Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Tomorrow's the last day for $50 Amy Adele giveaway, & a 25% off sale!

AmyAdele.com product bannersTomorrow, August 19, is the last day to enter to win $50 of Amy Adele merchandise of your choice!

You can buy notecards, flat cards, birthday or other party invites, address labels, waterproof labels, birth or graduation announcements, calling cards, and t-shirts and onesies — all personalized and customized, and decorated with the charming and unique Amy Adele designs!

Right now you can also enjoy 25% off everything back-to-school at
AmyAdele.com
. Use offer code backtoschool25 at checkout! Offer good through August 25.

Amy Adele is also running a promotion through the end of the month of 15% off the 50 top sellers, which includes several labels, notecards and flat cards, the tulips calling card, and a selection of children's personalized t-shirts and onesies.

Enter the giveaway by tomorrow!

Disclosure: Amy Adele links are affiliate links.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Monday, August 16, 2010

WINNER: Libre Tea Glass'n Poly

A big congratulations to the winner of the Libre tea glass giveaway — #141!

Jenny at Babyfingers



Jenny says she's going to use it for her favorite morning tea:
I'd use it for red raspberry leaf tea in the mornings, hopefully before the kids wake up--and I've been meaning to branch out a little and find some other good teas to drink, too.

If you were not the lucky Jenny, you can find the Libre tea glass'n poly and glass'n glass at LibreTea.comrandom.org selection #141 for Libre tea giveaway Hobo Mama at $24.00 and $25.00 respectively.

Libre Tea ships glasses easily to the U.S. and Canada from warehouses located in each country, and you can contact by email for other international shipping quotes. If you are in British Columbia, Alberta, or Ontario, Canada, you can also find the Libre at several retail locations, and there is a distributing company within the U.S. and Canada so it might be at a local tea or natural shop near you.

Libre tea logoAnd remember to keep in touch with the gracious folks at Libre on Libre Tea's blog, @libretea on Twitter, and the Libre Tea Facebook page, where you can post pictures of yourself sipping serenely from your Libre tea glass as you're out somewhere marvelous.

Thank you to everyone for entering! Be sure to check out my other current giveaways:Hobo Mama calling card with dragonfly design $50 in personalized stationery, calling cards, labels, and children's clothing from Amy Adele (enter by August 19) and a WondaWedge inflatable pillow for indoor and outdoor back support (enter by September 3). Be sure to keep an eye on my giveaway page for upcoming giveaways as well!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Libre Tea Glass giveaway ends tonight, and the benefits of tea!

Enter now to win a stylish way to take your favorite loose-leaf tea anywhere you go!

The Libre tea glass'n poly is the solution for tea drinkers everywhere.

And if you don't drink tea, you should consider it. Here are the benefits of loose-leaf tea, from the Libre site:

  • Loose leaf tea provides the greatest flavour and value, while producing the smallest eco-footprint. Unlike ‘bagged’ tea, loose leaf tea is sold by weight, requires minimal packaging, is easy to dispose of and is biodegradable. With its bags, boxes and plastic wrappers, bagged tea requires resources for packaging and generates a great deal more waste.
  • Bagged tea is often made from the tea dust or ‘fannings’ of the loose leaf tea production, resulting in a brew that is much less flavorful than loose leaf tea.
  • Recently ‘pyramid’ shaped and bio-degradable tea bags for whole leaf teas have been introduced for higher quality flavour. The cost of these bags, however, is significantly higher than the 2 to 3 grams of bulk loose leaf tea required for every cup.
  • Tea is a source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health, helpful in enhancing alertness, and helpful in maintaining cardiovascular health.
    • All teas are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential in repairing the cells in our bodies. Green tea contains particularly high levels of antioxidants – specifically, polyphenols. A Boston Tufts University study from 1996 concluded that one cup of green tea has the equivalent level of antioxidants to 22 vegetables.
    • Some antioxidants found in teas are called catechins, which increase the antioxidization of the blood. Like all antioxidants, they battle free radicals and repair damaged cells within the body, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stokes, and slowing down the aging process.
    • The caffeine content in tea is released at about half the rate that it is released in coffee. There is no strong jolt, so it is less taxing to the nervous system. The caffeine in tea produces a gradual increase in alertness over a few hours, as opposed to the ‘crash’ that often occurs soon after coffee consumption.

