up

First of all – You must NEVER force a baby to sit up!

It’s a milestone they have to achieve on their own.
They will get there sooner with regular tummy time and strengthening their neck muscles
First, their head needs to be in full control, then they need to learn to prop up with their hands and learn to roll over in both directions
Encourage playtime on the floor as much as you can
By nine months your baby should sit up independently
Once they do, a Boppy Pillow is a perfect back support to keep them safe while joyfully playing or clapping their hands.
A Boppy will prevent their rolling back and keep them from injuries
I remember my daughter one day, sitting down, clapping, and all of a sudden rolled back and bumped her head. A Boppy was a lifesaver during that phase
Read more about when can babies sit up

#3 Sibling Snug or Guest Carrying Aid

My daughter was 4 years old when she got her sister. She wanted to cuddle with her all the time. I felt much safer when she held her for a couple of minutes with a Boppy Pillow support than in any other way

The same goes for guests. Many are afraid to hold a baby. So sitting them down with a nursing pillow was an excellent solution.

I can still remember my mom saying how much she enjoys holding her granddaughter on a Boppy. Those moments were priceless.

#4 Tummy Propped Playing and Learning to Crawl

It can be a fun activity for learning to cross obstacles
Once your baby is old enough to prop on their hands place them on a Boppy as for tummy time
Place some toys a bit further so they need to prop up to fetch them
It’s a great activity to strengthen their neck, back, and hand muscles
And a fun way to encourage crawling

#5 Bottle Feeding and Dad Bonding Time

I remember my husband’s face while holding our daughter in a boppy. It was priceless
They both felt snug and comfortable
It’s a perfect bonding method, especially for dads who are a bit scared of holding a baby
As you can use it for nursing, it goes the same for bottle feeding. The difference is enormous while doing it without a Boppy.

How to Wash a Boppy Pillow

Please take off the slipcover and wash it separately
Machine wash with a baby-suitable detergent on a delicate cycle
Wash at 30°C (65°F – 85°F)
Use non-chlorine bleach when bleach is needed
Tumble dry low for a delicate cycle
When tumble drying place a tennis ball in the dryer to help the pillow keep its shape and keeps his fluffiness
Detailed instructions are on every product, so read them carefully

Why is Sleeping in a Boppy a Bad Idea

You must NEVER EVER use a nursing pillow for baby sleeping!

Although nursing pillows and lounging pads are not meant to be used for sleeping, reports in the CPSC data reveal that caregivers occasionally do so
This kind of behavior increases the risk of suffocation in a number of different ways.
Infants may turn their heads into the soft cloth as they move onto their stomachs or sides, obstructing airflow.
Likewise, if a baby is supported up against a pillow or lounger at an angle, their heads may slip forward and obstruct their airways.
I hope this clarifies why sleeping in a Boppy is a bad idea!

“While nursing pillows may help moms and babies breastfeed more easily, they clearly represent a danger with regard to sleep,”

“Pillows, inclined sleepers, and other products that don’t meet the standards are, frankly, dangerous and should never be a place where babies sleep,”
says Ben Hoffman, MD, a pediatrician and chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’

After 30 years Boppy.com changed its best-selling product name from a Boppy pillow to Boppy support. The main reason for it was so it is not related to sleep in any way. It’s a support, not a pillow. It is one of the ways to remind people what Boppys purpose is in the first place.

We mostly all still call it a Boppy pillow, but I love the way they change things to make their mission clearer. Good work Boppy!

Do You Really Need a Boppy Pillow – Support

Yes, Yes, and Yes! As I already mentioned, this is one of my top 5 baby necessities every new mom should have. It is a perfect gift for a baby shower or your first visit to a new mom. It is one of the rare products you buy, and really take advantage of it. Even more, I’d say.

A Boppy pillow provides comfortable support for the baby while providing much-needed relief to the mother’s back and arms.
The ergonomic curved design of the Boppy pillow encourages proper nursing, making it more comfortable and less awkward for both mother and baby.
Because the Boppy is lightweight and portable, it can also be easily transported from room to room or on trips, allowing moms to feed or soothe their babies anywhere.
Your baby will feel safely snug while nursing
I say you will use it till the baby’s first 12 months for sure

RELATED ARTICLE: How Motherhood Changed Me

When Was the Boppy Pillow Invented

Here is a bit of history on a Boppy Pillow. It was created by the founder of The Boppy Co. Susan Brown on January 27. 1989 in Colorado. It was the world’s first nursing pillow ever. A Boppy Pillow has given support to more than 15 million moms and babies all over the world.

Thank you Susan for this amazing product!

Conclusion

I have to clarify that this is not a sponsored post. I only have affiliate links through which I earn a small commission This is a product I sincerely recommend and I am sure you won’t be regretting it. I used mine for both of my girls, and it even ended up with my friend, so it really served its purpose for many kids.

Hope I covered all the questions on how to use a Boppy Pillow. If not, feel free to ask!

Enjoy snuggling with your newborn

They grow up so fast 🙂

A Special Thank You

I need to thank Jessica from The Fife Life for allowing me to use some of her amazing images for my blog post. She is a mom of 3 beach babes, sharing things she loves. Her Instagram is full of loving family images and inspiring reels you will surely fall in love with.

Thanks, Jess!

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