Glossary
Nursing pillow
A firm, curved pillow that wraps around the torso to support a baby at breast or bottle-feeding height.
A nursing pillow is a firm, curved cushion that fits around a parent's torso to raise a baby to a comfortable feeding height, reducing the need to hunch forward or hold the baby's full weight with your arms for an extended feeding session. Shapes vary from a simple C-curve to wraparound designs meant to stay in place without being held.
Beyond nursing, many parents use the same pillow for supported sitting practice once a baby has enough head control, or as extra support during bottle feeding. Washable covers are a practical feature to look for given how often a nursing pillow gets used, and firmness affects how much support it actually gives versus a soft pillow that compresses under weight.
A nursing pillow is a feeding aid, not a sleep product, and guidance is clear that it should not be used as a prop for unsupervised sitting or left in a crib or bassinet, since its shape and softness are not designed or tested for a sleeping baby. Keep its use to supervised, awake feeding and practice time.