So now you know why you should drink tea. The Libre tea glass'n poly provides the how.

Click on over to enter for a Libre tea glass before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Serene back-to-school shopping at Tea Collection

Do you have any back-to-school clothing to buy?

I want to tell you a funny story. My mom's birthday is in August, and every year for her birthday, she would get school clothes as her presents. Oh! How lovely!

It took her many, many years to catch on that her sister, whose birthday was during the school year, also received new school clothes at the same time. Sneaky, frugal grandparents!

If your kidlets have grown a foot over the summer the way mine seems to have (how do they do that!), you'll want some cute new clothes to outfit them on their way into the fall, whether they're heading off to school or not.

I want to introduce you to a shop called the Tea Collection. I just discovered this store, and I can't get over how gorgeous it is. The catalog pictures are the kind you want to just fall right into.

Their children’s collection includes adorable jackets, sweaters, pants, knit tops, and scarves that are not only modern and wearable, but also are inspired by cultures around the world. The tag line on the site is "for little citizens of the world," and I really like how the collection takes its cues from various traditional clothing.

"We want to bring the beauty found in cultures around the world into the lives and homes of families in our own backyard. We believe that if the foreign is familiar – it is no longer foreign. It helps us remember that we all more alike than we are different.

"We design lifestyle collections that introduce a subtle, but important global perspective: colors, textiles, or silhouettes that are undeniably beautiful. In that beauty, we can all find a common ground of respect, awe and inspiration."

The beautiful Folk Flower Banded Dress is 100% cotton, machine washable and the print is inspired by Hungarian painted furniture. I particularly appreciate that there's a special section of school dresses that are all under $30!

For boys, the Old Land Button-up Shirt is definitely a staple item for the back-to-school season. This stylish striped shirt is 100% cotton, machine washable and inspired by the rugged workwear commonly worn in the Hungarian countryside.

I also love the kid’s book Going to School in India. Captivating photographs and an engaging story tell the tales of real children going to school across this vibrant and exciting country. This book is a great way to get your special students excited about the upcoming school year. Best of all, proceeds from the book sales benefit the Global Fund for Children!

Tea Collection has clothing for babies and women as well. Even if you and your baby aren't going back to school, there's nothing that says you can't buy some new pretty things, too!



Tea Collection is offering FREE SHIPPING for ALL ORDERS till August 12, so shop now to grab the best deal! Tea Collection always offers free shipping on orders over $150.



Disclosure: I am a Tea Collection affiliate.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Cloth diaper coupons at Kelly's Closet

Kelly's Closet is a fantastic cloth diaper store, so I was proud to sign up as an affiliate. They carry cloth diapers in all the varieties: one-size, all-in-one, pocket, fitted, prefold, and more, from quality brands such as FuzziBunz, Kissaluvs, bumGenius, Rumparooz, Happy Heinys, Mother-ease, GroVia, Thirsties, and more.

They also have other diapering essentials and accessories, like diaper covers, swim diapers, inserts, liners, training pants, and even diaper patterns if you want to make your own.

Besides the diaper extravaganza, they have items for parents like eco-friendly menstrual products and nursing pads, items for the home like changing pads and natural laundry products, and other items for baby like soft carriers and toys.

So head over to browse and plan cute new additions to your stash, and enjoy the amazing free one-size diaper coupons Kelly's Closet likes to hand out! You could get up to four free one-size diapers with the coupons below if you use each in a separate transaction — pretty sweet! Start using them quickly, as most expire at the end of August.

  • FREE one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code FREEWATER at check-out. (EXP 9/15. Limti 1 use per customer/household.)
  • FREE one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code FREEONE at check-out. (Exp 8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)
  • Take 10% off all Rumparooz AND FREE shipping. Use code RUMPAROOZTEN
  • Free one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code ONESIZEFREE at check-out. (Exp. 8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)
  • Free one-size cloth diaper with a $35 purchase. Use code AUGNEWS at check-out. (Exp.8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)

Flip One-Size Diaper Covers in noodle, sweet, and bubble are now here!

Rules for coupons:
Sorry, NO previous or pending orders discounted. No exceptions. Limit 1 code per order. For free one-size diaper coupons Kelly's Closet chooses brand and style of diaper.


