My Brest Friend Deluxe Honest Review: Pros, Cons and Who Should Skip It

Nobody warned me that breastfeeding would come with its own set of logistics. During my first time as a mom, I used an ordinary throw pillow under my arm, and it never stayed. It slid, it flattened, and I spent half the feeding trying to reposition it. I was tired and sore, and I honestly wondered if breastfeeding was really supposed to be this uncomfortable. By the time my son Eli was a month old, I had a permanent ache in my neck.

When my daughter June was born, I decided to try a different tool. A friend recommended the My Brest Friend Deluxe nursing pillow. I'll admit I rolled my eyes at the name, but after eight months of nearly daily use, I have thoughts that might help you decide if it's worth your money. This is an honest review, which means I'm going to cover the things that made me love it and the things that made me want to throw it across the room.

How I Used It

From June's first week home through her eighth month, I used the My Brest Friend Deluxe for every at-home feeding. That's usually five to seven sessions a day, and cluster feeding nights stretched some of those sessions past 45 minutes. I used it in our glider, on the couch, and in bed. I also packed it in the car for visits to my mother-in-law's house, which meant I had to re-learn the positioning on different furniture.

The pillow wraps around your waist and clips behind your back. The foam core is firm, and the surface is shaped like a small platform with a slight incline. Once clipped, it stays put. I stopped adjusting the pillow position mid-feed after about a week. That may sound minor, but when you're half-asleep at 3 AM, not having to fiddle with a pillow is a genuine relief. I also used it during bottle feeding in the evenings, and it worked just as well.

During those first cluster feeding nights, I kept the pillow on the bed next to me. I would feed June, then clip the pillow and place her on a firm mattress. The pillow was not used for sleep, and I always followed safe sleep basics: baby on her back, flat surface, nothing loose. That's worth saying because a nursing pillow should never replace a crib or a bassinet.

Using It in Real Life

I quickly learned that the My Brest Friend works best in a chair with arms. In our glider, the pillow sat nicely on my lap and the armrests supported my elbows, which was ideal. On the couch, I had to adjust more because the cushions were lower. I also used it while sitting cross-legged on the floor during tummy time breaks. That wasn't as comfortable, but it worked in a pinch.

One of the more surprising places I used it was the car. We took June to a pediatrician appointment when she was six weeks old. I had the pillow in the back with the infant seat, and I managed to do a quick feed in the parking lot before the appointment. The pillow made the whole thing less awkward. It's not a travel pillow you'd bring on an airplane, but it works for a quick stop if you have the space.

What I Like About It

The stability is the whole story. Because it's clipped to your body, the pillow moves with you. If you lean forward slightly to burp, the pillow doesn't slip off your lap. I never had to hold it in place with my arm while also supporting June's head. That left me one free hand for a water bottle or a burp cloth, and sometimes both. I also used the small pocket to store a pacifier and a nail file. The pocket isn't big enough for a phone, but it's exactly right for the little things you need during a feed.

I also like the cover. It's a soft jersey knit, like a t-shirt, so it doesn't crinkle or make noise when you shift. That matters at 2 AM. The cover pulls off and machine washes easily. June spit up on it regularly, and I washed it on warm and hung it to dry. It came out clean every time, and the foam inside never absorbed anything. With a new baby, that kind of easy cleaning is non-negotiable.

The pillow also helped during bottle feeding. In the evening, I sometimes gave June a bottle instead of nursing. The same support kept her at the right angle, and I didn't have to hold her with both arms. That's a benefit I didn't expect, but it made those late evening feeds calmer. I could read a book one-handed while June took her bottle, and that felt like a small act of sanity.

What I Don't Like

Let's start with the bulk. This is not a pillow you can wear while you walk around. Once it's clipped, you're committed. The pillow has a wide footprint, and when I got up mid-feed to answer a text from Mike, I had to unclip, set it down, and then put it back on. That's annoying if you have a toddler demanding attention, which I do. Eli was four when June was born, and he isn't known for waiting.

The firmness is a double-edged sword. The firm support is exactly what prevents the slumping problem, but it also means the pillow is not comfortable to rest your head on. If you're hoping to doze while baby eats, this will keep you alert. I also found the neck pillow attachment completely useless. It velcros to the back and appears designed for someone to lie against, but I never used it once. It's extra bulk on a product that's already bulky.

Storage is the other issue. This pillow does not roll up. It wants to keep its shape, so it takes up real space in the nursery. In our Honda CR-V, I had to put it in the cargo area with the seats down to fit it alongside the stroller. It's not something you'll toss into a diaper bag. If you live in a small apartment, this is a real consideration.

What Nobody Tells You

Here's the part that isn't in the marketing. Getting the angle right takes practice. The pillow needs to sit level with your chest. If it's too low, you hunch down to the baby. If it's too high, the baby's head is in your face. The clip lets you adjust the pillow around your torso, but you have to do it before you clip. Once you're clipped, the position is locked in place. I wish the instructions had said that more clearly.

