Last updated: August 23, 2026
The name is a pun that people either find charming or cannot say out loud, and it has not stopped the product becoming the one recommended most often by the people who help with feeding for a living. That is worth noticing, because it is not the prettiest pillow in the aisle and it is not the one that photographs well on a sofa.
What it is, is structured. A flat firm platform, a belt that fastens at the front and a panel that supports the lower back, all in one object. This article covers what that construction changes, which version to buy and who ends up disliking it.
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Quick Answer
Should you buy the My Brest Friend pillow?
- Yes if your back or shoulders ache while feeding, because it is the one with a back panel.
- Yes if a soft cushion keeps sliding away from you or sinking under the baby.
- No if you want a casual cushion for around the house; it is a single purpose object.
- Check the strap range against your own measurements, since that is the usual reason for a return.
Bottom line: the most supportive mainstream option and the least versatile one. Supervised feeding only, never a sleep surface.
What the Design Does Differently
Three things separate it from a soft crescent. The top surface is flat and firm, so the baby lies level rather than in a curve. The belt fastens at the front, so the pillow stays with you when you shift or stand. And a padded panel sits against the lower back, so the design pulls you upright instead of letting you round forward over the baby.
The manufacturer describes the pillow around posture, and that framing matches what owners report. The word that comes up repeatedly is stable: the shelf stays at the same height for the whole feed, which is the thing a soft cushion cannot promise as the baby grows.
Best for the standard version
The original is the model most people mean, with the flat platform, the front buckle and the back support panel in their basic form.
Who Ends Up Disliking It
Two groups, consistently. People who wanted a cushion rather than a device find the buckling tedious, especially at night, and it does not double as a lounging pillow or a back prop the way a soft crescent does. Once feeding is finished it goes in a cupboard, and it is bulky in there.
The second group is people the strap does not fit comfortably. The original strap has a defined range and reviewers at both ends of it report problems, which is why the larger versions exist. Check the listed measurements rather than assuming, because this is the single most common cause of a return.
Best if the original strap is too short
The deluxe version adds a longer adjustable strap, a softer cover and a pocket, and it is the practical answer for anyone who found the original tight.
The Versions, Decoded
The range is confusing because the names describe fabric and extras rather than shape. The original, the deluxe and the more padded versions above it share the same core construction; what changes is the cover material, the amount of padding on the back panel, the pocket and the strap range.
The two genuinely different products are the twin pillow, which is much wider and built for tandem feeding, and the inflatable travel version, which packs flat and gives up a good deal of firmness in exchange. Everything else is a trim level.
Best for feeding two at once
The twin version is wider and flatter with a stable surface on both sides, and it is the only model in the range that makes tandem feeding practical.
Height, Torso Length and Why Reviews Disagree
Feeding pillow reviews split along a line nobody mentions: torso length. The same firm platform that sits perfectly for one person lands too high for someone shorter and too low for someone taller. Because this pillow does not compress, it does not quietly adapt the way a soft cushion does.
That is a strength if the height suits you and a real limitation if it does not. There is no adjustment beyond the strap, so if you are noticeably tall or short it is worth reading our feeding pillow guide for the adjustable designs before committing to this one.
Safe Use, Every Time
Feeding pillows are for supervised feeding while you are awake, and they are not sleep products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned about infant deaths involving nursing pillows used for sleep or lounging, and the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidance is that babies sleep alone, on their back, on a firm flat surface with nothing else in it.
The flat firm surface here can look like a reasonable place to leave a sleeping baby. It is not one. Never put a baby down to sleep on it, never leave a baby unattended on it, and move the baby to a safe sleep surface if they fall asleep mid feed. The full picture is in nursing pillow safety.
The Range at a Glance
| Version | Back panel | Strap range | Buy it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Standard padding | Standard | You want the core design, nothing extra |
| Deluxe | More padding, pocket | Longer | The original strap is tight, or you want the pocket |
| Twin version | Yes, wider body | Longer | You are feeding two at once |
| Inflatable travel | Minimal | Standard | You need something that packs flat |
Covers are model specific, so a spare bought for the original will not necessarily fit the wider versions.
Best if you travel or visit often
The inflatable version packs down small and gives up firmness for portability, which is a fair trade for a weekend and a poor one for daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth it over a Boppy? If your problem is posture, sliding or a sinking shelf, yes clearly. If you have none of those problems, the soft cushion is lighter and more useful long term. Full comparison in Boppy against My Brest Friend.
Does it work after a C-section? It is the shape most people prefer in that situation, because the platform carries the baby’s weight rather than resting it in your lap. See feeding pillows after a C-section.
Will it fit me? Check the strap measurements on the listing against your own. The deluxe and larger versions exist because the original does not suit everyone, and buying the right one first time avoids the most common complaint.
Can I use it for bottle feeding? Yes. The firm level surface arguably suits bottle feeding even better, since it keeps the baby steady while you hold the bottle. See feeding pillows for bottle feeding.
Can the baby sleep on it? No. The CPSC has warned about deaths involving nursing pillows used for sleep and lounging, and the AAP advises babies sleep alone on a firm flat surface with nothing else in it.
How do I wash it? The cover comes off and goes in the machine. The structured inner does not, which makes a spare cover a sensible early purchase, see covers and spares.
If feeding hurts, if the latch is not working or if you are unsure whether positioning is the underlying issue, a lactation consultant will get you further than any pillow. Ask sooner rather than persevering with equipment changes.
The Bottom Line
This is the structured option: a flat firm shelf, a buckle that keeps it with you and a back panel that holds your posture. Buy it if your back and shoulders are the complaint or a soft cushion keeps failing you, check the strap range against your own measurements, and accept that it does one job and stores badly. Read next: the full feeding pillow guide, and the safety rules in full.