When I gave birth to my son, I thought nursing pillows were a silly gimmick designed to sell one more thing to pregnant women. The budget was tight you know and every shilling had to count as were prepared for a new member of the family. I remember when this was suggested to me by a friend as we went for baby shopping and going like ‘Me? Buy a pillow? For nursing? Ridiculous’.

Then I had my baby, and I began feeding him. Several times a day, sometimes for an hour at a time.

My back hurt. My neck hurt. My shoulders hurt. Everywhere hurt.

I permanently had a cramp in my neck, and my posture seemed to change as I tried to find more comfortable ways to breastfeed. Then a friend visited and gifted me a nursing pillow. It was God sent. From the very first go, I was sorted. Suddenly, breastfeeding didn’t hurt, my back felt supported, my shoulders could relax and my neck was – for once – not aching. And because I was more relaxed, my baby was, too. He latched on more easily, seemed calmer and happier, and finished his feed with a big smile. Ever since then, I’ve been a bit of a nursing pillow spokesperson, and find it the ideal gift for any mother especially if your wondering the perfect gift to give for baby showers. This post is to inform other moms on why nursing pillows are important. Here’s why I love them:

Nursing pillows keep you comfortable

Because your baby will be feeding a lot in those first few months, you’ll be sitting down, nursing a little one, for most of the day, so it pays to be comfortable. The last thing you want as a new mother is to damage your back while feeding – trust me, you’ll have enough to worry about without this! A pillow ensures that your baby is at the right height for your breast, so your shoulders don’t do the work for you. Your back is supported, and your shoulders and neck can relax.

Bottle-fed babies can use them, too!

You may be wondering if they only work for breastfed babies only but no. In fact, sometimes nursing a bottle-fed baby can be even more taxing on your back and shoulders. Investing in a nursing pillow is a great way to ensure your posture survives!

Did you deliver through a C-section?

A nursing pillow is your best friend. It’ll help you through recovery as it provides a cushion between your baby and your abdomen.

Nursing pillows can encourage latching.

If you are breast feeding, this comes as great news. Nursing pillows bring your baby to the right height for feeding, which can assist with latching.

Nursing pillows are versatile!

You can use them for tummy time (under supervision) and also to prop your baby up as he gets older (in fact, this was their original purpose!). I also didn’t know that.

So what do you need to know when shopping for the right nursing pillow?

Well, you may be well aware of the many brands available in the baby shops around town. Take it from a mother who has tried and tested one, I recommend Superfoam’s nursing pillows which match the ideal criteria of basic support to a mother in order to enjoy nursing. Ultimately one needs to look for one that’s:

• Firm, but not too  firm.You want it to “form” to the shape of your body (much like your regular pillow does with your head), but also be firm enough to take the weight of your baby
• Made of hypoallergenic, non-toxic materials
• Got a removable, washable cover. If you can, buy a spare cover – trust me, it’ll come in handy
• If you are planning to use your nursing pillow to improve sleep during pregnancy, choose shapes that offer support from head to toe

Got questions or comments, i’ll be happy to hear from you.