Another thing nobody tells you is that the pillow traps heat. The firm foam and the jersey cover meant my midsection got warm during longer feeds, especially in the summer. I live in Tennessee, and August feeds were sweaty. It's not a dealbreaker, but if you run hot, you may want to keep a small fan nearby.

Also, expect more laundry than you might think. The cover is washable, but the pillow itself cannot go in the machine. I spilled water on the side once and had to spot clean it with a damp towel. You have to be careful with liquids around it. That's not unique to this pillow, but it's worth noting.

One more surprise: the pillow makes a decent armrest during evening feeds, but it's not a safe place to put a baby down. I never used it for sleep, and I want to stress that a nursing pillow is not a crib. Safe sleep means the baby goes on a firm, flat surface. I always moved June to her bassinet after a feed.

How It Compares to a Crescent Pillow

I tried a crescent-shaped nursing pillow during those months, and it has one fatal flaw: it slides. No matter how tight I tucked it, the baby's weight eventually pushed it out from under her. I would feel the pillow edge digging into my ribs, and I would have to re-tuck it again and again. The My Brest Friend's clip eliminates that problem. For me, that design difference is worth the extra cost.

A regular bed pillow never worked for me. It's too soft and it doesn't provide the elevation. I also tried a rolled-up blanket, which moved around even more. The My Brest Friend is the only thing that stayed put through an entire cluster feed. If you're comparing it to a cheaper alternative, focus on how long you plan to nurse. If it's just for a few weeks, a cheaper pillow is fine. If you're in for months, the extra stability pays off.

Another difference: the firmness. The crescent pillow I tried was soft and squishy, which felt cozy but didn't give June's head the same supported angle. The My Brest Friend's firm platform means less muscle work for you. That was the clincher for me.

The Deluxe Extras: Pocket and Neck Support

The Deluxe version adds a small pocket on the front and a detachable neck pillow. The pocket is genuinely useful. I kept a burp cloth and a hair tie in it, and sometimes a small tube of nipple cream. It's not deep enough for a phone, but it holds the essentials. I used that pocket more than I expected.

The neck pillow is the opposite. I never found a position where it helped. It attaches to the back of the main pillow with Velcro and is meant to support your neck if you lean back, but the foam is too firm and too low. I took it off after a few days and never put it back. If you don't want that extra piece, the regular version might be a better value.

That said, I did like the adjustability of the clip. The waist strap has a few inches of give, so I could tighten it for a more secure fit. I never worried about the clip popping open, even when June squirmed. The hardware feels sturdy and holds up to daily use.

Long-Term Durability and Cleaning

After eight months of heavy use, the cover still looks new. There's no pilling or worn spots, which surprised me given how often I washed it. The foam inside kept its shape. No sagging, no flat spots. I've owned other nursing pillow types that flattened out within a month or two. This one holds up.

Cleaning is simple: unzip the cover, toss it in the wash, hang to dry. The foam core is not washable, so you need to be careful with leaks. I kept a waterproof liner underneath the pillow when June was in her heavier spit-up phase. That saved the foam from any accidents.

The only long-term issue I noticed is that the jersey fabric picks up dog hair. Biscuit, our yellow Lab, sheds, and the pillow seemed to attract every strand within a ten-foot radius. But it washes off easily, and it was never a real problem.

Myths About Nursing Pillows

One myth is that you need the pillow for the entire baby stage. You don't. Once June got older and could sit independently, she wanted to lean forward and wiggle away. I stopped using the pillow for every feed around six months. It's a tool for the early months and the bottle-fed newborn phase, not forever.

Another myth is that all nursing pillows are basically the same. They are not. The difference between a pillow that stays and a pillow that slides is huge when you're exhausted. I'm not saying the My Brest Friend is the only option, but the clip design is genuinely different from the crescent style.

The clip turns a pillow into a hands-free tool. No other nursing pillow I tried stayed put like this one.

Who This Is For

Buy it if you feed for more than ten minutes at a time. That's the honest answer. The stability and support shine during long sessions, and that's where the cost pays for itself. I also think it's worth it if you had a cesarean birth. The pillow keeps pressure off your midsection, which is a real benefit. And if you have a baby who needs constant adjustments, the firm platform can make night feeds easier on your back.

Who Should Skip It

If you only nurse for a few minutes at a stretch, or if you're feeding just a couple of times a day, a regular pillow might be fine. The My Brest Friend is a dedicated piece of gear, and it takes up space. If you're looking for something that doubles as a lounger or a tummy-time prop, this isn't that. It's also not ideal if you're petite and need a shorter fit, though it has adjustment points. And if you prefer to feed lying down, this pillow won't help you there.

Bottom Line

The My Brest Friend Deluxe is the most stable nursing pillow I've used. It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone. But if you're spending hours a day feeding a baby, the stability and support are genuinely helpful. It saved my back and my sanity during the early months. I don't think you need to pay extra for the Deluxe version unless you want the pocket and the neck pillow, but the base design is solid.