Join other cloth diaper fans on the following social media outlets for great cloth diapering info, more coupons, and giveaways!:



Disclosure: I am a Kelly's Closet affiliate.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Extension of Amy Adele giveaway deadline to August 19!

Hear ye, hear ye, giveaway fans!

I'm extending the Amy Adele giveaway deadline another week, from August 12 until August 19, so that my HoboMama.com readers can get in their bonus entries before the contest ends.

Hobo Mama calling card selection HoboMama.com


I realized I spaced on getting the Hobo Mama article up in time, so another week oughta give everyone plenty of leeway. Thanks, and go enter for $50 of Amy Adele products of your choosing!

A note, too, for shoppers of adorably charming personalized stationery:

Amy Adele is currently offering free shipping till August 11 for orders of $15 or more with code AUGSHIP.

Amy Adele is also running a promotion of 15% off the 50 top sellers, which includes several labels, notecards and flat cards, the tulips calling card, and a selection of children's personalized t-shirts and onesies.

Disclosure: Amy Adele links are affiliate links.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Hobo Mama Giveaway: WondaWedge Inflatable Pillow for nursing, bed, & beach $24 {9.7; US}

This giveaway is now closed. View the winner here! Thank you all so much for entering!



Special notification: I've extended the giveaway through September 7 due to vacation delays on my part!

Wonda Wedge inflatable pillow in Blue


In continuing celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (and National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!), I am pleased to bring you an inflatable pillow that you can use for back support for nursing, pregnancy, travel, and outdoor fun.

WondaWedge is offering my readers a giveaway of a WondaWedge Inflatable Back Support Pillow!

They're sending me my own pillow for review, but they were kind enough to let me start the giveaway in advance so we could get in on the World Breastfeeding Week celebration! So stay tuned for my review after I test my pillow in bed, in the park, and on the beach!

Here is information I can give you on the pillow, though, from the website and reviews:

The WondaWedge is a lightweight, inflatable triangular wedge pillow with a permanently attached mat, offering three different sitting or reclining positions: upright, reclining, and lying down. It was designed by physiotherapists and is recommended for back support.

Because your weight holds the mat down, the pillow stays in one spot and enables you to relax. It works great in that uncomfortable third trimester of pregnancy and then as support while breastfeeding.

Made of "sueded" vinyl, it’s easily hand washable. The pillow is inflatable, so it can be inflated to your comfort level, and then it stores easily and fits nicely into a suitcase for travel.

Many people enjoy using the WondaWedge outdoors as well as inside. It can give you needed back support when you're attending a picnic on the grass or relaxing on the beach. Think of all the summer activities you could bring the WondaWedge to!

My take on its use during pregnancy and infant feeding: Note that this pillow does not support the baby (as with nursing-specific pillows) for feeding, but it does help support the parent and give you some back support as you recline in bed or elsewhere. You could use a nursing pillow in addition to the WondaWedge and let the WondaWedge keep you comfortable in back. Many parents sit up in a more upright position when feeding their babies, and the WondaWedge says you can do just that. However, it also offers a recline position, and I do find it relaxing sometimes to recline and let my older baby or toddler lean onto my chest. This is especially helpful if he has a stuffy nose, as it can help keep him breathing more comfortably, and I've heard reclining is a good position for tandem nursing in bed as well.

I absolutely love the idea of this pillow for pregnancy use, because I was so uncomfortable toward the end of my pregnancy! It can help keep your back supported or your knees or feet elevated. (I think I just might want two or three!) I would also use it to help keep me in an elevated recline when I can't sleep because I'm feeling stuffy from a cold or allergies.

So you can experiment with the WondaWedge for pregnancy and nursing use as you wish, and find plenty of other uses for it as well:

Outdoors:
WondaWedge on beach
  • Beach lounger - sand won’t stick to or penetrate
  • Fishing back support - for more relaxing fishing
  • Camping lounger - pack it along with your tent
  • RV accessory - deflates for compact storage
  • Outdoor concert seating - easy to carry, doesn’t tear up the turf
  • Picnic seating - better than just a blanket
  • Boating lounger - recline in style on your pontoon or sailboat
  • Soccer sideline seating - more comfortable than bleachers or a blanket
  • Outdoor plays/movies - lean back and enjoy the show!
  • Stargazing - the reclining position is perfect for watching the night sky
  • Poolside lounger - less expensive than a chaise lounge


