We call it a nursing pillow... but it's much more than that. With its rounded shape (like others 😉 ), it accompanies pregnancy and invites you to feed throughout the day. Not exactly discreet, but so comfortable, it settles in to surround baby long after his first few months. And it soon becomes one of those objects that, as parents, you love with a tenderness that you can't forget. Objects that make life sweeter and anchor it in time. So let us give you six (very) good reasons to adopt it, breastfeeding or not.
CONTENTS :
- What a nursing pillow (really) is
- 6 reasons to use a breastfeeding pillow at home (and why not, to take it everywhere)
- How to choose the nursing pillow you'll never want to put away again?
What a nursing pillow (really) is
Sometimes confused with the maternity pillow, the nursing pillow is also a contact object. Sitting on a sofa or in bed, it positions itself around your belly to welcome baby and place him at the right height, relieving your arms and relaxing your shoulders. During breastfeeding or with each bottle, it (re)creates the cocoon that changes everything: less tension in the body for more presence in the moment.
Unlike a conventional cushion, the nursing cushion is ergonomically designed to follow your maternal curves, fit your everyday postures and adapt to your feeding rituals. U-shaped, C-shaped or half-moon-shaped, it can be adjusted with just one hand.
Its filling, made of light, silent, highly malleable microbeads, firm, stable memory foam, or natural fibers such as kapok, which is breathable and antibacterial, plays on sensations and fit.
Finally, always equipped with a soft, washable cover, it becomes familiar, like a plaid on the sofa.
The breastfeeding pillow provides all the comfort you need to enjoy your first moments with baby. Like a landmark, passed from one arm to the other, from maternal gentleness to paternal attention.
4 positions to test for the best fit
As there are different postures for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, the nursing pillow also allows you to set up in different ways to feed your newborn.
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The Madonna
Sitting comfortably, often cross-legged or in an armchair, you place the cushion on your legs and baby in the cushion, facing you.
👉 A natural pose, ideal when baby already has a good grip, for serene feeds in the middle of the day.
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The inverted Madonna
You support baby with the arm opposite the proposed breast. His neck rests in your hand, to better guide the hold. The cushion supports the forearm and helps keep the head well aligned.
👉 Perfect at the start of breastfeeding, it facilitates learning to suck and reduces pain linked to poor positioning.
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The rugby ball (or "soccer")
Semi-recumbent or seated, you slide baby onto his side, his back resting on the nursing cushion, under your arm, like a balloon.
👉 Very useful after a Caesarean section (as baby doesn't rest on your belly), for twins or to relieve very tense breasts.
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Lying on your side
Your child is positioned facing you, on the cushion that raises him to breast height.
👉 Ideal for night-time or co-sleeping, this set-up allows close proximity and allows you to breastfeed while really resting.
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Bonus: the semi-seated or "Biological nurturing" position
Lying in a reclined posture (on the sofa or in bed with cushions), baby rests on your chest and guides himself to the breast.
👉 An intuitive posture, ideal for newborns, skin-to-skin or to boost lactation. No need for support: gravity and proximity do the work.
4 differences with the pregnancy pillow
Because it too is part of a pregnant woman's little equipment, and because they look alike, the nursing pillow can be confused with its pregnancy counterpart. A good reason to play the game of the 4 differences between the two.
| Features | Pregnancy cushion | Nursing cushion |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Relieve the pregnant woman's body (back, stomach, legs) | Offer good posture during feeding (breast or bottle) |
| Shape | Very long (often U- or L-shaped), to fit the whole body | Shorter, often C- or U-shaped, to enclose the waist. |
| Firmness | Soft, for comfortable cradling during sleep | Firm enough to support baby during feeding |
| Positioning | Mainly used lying down or semi-lying down | Used seated, around the waist or on the knees |
The pregnancy pillow accompanies your body, especially in the third trimester, when the nursing pillow comes into play at feeding time. More compact, portable and easy to handle, it creates a bubble of calm, without tension or haste, so you can feed your baby in complete serenity.
