Boppies? Are they useful? Did you use yours?

Question

Trying to decide if I should buy a Boppy or not. Would hate to waste my money. Let me know if, how much and how you used yours and If I should buy one or not. Thanks ladies!

Answer 1

Yes!  Loved mine.  Had to get a new cover for each of my boys (3 of them 4 years apart) because I used it so much.  Really good for nursing.  Probably not the "right" way to use it, but it was especially good for "hands free" nursing - I would get the little one all set up, and then I could use my hands to hold a book, eat supper, type on the computer etc. (Please don't criticize - the babies never fell off, and they all got lots of "hands on" time too - just being honest.)  As they got bigger, I would stretch it across my lower back during nighttime nursings when sitting up in bed to have some support.  Another benefit, because I had C-Sections, the Boppy helped to shield my incision area when I nursed the first few weeks.

I imagine that if you do not plan to nurse (or only plan to do so for a limited period of time) it might not be as useful.

Answer 2

Really depends on the child I think.  My two friends couldn't live without theirs while mine was a complete waste of money.  My son hated it.  It was not right for us for nursing.  It simply didn't work for me.

When he got bigger, I tried to use it to help him sit up.  He screamed and didn't want anything to do with it.  

For my two friends, they used it for nursing, playing, tummy time and sitting up.

Maybe hold off and try someone else's with your baby to see how he likes it.

Answer 3

Ok, I know they are trendy and some people don't like them but for me my Boppy pillow and Boppy chair have been lifesavers. My daughter loves snuggling into the pillow while eating, and the chair (which vibrates and plays music and a heartbeat) really calms her when she is wiggly and fussy. I've had a great experience.  

Answer 4

I couldnt live without mine.  I use it to breast feed and for the baby to lay on

Answer 5

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE BOPPY.  I didn't have a boppy for my first child while breastfeeding and I did for my second and it was fabulous.  It is so much more convenient than trying to lay pillows on your lap and try to breastfeed.  The boppy is just the right height to put the baby on...and it goes around your waist a little so the baby's  feet are nicely supported, and your arms are supported too.  

And actually, for about the first two months, that is all the baby slept on.  He just loved being more upright than on his back.  And he fit so nicely between my husband and me.

Trust me...you can choose to not get a boppy, but once you have one, you will really enjoy it.  And you don't have to pay a lot for one.  I bought mine at Wal Mart for around $20.00.  Good luck

Answer 6

I LOVED MINE! i didnt really use it while breastfeeding because my son was a big baby, it put him higher than my b***s! but since day one, hes been hanging out in it to help sit him up (for his reflux problem) and just to hang out on the bed while his father and i watch tv at night. it will especially start helping when he is sitting up on his own. However, if someone hadn't bought it for me, I probably wouldnt have bought it on my own.

Answer 7

I love mine and use it all the time:

*  Supporting my 15 lb baby while I feed him to ease upper back, neck and shoulder pain (I have problems after 7+ years working as an ICU nurse lifting heavy patients).

*  For tummy time next to me while I fold laundry or do other tasks sitting on the floor.

*  To support him when he wants to practice sitting up.

*  As a back or neck pillow for myself on long car journeys.

*  To keep me from him rolling off my lap during a middle of the night feeding.  So many nights I am exhausted and I sit in the glider and put the Boppy around me on my lap, then put my feet up on the ottoman to give me extra support when I am over-tired and it feels like my arms will give out as I struggle to stay awake.  (We no longer co-sleep - otherwise I would just nurse him laying on my side during the night.)

The covers are removable and washable which is a plus!  I also agree with KAMP31 in that it helped sheild my c-section incision the first few weeks while I nursed, provided back support while sitting in bed nursing, and for "hands-free" nursing so I could read.

It is not a necessity by any means, but it is nice to have.  I don't always take it on trips (especially flights) because it is bulky, but it is nice and makes feeding more comfortable for me.  We have received a lot of baby gear as gifts and hand-me-downs, and if I had to buy one, I feel the cost justifies its uses.  We have several other boppy baby gear items that are wonderful, and well used as well.

I have friends who hated it because if you are bigger than about 38 inches in your waist, it won't fit right or feel comfortable.  It actually fit better the more my belly flattened out postpartum.