Indoors:
WondaWedge reading in bed
  • Recuperation - just home from the hospital
  • Chronic Illness - for those who spend much of their time in bed
  • Reading in bed - Chiropractors recommend it
  • Relaxing on the floor - multi position support for a myriad of activities, dorm rooms, teenage bedrooms
  • Meditation lower back support - focus on meditating, not your aching back! Pack one when you attend meditation workshops!
  • Sleep aid - for GERD, Acid Reflux, respiratory problems - sleep well
  • Pregnancy - sleep aid/breast feeding back support – be comfortable
  • Breast Cancer - recuperate in an elevated position as this enables optimal blood circulation to all the vital healing areas

I can think of a half-dozen ways I want to use mine when it gets here!

BUY IT!

You can purchase the WondaWedge Inflatable Back Support pillow at WondaWedgeStore.com at $24 or on Amazon. The WondaWedge comes in a variety of bright colors and at least a couple muted ones, for good measure.

You can get free U.S. shipping till the end of August with code FS on checkout. Otherwise, shipping for one pillow is $8.00 to the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska. International shipping starts at $14.00.

WIN IT!

WondaWedge outdoor concertFor your own chance to win a WondaWedge pillow, enter in the comments below! Contest is open to U.S. only.

MAIN ENTRY: Visit WondaWedge.com and tell me how you would use your WondaWedge pillow!

Leave an email address in at least one of your comments if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. (You can write it like this to foil spambots: mail (at) hobomama (dot) com or similar.)


BONUS ENTRIES, to increase your chance of winning (leave a separate comment for each so I can count them all):

RULES:
  • Contest open to United States mailing addresses only.
  • Leave each entry as a separate comment so I can count them all.
  • For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let me know in your comment.
  • For tasks that garner you multiple entries, you can copy and paste the comment with a #1, #2, etc.
  • You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
  • I will pick the winner through Random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave an email address in your comment if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. If I can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, I'll draw a new name.
  • Any questions, let me know: mail {at} HoboMama.com

Contest closes September 7 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.


Disclosure: I am going to receive a free WondaWedge for review.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Nursing pillows: World Breastfeeding Week 2010

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week [and National Breastfeeding Awareness Month], I would like to bring you a selection of nursing products that might help you as you begin or continue breastfeeding.

You truly don't need anything special to breastfeed, but that doesn't mean some items won't come in handy! Here is a roundup of some of the items I think would most help you as you pursue your nursing relationship. I've distinguished the nursing products by categories and will present each category on a separate day of World Breastfeeding Week [Sick baby has derailed my plans, so this will be more spread out — good thing it's also National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!]:

  • Nursing pillows
  • Nursing bras and clothing
  • Breast pumps and accessories
  • Nursing furniture — gliders and footstools
  • Other nursing accessories, such as pads, creams, other soothers, covers, and jewelry
  • Babywearing slings and wraps that make for easy nursing on the go

Categories and order might change as I write the posts, but that gives you an idea. There are quite a lot of helpful products out there!

Part of the reason I'm writing this series is to highlight some of the wonderful smaller companies I've had the privilege to affiliate with. I'll still draw in some big-name links as well, but many of these items are from smaller companies and sold at unique online stores. I hope you'll take a look at what else they have to offer and support the hard-working and innovative parenting designers and entrepreneurs among us. Because I am an affiliate of many of these companies, I'm pleased to pass on some special discount codes to you as well, so look for those to make your shopping sweeter.

I'd love to hear from you, too. Leave a comment or drop me a line about a product or company you love or would like to see featured, or your own review of any particular product. I haven't had a chance to try out absolutely everything, so I'm sure everyone would appreciate your feedback!



Today's installment of nursing products in honor of World Breastfeeding Week is nursing pillows!

Nursing pillows


Boppy Original Nursing Pillow w/ Slipcover - Lots o DotsNursing pillows are specialty cushions that help raise your baby to the correct height for easy latching. Again, you don't need anything special like this to breastfeed, but I found having a Boppy and My Brest Friend helped immensely in those earliest breastfeeding days. On the bed, I often used just a stack of bed pillows instead, but out in my glider in the living room, I preferred the firmness of a nursing pillow. Using a breastfeeding pillow will help you avoid hunching your back over and bringing your breast to the infant instead of the way you're supposed to do it: Bring the baby to the breast! It's much more comfortable that way, trust me, particularly if you're still recovering from the birth.

