Every major nursing pillow review site — Mommyhood101, The Bump, Alpha Mom, and Babylist — reaches the same conclusion: My Brest Friend provides better latch positioning than any other nursing pillow on the market. The reason is structural. Where the Boppy's C-shape allows a newborn to roll inward toward the mother's body, the My Brest Friend's flat, firm surface keeps the baby parallel to the floor at exactly the nipple-height elevation lactation consultants recommend. Parents who struggled to latch with a Boppy frequently report immediate improvement after switching.
The wraparound back support is the second differentiator. It buckles at the front with a clasp operable one-handed while holding an infant, and the strap wraps far enough around the back to distribute the weight of a feeding newborn across the whole torso rather than just the wrists and forearms. Mommyhood101 tested it on parents of multiple body types — petite to plus-size — and found it accommodated all of them without requiring adjustment between feeds.
The built-in side pocket is a small feature that earns outsized appreciation at 3 am. Nipple cream, a burp cloth, a phone, and a glass of water all fit within arm's reach without putting the baby down to retrieve them from a nearby surface.
What It Won't Do
The My Brest Friend's biggest weakness is its single purpose. Once nursing ends — typically around 6 to 12 months — it has no meaningful second life. The Boppy transitions to tummy time, floor play, and a sitting support prop through the first year. The My Brest Friend goes in the donation box. At $43, it's not expensive, but the Boppy delivers comparable nursing performance with two to three times the total utility at a dollar less. Travel is the second limitation. The pillow doesn't pack flat, takes up a full bag compartment, and has no carry handle. Families who travel frequently or split time across households will find the Boppy's lighter C-shape much more practical.
The Boppy Original earns the value pick not by beating the My Brest Friend at nursing — it doesn't — but by delivering adequate nursing support and then continuing to earn its keep for the entire first year. After the nursing stage, it becomes a tummy time prop, a floor cushion for belly-down play, and eventually a sitting support for babies learning to balance upright from around four months onward. No other nursing pillow in this price range offers that developmental arc.
The updated design fixed the original's worst flaw. Mommyhood101 specifically noted that the new wider C-opening now accommodates plus-size parents who found the original too snug. The JPMA safety certification and 30+ removable cover options — sold separately to allow washing rotation without buying a replacement pillow — add reliability and practicality that justify the $40 price tag.
For parents who aren't committed to breastfeeding exclusively, or who want one pillow that serves multiple functions through the first year, the Boppy's versatility advantage over the My Brest Friend is decisive.
What It Won't Do
The Boppy provides structurally weaker latch positioning than the My Brest Friend. The C-shape doesn't secure the baby against rolling, and the softer fill provides less height elevation than the My Brest Friend's dense flat platform. BabyGearLab noted the Boppy scores lower on nursing comfort specifically — parents of babies with latch difficulties should not start here. Firmness degradation is also a genuine issue. Multiple reviewers found the Boppy's fill compresses with daily use over several months, losing the height support it provides at purchase. The My Brest Friend maintains its structure significantly longer.
Who Should Buy Which
My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow
The structured nursing pillow with wraparound back support that holds baby at the perfect latch height
- New parents committed to breastfeeding who want the best possible latch positioning from day one in the hospital
- Mothers who have experienced latching difficulties with other pillows and need a firm, stable, structured surface
- Plus-size parents who need wraparound back support that fits all body types with a secure buckle closure
- Anyone who will nurse exclusively or primarily and doesn't need the pillow to serve a second purpose beyond feeding
- Parents advised by a lactation consultant to focus on latch height and baby positioning
Boppy Original Nursing Pillow
The multi-purpose nursing pillow that transitions from feeding to tummy time to sitting support
- Parents who want one pillow that does it all — nursing through the newborn stage, tummy time and sitting support through the first year
- Bottle-feeding families who need occasional positioning support without the structured firmness of a dedicated nursing pillow
- Plus-size parents using the updated design with the wider C-opening that the original lacked
- Parents who like to customize with patterned covers and want the widest selection of replacement slipcovers
- Families who travel frequently and need a lighter, more packable pillow than the bulkier My Brest Friend