🩷 And if you're not sure, remember that the two don't duplicate each other: they complement each other. One helps to carry, the other to release.
6 reasons to use a breastfeeding pillow at home (and why not, to take it everywhere)
Enveloping and evolutionary, the nursing cushion invites itself into the parent-baby relationship Here's why it deserves its place in your home, and why you may soon find you can't do without a nursing pillow.
1. Gentle breast or bottle feeding
The nursing pillow supports your arms, your back, your belly... and also your attention. It keeps baby in the right position, at the right height, for a smooth, relaxed and emotionally serene milk feed.
Exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding or bottle-feeding, using it encourages a relaxed posture, a natural visual bond between you and your baby, and a real presence in the gesture.
And when someone else takes over, co-parent, grandparent, elder..., the cushion transmits its reassuring comfort. Feeding baby remains a moment of sharing, with no compromise on quality.
2. Supporting him in his first awakening moments
Inside, under your watchful eye, baby can be raised slightly, snug in his reassuring little nest, to observe, babble or simply rest.
3. Better digestion after feeding
After drinking their milk, some babies need to remain slightly reclined to avoid reflux. The breastfeeding pillow helps to maintain this posture without having to stand or move constantly.
4. In case of aversion to breast-feeding
Sometimes, without really understanding why, some breastfeeding mothers feel a sudden discomfort, like a physical rejection, when breastfeeding. This phenomenon, known asBreastfeeding Aversion, manifests itself as an urgent urge to stop breastfeeding.
But if your baby is snuggled up against you in a stable, reassuring space, you can more easily change position, distract him by listening to music or consulting your phone, offer him a break - or, if he accepts, gently finish his meal with a bottle.
5. Discreet post-partum support
But the nursing pillow isn't just useful for baby. After childbirth, when your belly is still sensitive and you don't dare touch it too much, when you're afraid of being kicked and you take all your time and infinite care to sit up, it becomes a precious support.
6. Extend its use well beyond breastfeeding
For reading, cuddling, napping or gentle yogaexercises... the nursing pillow remains useful long after the first few months. Adopted by the whole family for moments of calm and closeness.
And for baby, it can become a sensory cue in its own right. Even when out of the parents' arms, it retains the scent and shape of the body, making it particularly reassuring during small everyday transitions - such as from arms to bed, or from home to nursery. Practical, affectionate, nomadic... an object that simply stays.
💡 Practical bonus: remember to slip a diaper between baby and his cushion in case of regurgitation. A precaution that will save you washing the cover every time!
How to choose the nursing pillow you'll never want to put away again?
Length, firmness, material: every detail counts when it comes to finding the right companion for your baby's first bottles and first weeks (at least).
A quality nursing pillow should offer sufficient support without being too rigid. In other words, it should follow the shape of your baby's body, keeping him or her in a stable, comfortable position.
When it comes to filling, we prefer high-quality, certified materials that are healthy and free from controversial substances, such as BPA-free microbeads, recycled polyester or organic cotton. The aim is twofold: to respect baby's skin and to offer you a feeling of security and softness.
Finally, the right nursing pillow is also the one you don't want to have to put away once your child is feeding independently. Washable, removable, durable... because it's part of your everyday life (and often, your living room), it needs to be as beautiful as it is useful.
✨ That's what the Élhée x That's Mine collaboration is all about.
Together, we imagined a nursing pillow as elegant as it is sensory, combining minimalist design, responsible materials and soothing hues. Designed to support parents during the most tender moments of parenthood, it is also, like the iconic BibRonds and That's Mine's signature rabbit, a decorative piece in its own right, an object of connection, comfort and shared life, conveying our values: care, gentleness and safety, without sacrificing aesthetics.
The nursing pillow, a classic that doesn't lie
Neither a gadget nor a whim, the nursing pillow is a real companion for mothers and babies, relieving the body, making feeding easier and adapting to every moment of life. A small object, a great comfort, it's much more than an accessory: it's a landmark, a cocoon, sometimes even an emotional object.
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