Nursing pillows, despite the term, can also be used for bottle feeding, so if that's something you or your co-caregivers would like to do, a pillow can come in handy for that as well.

I presented a bunch of these pillows on Hobo Mama last year, so I will recap and add a few here. Remember that eventually you'll likely both outgrow the need for pillows as your baby grows and gets better at latching at the right height. You can also simulate a nursing pillow when there's no other option by crossing one leg over the other to give your lap a little boost upwards. But when you want to be at your coziest with a newborn, these pillows should help make the start of your breastfeeding journey a little smoother.

BOPPY:


Boppy nursing pillowThe Boppy (seen here at BabyEarth.com, which I think is a lovely and eco-minded baby store) is the easiest nursing pillow to find. Mine was an original standard version, and the slipcover I received as a gift was a baby-soft velour. I recommend the slipcover, just from cuddliness, though one would also come in handy if your baby spits up a lot, because it's easier to clean a pillowcase than a pillow.

The Boppy is a crescent-shaped pillow. The shape of the original Boppy is kind of narrow, which is why they added the "expandable miracle middle," though it still might be too pinchy for plus-sized figures.

What I like about the Boppy is it's pretty streamlined. Plus, since it is so ubiquitous, you don't feel goofy about taking out in public with you as needed.

The Boppy is curved on top, so your baby will tilt into you because of the slight incline. I liked this, because it set him up in a good latch position.

If you're tall (or high-breasted, I guess is more to the point), the Boppy might not be high enough for you. I found that sitting in a chair with close enough arms (like my favorite nursing glider) and balancing the Boppy across them worked pretty well, though.


MY BREST FRIEND:


My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillowThe My Brest Friend, linked here to Nursing Mother Supplies, a one-stop breastfeeding shop, is a very nice option and probably the second most popular nursing pillow. It is a little more expensive than the Boppy and has a sillier name (and it's going up against Boppy!). Don't let that stop you, though.

The My Brest Friend is entirely flat on top, not curved toward the sides. If you have trouble lining up your baby with the Boppy, it might help to have a more shelf-like surface. Some mothers adore the My Brest Friend for this reason, so give it a try if other pillows aren't working for you. The My Brest Friend is very firm, so the baby won't sink in or slide around on the surface.

The surface is also a little wider than the Boppy, so there's more room for a big baby (or, theoretically, multiples).

The My Brest Friend latches all the way around and buckles. The fact that it reaches all the way around means it gives a little lumbar support.

The other nice aspect of the reach-around is that it supports your arms as they work to support your baby's head. And, since this pillow is so firm, you could also do some hands-free nursing as you read a book or take a phone call.

The strap is adjustable, so it should fit a wide range of body types. That said, it most likely doesn't fit everyone, so try before you buy if possible. The back support, in particular, will be off-center the more the straps are expanded, since they expand on only one side.

There's also a little pocket in front. I never could figure out what to put there. Chapstick? The remote? Nursing pads? Breastfeeding necklace? The site's pictures suggest a water bottle or a teething ring. So there's an idea for you!





Those are the two pillows I personally tried. Following are some other pillows that have unique features and/or good reviews so that you can find the combination of pillow type and price point that work for you.


VIVA! INFLATABLE BREASTFEEDING PILLOW:


VIVA! Inflatable Breastfeeding PillowThe VIVA! Breastfeeding Pillow made by Summit Baby is pretty cool looking. First of all, it's inflatable. So it would be easy to travel with it. I'm imagining you wouldn't want to deflate it on a regular basis, but it would be great in a suitcase or tucked away for long-term storage till the next nursling comes along. And inflating means you get to choose how firm or soft it is. Secondly, it has full back support (taller than the My Brest Friend). And the pictures show that it expands to fit anywhere from a 22-inch to 44-inch waist, plus an extender if you need it, so it looks like a good option for plus-size mamas. If you compare the straps to the My Brest Friend, you'll see that the My Brest Friend expands on only one side, meaning the back support goes awry if you're over a certain size. This pillow expands evenly from both sides, keeping the back support centered.


