It is sometimes difficult for a young mother to hold a newborn near her breast for a long time. The body has not yet recovered after childbirth, the muscles have not regained their former tone, and the back does suffer the most. To make the process of applying to the breast more comfortable, and mom at this time could relax as much as possible, a pillow for feeding is needed.
A similar thing will replace ordinary pillows, diapers, rolled into a harness, and other tricks that a woman goes to facilitate a long-time seat with a child in her arms.
Is there a need for a purchase
Often, a young mother finishes breastfeeding early because of the inconvenience associated with it. The woman’s back is numb, her arms and legs are numb. In addition, an incorrect and uncomfortable posture not only causes discomfort, but can also lead to a decrease in lactation, because the baby can not correctly capture the mother’s nipple. A pillow for feeding a baby is designed to solve such problems. The accessory will help:
- It is convenient for the mother to settle down and securely fix the baby, excluding his accidental fall.
- Ensure close physical contact between the baby and mother.
- Free your hands and unload them from constant load when wearing and holding the baby. The head of the baby is always in the correct position.
- Gain some freedom for mom during feeding. If you take a comfortable posture, put the baby, then you can do what you love at this time: read, talk on the phone and even take a nap.
Multifunctional item
Such an accessory is useful not only for feeding. If the pillow is made in the form of a roller, then it is often laid on the bed to protect the baby from falling. The pillow for feeding will replace the whole kit while traveling. It can be used for its intended purpose, made from it a cozy nest for the child and create barriers to unwanted movement.
In addition, this product can be used for gymnastic exercises of the mother with the baby. It is used during attempts by the child to sit independently.
Lactation Aid
A pillow for feeding a child helps to establish lactation. Often a woman experiences difficulties with this process due to improper attachment. If you feed in a traditional pose while sitting on a chair, the body is fed forward, which is wrong, or the child rises on his hands, which leads to their fatigue and flowing. The accessory helps to lay the baby directly at breast level and the mother herself to take a comfortable and relaxing pose.
The product is also suitable for mothers whose babies are breast-fed. Sometimes women complain that in this case they lack bodily contact with their baby. A pillow is able to provide it if, during feeding from a bottle, they lie together in the resulting textile cocoon.
How to use a pillow for feeding
To make the accessory useful and bring only positive emotions, you need to know the rules for its use:
- Choose a place to sit or lie down, position the pillow and fix it around the waist so that there is good support for the back and arms.
- The baby is laid on its side, towards the chest.
- It is necessary to make sure that the child’s body is in a horizontal position, or the legs are just below the head.
- To begin feeding, the nipple is inserted into the baby's mouth and slightly lifts his head. As soon as the baby begins to suck, you can free your hands and relax.
- To make the contact closer, the pillow is literally enveloped around itself and the baby.
- It is necessary to make sure that the child does not rest against the nose and mouth of the pillowcase.
- To avoid the risk of falls, it is necessary to hold the child or turn away to the back of the sofa.
If the pillow for feeding is used in accordance with all the rules, then the mother does not get tired during the process. Such a roller provides convenience and comfort. Even if mom falls asleep, the baby is safe.
How to use the pillow for feeding is shown in the photo below.
Selection options
Such accessories must be purchased in specialized stores. However, the choice can be so diverse that it is difficult not to get confused. You can rely on intuition, but it is better to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Material of filler and outer cover.
- The shape of the product.
- Sizes.
Different fillers
The pillow for feeding a baby can have a different filler, but hypoallergenic and breathable will be the best choice.
- Foam rubber. Products are budget, but are not suitable for use by a young mother. Foam rubber quickly loses its shape, the pillow does not provide the necessary support.
- Polystyrene, holofiber. It is an artificial non-woven fabric. It is considered a fairly good filler, has a low cost. The product is environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic. The pillow is capable of enveloping the body, repeating its shape. After use, quickly restores shape. However, the material is not durable, therefore suitable for short use.
- Theraline. An analogue of the previous material, but more modern. It consists of small balls, but does not rustle. The advantage of the filler in good body support and increased wear resistance. Similar products are more expensive.
- Expanded polystyrene balls. The quality is not inferior to latex products, convenient for active use. The material is airy, so the pillow for feeding from it is soft and soft. At the same time, it literally envelops mom and baby, but guarantees the necessary elasticity. Among the shortcomings is the rustling of balls, which can interfere with sleep. Also, the material is not durable, balls from time to time are reduced, the product loses its original appearance.