Answer 8

I didn't think I needed a Bobby til my mother in law bought me one anyway. I LOVED it! It's great whether you're breast or bottle feeding, and it's useful when your baby starts to sit up as well.  

Answer 9

I didn't use mine much with my second child-when I got it-but I did with my third.  She loved sitting in it, playing in it, etc.  It was definitely worth it, but I also was given mine as a gift.  

Answer 10

I bought one and seriously only used it maybe 3 times. I know other people use them a lot, especially moms who breastfeed... but I just never used mine. For me, a complete was of money.

Answer 11

Have you had your baby shower yet? If not, you should put a Boppy Pillow on your registry. Let someone else buy it for you as a gift then you won't feel like you wasted your $$$ on it if you don't use yours. My son was 9lbs 7ozs and 21 ins long so I have to say that my Boppy Pillow did not get used very much for breastfeeding. My son was just too big and did not fit right on the pillow right for the football position. I had to use that position as I was quite busty and that is the only position that he was able to latch on in.  However, the Boppy Pillow can be used for other things as well. It's great to lay the baby on the bed, floor or couch if you are playing with them or trying to help them strengthen their little muscles and help them learn how to hold themselves up and sit up. Of course, never put them in the Boppy on the couch or the bed and walk away only on the floor as they can fall off. Also a GREAT PROP for PICTURES if you lay them on their bellies propped up on the Boppy like on your bed or something and put like a white sheet over it or something and leave them just in a diaper or even bare butt! I did that with my son and have some PRICELESS pictures of him! I hope this helps and congratulations on your little angel! =-)  

Answer 12

I like them & have used Boppies for both my kids and my niece.  They work well for bottle or breastfeeding and I can't imagine not having one with a baby around.

Answer 13

With my first I used it a bit, but I don't think I would have missed it if I didn't have it.

I never even unpacked it for my second (actually I just don't know where I put it).

Remember the stores do not close when you have a baby.  If you want one you will get one/get someone to bring one to you.

Answer 14

If you breastfeed like on a couch or a rocking chair they work wonders. But if you don't really breastfeed and decide to do bottle don't even bother. I bought one when i had my daughter and used alot in the beginning she was alot more comfortable but i breastfeed alot well that's all she had she had no bottle. What i liked is that when she was done i could set her down on it and she felt as though i was still hugging her so she slept for a long time which helps when you need to get things done around the house. But i think they are great if you breastfeed. :) Good Luck...

*Mother of 2 year old and 32 weeks with a boy :)

Answer 15

I have one. I plan on using it for tummy time with my little girl.

(if she'll have it)

I got mine for free from a friend.

But you can go on E-bay and get them..and sometimes alot of thrift stores sale them :)

From what Ive read they are very useful..until the child learns to get out of them of course :)

But for bottle/breastfeeding they can be very comfortable I use to feed my cousin (through a bottle of course) with help from a boppy. It is just alot less strain on your arms and more comfy for the child.

Answer 16

I used their boppies to lay them on so I can feed both babies together. Now my DS can hold his own bottle, but I don't want him laying flat on the floor so the boppy is helpful to prop his head up a bit.

They did come in handy and when they are done with them they make great neck pillows :)

Answer 17

i formula fed my daughter and there was no use for it. luckily i got it from a girlfriend so i didn't waste $30 on it... i just use a recliner when i feed her.. and rest her in my arms against the side...hope that helped...GL

Answer 18

i loved and still love the boppy..we used it quite often when he was newborn so i could prop him up, i use it when he is sick and has congestion and his head needs to be propped..i also use it since he can sit unsupported i let him sit in the middle of it..

Answer 19

I got one cheap at a garage sale.  It wasn't very handy breastfeeding, just didn't fit me right.  So we used it mostly to prop her up on the floor either on her back or lay her on her tummy across the top of it for tummy time.  As she got older, it became a pillow to put under her exersaucer so her little legs could touch bottom.  