PIXEL NURSING PILLOW:


Pixel Nursing PillowIf you're feeling posh, PoshTots has the
Pixel Nursing Pillow
, which is handcrafted in the USA and features a soft microsuede on the top and bottom for maximum comfort.


NURSING PILLOW IN CUSTOM FABRICS:


Nursing Pillow in Custom FabricsAlso at PoshTots, this
Nursing Pillow in Custom Fabrics
doesn't look much different from other pillows, but it allows you to choose from an array of elegant fabrics (seriously, that dots fabric is the most boring of the bunch — click over to check out all the intricate toile, chenille, and linen options) or even supply your own fabric, for perfect customization. So if you're an interior design fan as well as a breastfeeder, here's your answer for the ultimate in coordination.


ORGANIC COTTON & WOOL U-SHAPED NURSING PILLOW FROM HOLY LAMB ORGANICS:


The The Ultimate Green Store carries an Organic Cotton & Wool U-Shaped Nursing Pillow from Holy Lamb Organics. The stuffing is made with pure organic wool filling and the cloth cover is made from organic cotton. I love natural fabrics, and particularly wool for its various magic properties. I bet this pillow would breathe well and last a long time.


CUDDLE-U NURSING PILLOW AND MORE:


Cuddle-U Nursing Pillow The Cuddle-U Nursing Pillow And More is made in the USA by Leachco. The unique part of this pillow is the cuddly lap belt to soothe a baby who's not being held. So, if you have multiple kids or require that no baby in your arms or on your body at some point (in the shower, operating a chainsaw, etc.), that could come in handy. It also looks like a good size for a nursing pillow.


CUDDOOZLE INFANT FEEDING PILLOW:


What I like about the Cuddoozle Infant Feeding Pillow is that it's made with hypoallergenic and anti-microbial memory foam and that it has a booster on one side to lift the baby's head higher to the breast. See more at Cuddoozle.com.





The following pillows are a different shape than the usual, which you might find visually or practically appealing. The lack of a strict crescent can be especially good for parents who find the standard pillows don't fit well around them, such as if you're plus size, or have C-section scars that are irritated by contact, or if you like to sit in deep chairs with high armrests. For whatever your reason, here are some new shapes to experiment with:

BALBOA BABY NURSING PILLOW:


The Balboa Baby Nursing Pillow, shown here from the chic baby store giggle, is too gorgeous not to include. I also think the shape of it is innovative. It's more straight across with just a little curvature on the inside, so I think it would fit more body types. From the few reviews I was able to find online, it sounds like it's nice and firm and sits up pretty high, with only a little angling in to your body. The Balboa Baby information says the pillow is endorsed by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears, RN. Also, it's pretty. So very, very pretty.


BOSOM BABY PILLOW:


Luna Lullaby Bosom Baby Nursing PillowThe Bosom Baby Pillow, linked here from the fabulous Pink Taffy Designs, is bigger than the standard nursing pillows and is more of an L-shape or V-shape. This can make it fit multiple body shapes more easily and helps it fit into chairs better. Plus, it can be used as a maternity pillow for sleeping. It comes in a lot of cute prints as well.





POLLYWOG NURSING POSITIONER BABY PILLOW:


Pollywog Nursing Positioner Baby Pillow The Pollywog Nursing Positioner Baby Pillow is unique in that it simply tilts the baby into the correct angle. It looks a little more streamlined than many of the nursing pillow options and would help angle the baby. Per the website's illustrated instructions, you can nurse in the football hold, which can be more comfortable if you've had a C-section or are tandem feeding, or tilt the anger higher, which would help babies with reflux.


SNUGGLE BUDDY NURSING AND MATERNITY PILLOW:


The Snuggle Buddy Nursing and Maternity Pillow is one of the more free-form kidney-shaped pillows that could work for more belly sizes. I think it has a nice streamlined and modern look that wouldn't look out of place as a standard or decorative pillow. The details say it's hypoallergenic and that the design provides elbow support.





These pillows would come in handy for sleeping as well as nursing:

NURSE N GLOW LIGHTED NURSING PILLOW:


Nurse N Glow Lighted Nursing Pillow For cosleeping and breastfeeding, there's the Nurse N Glow Lighted Nursing Pillow. Having light — but not too much light — can be essential in those early breastfeeding-and-cosleeping days, when you need to make sure everything's lined up right and the baby's not being smothered, but you don't want to (heaven forbid) wake the baby to satisfy your anxieties. A gentle LED glow on a timer could be just the ticket. This isn't the type of pillow that you use sitting up — it's specifically for cosleeping, getting you lined up properly to nurse in a side-lying position (a sanity saver for the breastfeeding mama, because you can get some sleep finally!), and acting as a safety barrier between your baby and your partner or other bed-sharing children.