- Buckwheat husk. The pillow is comfortable and has a lot of positive reviews. Mom is comfortable to have a baby on it for feeding, because he does not drown in a soft filler. However, buckwheat creates a characteristic noise that can disturb the sensitive baby and distract him. Also, such a pillow is not suitable for sleeping.
- Latex. Considered the best choice. The filler spring well, creates the necessary softness and elasticity. Latex is completely harmless and does not require special care. The material is durable, so the pillow will not lose shape when used actively for a long time. However, products are of high price.
Do not buy pillows for feeding newborns based on down and feathers. Natural filler has undeniable advantages, but can cause an allergic reaction in an infant. The woolen version is also not recommended, because lumps often form in such a pillow. In addition, such a product cannot be washed.
Pillow Dimensions
On sale you can find a variety of pillows. Their length varies from 50 cm to 2 m. Which option is preferable, it is easier to understand if the product is tested directly in the store. Specialized salons that value their reputation provide this opportunity. It is also important to consider mom’s growth. If the product is too small, it will not bring benefits and will deliver only discomfort. However, an oversized pillow can be uncomfortable with frequent use by a particular woman.
Optimal product shape
Pillow for feeding, the photo below demonstrates this, promotes the correct location of mother and baby and guarantees a good rest. But if her form is chosen incorrectly, then instead of relaxing, mom will suffer from pain in the back, arms, the feeding process will become burdensome.
The optimal form for the pillow of a young mother is:
- U-shaped. The product resembles a roller that is able to support the back of a woman and hands. The pillow freely envelops the woman's body, creating a cocoon for full body contact and convenient feeding. This pillow shape is also recommended for twin moms.
- C-shaped. The product is designed to support the back, abdomen and legs of a woman, therefore it is convenient to feed the baby with it during a night's sleep. Pillows are popular and comfortable. Often used as a roller to prevent the baby from falling and as additional support while sitting.
Information for the craftswomen
A self-made pillow for feeding, will take at least a place of honor in the life of a woman and will not require much effort and materials. For its manufacture you will need:
- About 2.5 meters of fabric that will act as a pillowcase. It is better to use flax or calico.
- To fix, you need zipper, ties or hooks with Velcro. You can use the buttons, but the baby can accidentally tear them off.
- A filler that is not afraid of washing. Polystyrene foam fillers will be the best choice. Sintepon, down, fur or wool is not recommended.
- Scissors, threads and needles.
- Sewing machine.
Then two pieces of tissue of the same shape are cut out. You can choose a U-shape or C-shape. Their sizes should correspond to the growth of the mother.
Both pieces need to grind in the inner edge, not forgetting to leave space for the filler. Next, the cover turns out and the filler is evenly stuffed. The edges of the remaining hole are stitched manually.
After that, you need to sew a pillowcase on the same principle as the cover. It is also necessary to leave a hole, but already larger, so that the pillow can be easily inserted into the pillowcase. Then zipper is sewn, stitches are sewn or buttons are sewn.
A self-made pillow will please no less than a purchased one, but it will bring much more positive emotions.
Mommy reviews
On forums, women are happy to leave feedback on the experience of using pillows for feeding. If sintepon products are purchased, then among the advantages there is an affordable price, hypoallergenicity and ease of care. However, consumers notice that the product does not hold well, does not spring and does not withstand long-term operation. Suitable for the first acquaintance with such a pillow and short-term use.
Buckwheat husk pillows have collected many reviews. Moms note that they keep their shape well, they are comfortable with the child. At the same time, the baby does not sweat. The product does not lose shape even after repeated use. Among the shortcomings, stiffness is noted. In this case, an amateur pillow. The rustling also hinders some.
A pillow with polystyrene balls has earned only positive reviews. It keeps its shape, springy and promotes relaxation. The product is breathable, but does not absorb water. No negative reviews found.
Latex pillow for feeding reviews is also extremely positive. It is noted that after its use, back pain is reduced. Feeding a baby is much more convenient, while you can relax and rest as much as possible. Latex does not cause an unpleasant reaction in a child. The kid does not drown in the filler, but gently immerses in it. The product helps to establish close contact with the baby and establish good lactation.
Output
From the reviews of young mothers, we can conclude that the pillow for feeding helps fight fatigue, helps in caring for the baby. However, the choice should be approached carefully.