A nursing pillow lifts your baby to breast or bottle height, so your arms, shoulders and back do not carry all the weight during feeds. Choose one that feels firm, fits around your waist and suits your chair. Use it only while awake and feeding, never for sleep. Ours cost KES 1,300 to 3,000 as of October 2026.
Newborns feed often, day and night, so a little support makes a real difference. This guide compares the main types of nursing pillow, what to check before you buy, and how to use one safely.
What does a nursing pillow do?
A nursing pillow raises your baby to the height of your breast or the bottle, so you do not have to lean forward or hold your baby up with your arms for the whole feed. It sits on your lap and around your waist.
It works for breastfeeding and for bottle feeds, and many parents also like one for winding and cuddles. A nursing pillow does not replace good positioning, so if feeding hurts or your baby struggles to latch, our breastfeeding guide explains where to get help. If you are worried about feeding, see your clinic or a midwife.
Which type of nursing pillow should you choose?
Choose by how you feed and where you sit. A U-shaped nursing pillow is quick to slip on, while an adjustable nursing pillow lets you set the height. They work in different ways:
| U-shaped nursing pillow | Adjustable layered nursing pillow | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | A soft U that curves around your waist | Padded layers stacked on top of each other |
| Height | One height | Add or remove layers to change the height |
| How it stays in place | Rests on your lap, held by the curve | Ties around your waist |
| Good for | Quick feeds anywhere, and moving from room to room | Finding the exact height that suits your chair and your body |
| Price at Zawadi (October 2026) | KES 1,300 | KES 3,000 |
Both are for breast and bottle feeds. You can see both side by side in our nursing and pregnancy pillows range.
What should you check before you buy a nursing pillow?
Check how firm it is, how high it lifts your baby and how well it fits you. If you can, try it in the shop sitting the way you will feed at home:
- Press it with your hand. It should feel firm and spring back, not sink flat.
- Sit with it on your lap. Your baby should come up to your breast without you leaning forward.
- Check it fits around your waist without a big gap at your sides.
- Look at the label for how to clean the cover, because feeds get messy.
Firmness matters for safety as well as comfort. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises choosing a nursing pillow that is firm and has straight edges.
Can a baby sleep on a nursing pillow?
No. A nursing pillow is for feeding, never for sleep. The AAP says never to use nursing pillows with sleeping babies, and reports that hundreds of babies have died in them. It advises always moving your baby to a safe sleep space once the feed is over.
Babies often fall asleep at the end of a feed. When yours does:
- Lift your baby off the pillow.
- Lay your baby on their back in their cot or bassinet, on a firm, flat mattress with nothing loose around them.
- Put the nursing pillow away from the cot, never inside it.
Never prop your baby on a nursing pillow on a sofa or bed and leave them. If you feel sleepy during a night feed, put your baby down in their own cot before you close your eyes. Our baby sleep routine guide covers safe sleep at each age.
How do you use a nursing pillow with a nursing chair?
A nursing pillow and a nursing chair work best together. The chair supports your back and arms, and the pillow brings your baby up to the right height, so you can sit back during long night feeds instead of leaning forward.
If the pillow lifts your baby too high in a chair with high armrests, an adjustable pillow lets you take a layer away. Our nursing rocking chair has armrests and a matching footrest, and our nursing rocking chair guide explains what to look for in the chair itself.
On offerNursing Rocking Chair with Foot Rest (Solid Mahogany)
Solid mahogany frame, cushioned seat and backrest, matching footrest.
Original price was: KSh 33,000.KSh 30,000Current price is: KSh 30,000.
Lipa na M-Pesa Delivery across Kenya
Where can you try a nursing pillow in Nairobi?
Come and try our nursing pillows at Zawadi Baby Shop, Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, and sit in our nursing chair with one on your lap. We are open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Call or WhatsApp 0706 561 855 before you visit.
You can also order online and pay with Lipa na M-Pesa, and we deliver across Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
Can my baby sleep on a nursing pillow?
No. The American Academy of Pediatrics says never to use nursing pillows with sleeping babies. When your baby falls asleep after a feed, lift them off the pillow and lay them on their back in their cot or bassinet.
How much is a nursing pillow in Kenya?
At Zawadi Baby Shop, nursing pillows cost KES 1,300 to 3,000 as of October 2026: KES 1,300 for the U-shaped pillow and KES 3,000 for the adjustable layered pillow. Check each product page for the current price.
Is a breastfeeding pillow the same as a nursing pillow?
Yes. Breastfeeding pillow, nursing pillow and feeding pillow are names for the same thing: a firm pillow that sits on your lap and around your waist to lift your baby to feeding height.
Can I use a nursing pillow for bottle feeding?
Yes. A nursing pillow lifts your baby for bottle feeds just as it does for breastfeeding, so your arms do not take all the weight. Hold the bottle yourself, and never prop it on the pillow.
What is the difference between a nursing pillow and a pregnancy pillow?
A nursing pillow sits around your waist and lifts your baby during feeds. A pregnancy pillow is larger and supports your own body, for example your bump and back when you lie down in pregnancy.
About the author
Kui Thairu
Founder and director, Zawadi Baby Shop
Kui Thairu is the founder and director of Zawadi Baby Shop, the baby store at Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, which has served Kenyan parents since 2018. She built the shop around one idea: only stock what she would be proud to hand over the counter. Her guides share the practical buying advice she and her team give parents in the shop every day. For anything medical, she always points parents to their clinic.
