My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Nursing Pillows
A nursing pillow can make feeding your baby a lot easier. We’re helping you decide which of these popular picks is best for you.
By
While there are lots of unknowns in parenting, one thing’s for sure: your baby is going to need to eat. And whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding or doing a combination of both, a feeding support pillow is helpful for both you and your baby’s comfort. They’re especially useful in the first few months when you and your baby are still learning and getting the hang of things.
While nursing pillows all have the same goal—to support your baby while they’re feeding—they’re all a bit different when it comes to design, feel and features. If you’ve started doing your research on which nursing pillow to add to your registry, you’ve likely come across the Boppy and the My Brest Friend. They’re two great options that also happen to be our top two nursing pillow picks.
But which one is best for you? It can be confusing to decide ahead of time, especially for first-time parents. If you’re not sure which to register for, we’re diving into a side-by-side comparison to help you decide. In addition to being an editor at Babylist and a mom of two (who breastfed for a total of just under four years) I’m also a certified lactation counselor. I used insight from each of these areas when comparing these two popular nursing pillows.
Here’s what to consider when choosing between the Boppy and My Brest Friend nursing pillows.
Boppy Boppy x Babylist New Nursing Pillow with Organic Cotton Cover - Camel Stitch Stripe
From $59.99
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Design
The shapes of the My Brest Friend and Boppy pillows are the most obvious difference at first glance, and a closer look reveals several key features that set these nursing supports apart in meaningful ways.
Boppy recently updated the design of their nursing pillow and it now features a ”U” shape (as opposed to a “C”) that fits around your waist and rests on your lap. The insert is super dense with a wide enough surface to support baby’s whole body. It offers the ideal amount of lift that supports a proper latch by bringing the baby to your breast, rather than you crouching over. This newer version also accommodates more body shapes and sizes.
My Brest Friend vs Boppy side by side photo
New Boppy shape
The My Brest Friend pillow, on the other hand, features a 360 degree wrap-around design that offers support for your baby and your back and unique “feeding risers” that are meant to raise baby’s head up just a tiny bit to aid in reach and digestion. It has an adjustable strap (plus a buckle for quiet, quick release) to secure it in place, preventing the pillow from sliding during feeds. It also has a storage pocket to keep essentials close.
My Brest Friend's feeding risers
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy design: How they compare
In terms of design, My Brest Friend has the slightest edge on Boppy simply because it’s a bit easier to get in place and position your baby for latch—those feeding risers are a helpful guide. Wrangling a hungry newborn while trying to position a nursing pillow can be challenging—you have to support your baby’s body, align their head just right so they can open their mouth wide to latch. Many parents find this one super helpful for the first three to four months of baby’s life because baby is so small, breastfeeding is new and having the My Brest Friend sort of guide you is nice. Though the Boppy doesn’t have a strap, it’s equally supportive and has a more streamlined and simple design that some parents may prefer (especially once you get the hang of things and become more confident with breastfeeding).
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Comfort and Support
A good nursing pillow should be supportive for both you and baby. After all, their only purpose is to make feeding more comfortable for you both by helping you get into—and maintain—a position that’ll encourage your baby to get a nice, deep latch.
If you've researched nursing pillows at all, you might have come across mentions of My Brest Friend as the firmer option compared to the classic Boppy. And that's still true—but just barely. With Boppy's recent redesign, the brand has increased the inner pillow's density quite a bit, making these two much more similar in firmness than they used to be. My Brest Friend features a foam interior, while the new Boppy contains a 100% recycled polyester fiber fill.