Answer 20

my mom used one for my little sisters..and she loved them..she used them all the time..hers was around...$20 bucks i think...but she got it from the baby shower..so i'm not completely sure =]

Answer 21

I think my son was nearly a month old before I even opened my Boppy, but I'm glad I finally did.  I use it to let him nap on during the day so that he is elevated and he doesn't get a flat spot on his head.  It also gives him a place to lean against so he can sit on the couch with mommy and daddy.  I've also recently discovered that it's good for babies who hate tummy time flat on their chests, since it lifts them off the ground.

Answer 22

I LOVE my boppy and use it constantly!  It is true that you can use a sofa or bed pillow, but it takes a little more work because you have to get the placement just right.  The boppy fits around your waist so you can flip bay to either side without having to readjust the pillow.  Daddies can also use the boppy!  

Boppies are also nice when baby starts sitting.  You can sit baby up and use the boppy to support them so they don't fall down!  I have also heard of people using them for tummy time (I had a tummy time hater, so I didn't sue my boppy for tummy time).  

Another thing I find very nice is that you can buy slip covers for the boppy.  It will inevitably get spit up on, so all you do is pull the slip cover off, throw it in the laundry and put a fresh slip cover on and yourpilloww is clean.  The boppy itself also washes up very nicely (just dry it with a few tennis balls!)

Soo..If you can't tell, I very highly recommend the boppy!

Best of luck!

Answer 23

OMG next to toilet paper a boppy and bumbo (little seat) are two HUGE necessities i would never ever live without have had them with the last two babies and cant imagine how i made it with my first two!

Answer 24

I never owned a boppy pillow.  I don't think they were available when my daughter was  baby.  I found that a regular sofa or bed pillow worked just fine to boost her up a bit in the early weeks when I was learning to nurse.  

When she was much older and bigger, I tended to nurse lying down while at home -- I'd just take her into my room and lie on the bed -- more comfortable.  But when we were out, or it wasn't convenient to lie down, I had no real trouble holding her to nurse her without any sort of support. (And lugging a boppy everywhere I went would have been a huge hassle.)

Answer 25

I love mine.  A friend gave me hers after her baby.  Then I just got a cover for it.  I saw where you buy a generic pillow, but it's the same idea as the boppy, just cheaper.

Answer 26

We have used our boppy from birth until just recently (he's 11 months now)!  It was great for breastfeeding, younger (and older) family members used it when holding him to support his head and body.  We used it for tummy time, we used it to learn to sit (sat him in the middle and wrapped loose ends in his lap.)  He used it to cuddle with as he got bigger.  The best use of all was during postpartum healing, I sat on mine when not feeding him!!  I had major damage and lots of stitches, so I sat on mine, my toosh was on the rounded edges and the sore parts in the open middle, genius I am!!  It helped a lot.  I would just recommend getting a couple extra covers so you can wash tons, or wrap in a towel while feeding.  Good luck!

Answer 27

It wasnt as useful as I thought It would be. if you get a good sale or a used one I would but not brand new. a regular pillow works just as well for bfing

Answer 28

(Edit)

I used a Boppy for a short time, but as my son got a little heavier, he would slide into the curve of the pillow. But I did like it for tummy time. Then I got 'My Brest Friend' nursing pillow instead & it was a million times better! More comfortable & gave me more freedom to move, freed up my hands a lot more. The baby lays on a flat surface instead of sliding down. There's also a pocket so you can put things like a burp cloth or other small things you might need but not be able to get up for.. for me it was Lansinoh creme for the soreness at the beginning of breast feeding. That stuff is a lifesaver!

*Just wanted to add that I wound up using nursing pillows for a few months until my son was too big for the pillows, but it was totally worth it while he was little. Saved my arms from getting tired (you'll need that since you'll probably be holding your baby a lot already) & with My Brest Friend I could actually eat something while nursing.. Hope this helps.

Links for 'My Brest Friend' nursing pillow:

http://www.mybrestfriend.com/

http://store.babycenter.com/product/code...

Answer 29

I do use mine from time to time, more so when she was younger to support my elbows while BFing, now I usually just hold her without a pillow or am walking around and so on.

The boppy is good when they start to learn supported sitting though, I put her butt in the hole and then use a couch pillow for her to lean her arms on.  It was also good for early tummy time and for propping her up after a feeding when she was young.  Now, if I lay her in it she just tries to roll out so we don't use it anymore except for supported sitting.