Average Price: $20-25 (for the bare naked pillow)
$5-15 (for the slipcovers)

Availability: Widely available at most major baby stores- including Babies R Us and Target, as well as online stores and specialty shops.

Rating:

Product Link: Boppy Bare Naked

Review:

I’d heard the phrase “The Boppy saved my life” more times than I could count, but still didn’t think to bring it with me to the hospital when I gave birth. It looked like a funny shaped pillow, and I figured I could save some room in the go-bag by packing lighter and just using the hospital issue pillows to support my arms while nursing.

My baby was born at 10:10PM, and we settled down in the hospital room for the night. By the middle of the night I realized that normal pillows were not cutting it, and told my husband that as soon as visiting hours started the next morning he was to be there with the Boppy.

The Boppy is one of those few “must have” products. It’s a “must have” for when you’re learning to establish breastfeeding- it helps the “football hold” make more sense, as well as encouraging the proper positioning of the baby for latching on. It also helps overcome the “bring the breast to the baby” method of latching on that many new mothers find themselves accidentally doing in the beginning rather than the “bring the baby to the breast” method. Once the baby is latched, the Boppy allows you to pull it (and the baby) closer so that you can find a more comfortable position together.

Most importantly, it allows you to hold the baby close without adding to the strain your body has already been through. After labor my rib cage felt like it had an elephant sitting on it! It was hard enough to hold my body upright, let alone cradle my baby in a proper nursing position. The Boppy took the strain off.

Pros:

The Boppy offers an adjustable firm, but comfortable support for your arms and/or for the baby. It opens up wider/more narrow to accommodate different body types. The contour seems uniquely comfortable for the baby to lay on while nursing, and it provides enough support that you can use it on your lap to support the baby while you eat. I credit the Boppy for every hot meal that I’ve been able to have since bringing the baby home. He senses when I’m about to eat, and always decides it’s time to nurse. The wide selection of slipcovers available for the Boppy mean that you can match it to your decor, choose different slipcovers to variety, and quickly swap out a cover for a clean one when the baby has an accident.

The pillow doubles as a convenient infant rest- ideal for supporting the baby in a sitting position- even before he has neck control. It is also wonderful for preventing the baby from moving down under the blankets (putting it around his feet prevents him from slipping down). And for a baby that resents “tummy time”, propping him up on his belly on the pillow for the tummy time seems to quiet his complaints and encourage him to lift his head and look around.

Cons:

This is a minor issue compared to all the “pros” that this pillow has.. However, after repeated use, the Boppy suffers the same ailment as many pillows, and starts to become less firm/supportive. Mine, in particular, started to sag in the middle and toward the tips, and required additional placement of pillows for the hands-free nursing that I had earlier enjoyed. This “flaw” is hardly something that I can hold against the Boppy pillow, as it arises from the same design that offer the Boppy its versatility and comfort.
Conclusion:

The simple, comfortable, and versatile design paired with the affordability and wide availability make the Boppy pillow a must-have for new and experienced moms alike. I’m still using it and my son is a year old! We use it to nurse, and I hold him on it while rocking him to sleep when he’s cranky after a too-long day.

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