Demonstrating Boppy with a baby doll
The firmness allows them to provide adequate support. Both pillows do a great job lifting baby to the right height without you having to hunch over, keeping your little one's weight evenly distributed and their whole body supported during feeds. For safety purposes, you want a nursing pillow that isn’t super soft or will sink in, and both of these check that box.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy comfort and support: How they compare
Ultimately, both pillows offer a supportive surface to help you get your baby in the right position for feeding. After testing both pillows, I also think that while My Brest Friend’s support is super helpful in the early days of breastfeeding, Boppy’s design is more comfortable as baby grows and gets heavier and longer.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Functionality and Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, Boppy definitely has a leg up here. You simply put it across your front and that’s it—you can even do it with one hand. My Brest Friend does require two hands to get it in place and secure the buckle and strap, though you can make minor adjustments one-handed. While it takes a bit of effort to get it on, the straps help keep the nursing pillow in place. Since it doesn’t have straps to secure it to your body, the Boppy can migrate away, causing you to need to readjust. (This was a common gripe with the previous version of the Boppy, but the new straighter sides means it should fit around your body better.)
My Brest Friend Deluxe buckle and Velcro strap
What about cleaning? Whether it’s milk or formula, spit-up or the dreaded blowout, you want something that’s easy to maintain—and both covers of these nursing pillows are relatively easy to clean. Each features a removable and machine washable cover (just be sure to check the instructions for specifics). Both the Boppy and My Brest Friend pillow inserts are spot clean only.
While the outer cover on the My Brest Friend Deluxe nursing pillow isn’t waterproof, it actually comes with an additional waterproof cover to layer underneath and protect the foam from accidental leaks and spills. (It’s also available for the My Brest Friend Original and the Twin versions, but sold separately).
My Brest Friend Deluxe foam core
Boppy insert
The current version of the Boppy insert is spot clean only. When comparing how easy it is to remove or replace the cover covers, we didn’t find anything notable to report; they take about the same amount of time to take off and put back on.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy functionality and ease of use: How they compare
Both the Boppy and My Brest Friend are easy to put in place so you can get to feeding your baby faster, but the straps on the My Brest Friend do add an additional step as you’re getting situated.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Portability
Nursing pillows are essential for getting comfortable while feeding at home, but what if you go on vacation or to visit someone? A nursing pillow is a larger piece of gear by design. While the Boppy is a bit smaller in size, the dense filling is heavier than the foam core of the My Brest Friend.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Portability: How they compare
Both of these pillows are about the same in terms of portability—they’re both bulky enough that you might want to opt for a travel nursing pillow if you’re catching a flight. If you’re taking a road trip, they’ll take up about the same amount of space in your car.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy Value
The Boppy and My Brest Friend are very close in price, both around $50.
Both pillows are durable and should last through your baby's entire feeding journey and potentially for future children too (I actually used the same Boppy original with my two kids who were born 23 months apart.)
The Boppy is recommended for babies from birth to 12 months, while the My Brest Friend can be used up to 18 months or 20 lbs. If you're planning to breastfeed longer, this might be a consideration.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy value: How they compare
Overall, both pillows provide good value for the price, considering how frequently you'll use them in the first year. The My Brest Friend is slightly more expensive if you go for the deluxe version, but offers additional features like the back support, pocket, and feeding risers that may justify the higher price point for some parents. The My Brest Friend also has a higher age and weight limit than the Boppy, meaning you can use it longer, though you may not need to use one once you’re comfortable enough with positioning and latch.
My Brest Friend vs. Boppy: The Bottom Line
If you're just starting your breastfeeding journey and looking for maximum support and stability, My Brest Friend might be the ideal choice for you. It offers extra back support during long feeding sessions and those feeding risers help support baby’s head for optimal latch. Additionally, its design ensures that the pillow stays firmly in place without shifting, providing a stable and practical solution during your early days of breastfeeding.
The Boppy is a classic go-to that parents have used and loved for decades. While it doesn’t have any added convenience features or a 360 design, its ease of use and support make it a favorite among parents. The updated density provides comparable support to the My Brest Friend pillow, with a bit more give that some parents find more comfortable.
While you don't need to buy two nursing pillows, having a spare can come in handy, especially if you feed in multiple locations around your home or want one that’s easier to take on the go. In fact, I think both of these are nice to have in your stash for different phases of baby’s first year.
Most importantly, remember that feeding preferences change as your baby grows. What works in those early newborn days might not be your jam a few months down the road. Either way, a good nursing pillow is a crucial piece of baby gear that will make feeding sessions more comfortable for both you and your baby.