SNOOGLE TOTAL BODY PILLOW:


Snoogle Total Body PillowAlso from Leachco, the Snoogle Total Body Pillow gives you support during pregnancy. Having never used it, I'm not entirely convinced it's a safe option for cosleeping, but I do appreciate that it would offer the back, hip, head, and knee support I need as a cosleeping mama and that I absolutely required during pregnancy. Besides its use for sleeping, though, the Total Body Pillow can be wrapped around your waist for nursing, giving you full back support as well.


BACK 'N BELLY COUNTOURED BODY PILLOW:


Leachco brings us the Back 'N Belly Contoured Body Pillow, another body pillow that can be used as a wrap-around nursing pillow. This pillow would definitely not work for safe cosleeping, but it could be invaluable during pregnancy sleep and then used as a nursing pillow thereafter.


SERENITY STAR TRANSITIONAL PILLOW:


The Serenity Star Transitional Pillow is a body pillow with a special feature: The three pieces come apart to make up a curved head pillow and two bolsters. That way, you could theoretically set aside one of the bolsters for cosleeping and side-lying nursing.





The pillows below are especially designed for tandem nursing multiples:

DOUBLE BLESSINGS TWIN NURSING PILLOW:


Double Blessings Twin Nursing PillowThe aptly named Double Blessings Twin Nursing Pillow gives you lots of pillow to love.

BASIC COMFORT ULTRA PLUSH NURSE EZ TWIN PILLOW:


Basic Comfort Ultra Plush Nurse EZ Twin Pillow - BlueThe Nurse EZ Nursing Pillow offers you a wide surface, back support, buckle attachment, washable cover, and picture of color-coordinated babies and mother and pillow, which I think is swell. You, on the other hand, can feel free to clash wildly. If you're going to all the trouble of breastfeeding twins (or more!), it's the least I can offer you.

EZ 2 NURSE TWINS NURSING PILLOW:


The Ez 2 Nurse Twins Nursing Pillow from Double Blessings looks nice and roomy and has a cushy Minky Dots slipcover with waterproof underlayer.





The following options are smaller support pillows for yourself, your baby, or your breast, for use either with or without a conventional nursing pillow:

Baby:

To prop your young baby at a higher angle


Breast:

To support large or heavy breasts


Back:

These can work either for sitting up and giving you lumbar support, or for lying on your side and nursing in bed.


Arm:

If you don't need a whole pillow but do need some arm support, here you go.





A note about safety:


All breastfeeding pillows warn not to let baby sleep on them. In fact, the Boppy slipcover I have has a tag sporting a big SLEEP with a line through it, which I found poignantly amusing in those sleep-deprived newborn days. Now, chances are, your nursling's going to fall asleep on a breastfeeding pillow at some point. Ideally, you could then transfer your baby off the pillow and onto your lap or into a sling or into a bassinet or whatever, but, well, if you're anything like me … at some point, your baby will be sleeping on a breastfeeding pillow. My safety warning, then, is not to fall asleep yourself while your baby is sleeping on the pillow. Make sure you're aware of mouth and nose position and any breathing obstruction, and then enjoy the peacefulness. If this happens a lot, I think a My Brest Friend would be the safest pillow for infant napping, because of its flat and firm top, with the Boppy second and bed pillows a distant third, because of their squishiness. If you are going to fall asleep, transfer both of your sweet selves to an appropriate position in an appropriate bed. No baby under two years old should use a pillow for sleep, and any pillows you use yourself should stay well away from your baby's face to allow unobstructed breathing.

Coupons and deals


[ETA:] WondaWedge has offered a free WondaWedge Inflatable Back Support Pillow to one lucky reader! Click over to the giveaway post and leave a comment about how you would use the WondaWedge to enter. Contest ends Sept. 3 and is open to U.S. addresses.

Here are some discounts from the above mentioned stores that you can take advantage of as you're shopping for nursing pillows. Unless otherwise specified, deals are for U.S. addresses.



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