Can You Use a Nursing Pillow for Bottle Feeding (and Tummy Time)?

Short answer: Yes, a nursing pillow works well for bottle feeding, as long as you hold your baby and the bottle the whole time. For tummy time, My Brest Friend says its pillow is made only for breastfeeding, so put your baby on the floor, your chest or your lap instead. And never let a baby sleep on a nursing pillow.

Feeding by breast, bottle or both? The My Brest Friend Deluxe ($88.99) and the My Brest Friend Super Deluxe (from $98.99) both give a firm, flat surface for feeds. Free tracked shipping anywhere in Canada, no minimum.

Quick guide: what's OK on a nursing pillow

Using a nursing pillow for bottle feeding

The same things that help at the breast help with a bottle. A firm pillow holds your baby's weight so your arm isn't doing it all, and it keeps you sitting upright. My Brest Friend wraps around your waist and clips at the back, so it stays put while you handle the bottle.

Here's a simple setup:

1. Sit well. Choose a chair with back support and put your feet flat or on a footstool.
2. Clip the pillow on. Snug around your waist, backrest behind you.
3. Lay your baby on it. Head and shoulders a little higher than their tummy, facing you. Keep one arm around them.
4. Hold the bottle at an angle. The CDC suggests an angle rather than straight up and down, so milk only comes out when your baby sucks.
5. Follow their pace. Let them take breaks, and stop when they show they're full, even if the bottle isn't empty.

The CDC also says not to prop the bottle or leave it in your baby's mouth, as that can raise the risk of choking, ear infections and tooth decay. So the pillow supports your baby, but your hands stay on both baby and bottle.

Partners and grandparents can use the pillow too. Just loosen or tighten the strap to fit whoever's feeding. See our how to use My Brest Friend guide for strap and positioning tips.

Can a nursing pillow be used for tummy time?

We checked what the maker says. My Brest Friend's safety page states that the pillow "was solely designed for breastfeeding and is not conducive to other uses, like propping a baby." Its product pages don't list tummy time as a use. So we don't recommend using My Brest Friend for tummy time.

Tummy time is still important. The American Academy of Pediatrics says you can start the day your baby comes home, a few minutes at a time, 2 to 3 times a day, building up as they grow. It also says tummy time is for babies who are awake and closely supervised.

Good places for tummy time:

• A blanket on the floor
• Your chest, while you're reclined and awake
• Across your lap

Some health sites mention a rolled towel or cushion under the chest for support. My Brest Friend isn't made for that, so keep it for feeds.

Can a baby sleep on a nursing pillow?

No, never. Health Canada says soft products like nursing pillows are not safe places for a baby to sleep, and that babies should go on their back for every sleep, including naps, on a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to use nursing pillows for infant sleep or lounging, and not to leave babies unattended on them on beds, sofas or other raised surfaces.

Babies often fall asleep at the end of a feed. That's normal. When it happens, unclip the pillow and move your baby onto their back in their crib, cradle or bassinet. My Brest Friend's silent-release buckle is there to make that easier without waking them.

Is a nursing pillow good for a newborn?

Yes, for feeding. You can use it from the first feed, as long as you're awake and holding your baby. My Brest Friend is firm and flat so your baby lies level and doesn't sink in, and the maker says its pillows support babies up to 18 months and about 20 pounds.

Which one suits you

• Bottle and breast, or sharing feeds: the Deluxe. Easy strap, firm surface, back support.
• Long feeds or you want more cushioning: the Super Deluxe, with extra padding.
• Not sure about fit: check the size guide.
• Comparing shapes: read My Brest Friend vs Boppy.

Safety first

Use any nursing pillow for supervised, awake feeding only. Always hold your baby. Never use it for sleep, naps, lounging or tummy time, and never leave your baby on it alone. For the full list, read our nursing pillow safety guide. This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your health care provider if you have questions about feeding or your baby's development.

FAQ

Can you use a nursing pillow for bottle feeding?

Yes, as long as you hold your baby and the bottle the whole time. The pillow supports your arm and your baby's weight. Never prop the bottle or leave your baby on the pillow with a bottle.

How do you use a nursing pillow for bottle feeding?

Clip the pillow on, lay your baby on it with their head higher than their tummy, and hold the bottle at an angle so milk only flows when they suck. Let them take breaks and stop when they show they're full.

Can a nursing pillow be used for tummy time?

My Brest Friend says its pillow was designed solely for breastfeeding and is not conducive to other uses, like propping a baby. For tummy time, use a firm, flat surface like the floor, your chest or your lap, with your baby awake and watched.

Can my baby sleep on a nursing pillow?

No. Health Canada says nursing pillows are not safe places for a baby to sleep, and the CPSC says never to use nursing pillows for infant sleep or lounging. Move a sleeping baby onto their back in a crib, cradle or bassinet.

Is a nursing pillow good for a newborn?

Yes, for feeding. You can use it from the first feed, as long as you're awake, holding your baby and watching them. My Brest Friend says its pillows support babies up to 18 months and about 20 pounds.

Where to buy in Canada

Adorling is an authorized Canadian retailer of My Brest Friend nursing pillows and LANACare organic merino wool nursing pads. You're buying genuine products from a Canadian team, with free tracked shipping anywhere in Canada and no minimum order. Browse nursing pillows or nursing pads and breast care.