In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Boppy Bare Naked Review

Basic pillow that gets the job done and has earned its popularity
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boppy bare naked nursing pillow review
Boppy Bare Naked
Credit: Boppy
Price:  $35 List
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Manufacturer:   Boppy
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Lindsay Selig  ⋅  Jul 14, 2021
58
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 10
  • Nursing Comfort - 35% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 35% 6.0
  • Material - 15% 5.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 15% 8.0

The Skinny

Boppy has been making their standard nursing pillow for over twenty-five years. With a classic C-shape design, it provides support for nursing, doesn't require flipping for side changes, and offers arm support for nursing mothers. While the classic shape is great for many moms and dads, it doesn't work for everyone and won't fit all body types. The Bare Naked Boppy is also only the pillow so you'll need to purchase the cover separately, driving up the price. While this purchase means you can coordinate the cover with your nursery or personal style, and choose fabric types for different climates, it does mean an added cost you should consider if you are on a budget. However, there are many reasons the Boppy has been the old standby with parents for years. It offers long-lasting construction, great support for mom and baby, and a straightforward design that makes nursing a breeze.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Easy to use
Versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Shifts
Does not fit moms of all sizes

Compare to Similar Products

 
boppy bare naked nursing pillow review
This Product
Boppy Bare Naked
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award Best Value Award  
Price $35 List
$34.82 at Amazon
$98 List
$98.00 at Amazon
$55 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Lightweight, easy to use, versatileEntirely organic, mold-able, easy to clean, portableExcellent support, quality construction, ergonomic shapeEasy to use latch system, wide space for baby and mom, pocketCompact, cozy material, great price
Cons Shifts, does not fit moms of all sizesExpensive, heavyLess versatile, no back strap, small size rangeLarge to store, lower overall quality of materialsToo soft, only the cover is machine washable
Bottom Line Basic pillow that gets the job done and has earned its popularityEasy to use, high quality option for straightforward breastfeedingHighly supportive pillow perfect for prioritizing good postureA close fitting, supportive pillow for moms and babies of different shapesCozy material with a compact design that's affordable
Rating Categories Boppy Bare Naked Blessed Nest Organi... Ergobaby Natural Curve My Brest Friend Deluxe Luna Lullaby Travel...
Nursing Comfort (35%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
3.0
Ease of Use (35%)
6.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
5.0
Material (15%)
5.0
10.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
Ease of Cleaning (15%)
8.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
Specs Boppy Bare Naked Blessed Nest Organi... Ergobaby Natural Curve My Brest Friend Deluxe Luna Lullaby Travel...
Dimensions 23.5"L x 19"W x 6"H 26"L x 16 W x 5"H 25"L x 13"W x 8"H 20"L x 17"W x 5.5"H 20"L x 9.5"W x 5.5"H
Weight 2.2 lbs 5.5 lbs 2.3 lbs 1.4 lbs 1.2 lbs
Belt No No No Yes No
Free of Flame Retardants Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Materials Core: Polyester Fiberfill
Case: Polyester, Cotton
Core: Organic Buckwheat Hulls
Cover: Organic Cotton Canvas
Core: Polyurethane Foam
Cover: Polyester Velour and Cotton Poplin
Core: Polyurethane foam
Cover: Polyester
Core: Synthetic Fiber
Cover: Polyester
Removable Cover No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Machine-Washable Yes Cover Only Cover Only Cover Only Cover Only
Firmness Soft Average Very Firm Firm Very Soft

Our Analysis and Test Results

Boppy was born in 1989 by a mom who was challenged by her child's daycare to create a pillow to support babies when not being held. Since then, it has become a tried and true favorite with moms. It has earned multiple awards over the years, including the Best Value Award here at BabyGearLab. Boppy has expanded their line to include items such as nursing covers and pregnancy pillows.

boppy bare naked nursing pillow review - taking the boppy with you, wherever you may nurse, is easy thanks to...
Taking the Boppy with you, wherever you may nurse, is easy thanks to its portable size and easy to clean pillow and case.
Credit: Megan Benedik

Performance Comparison



boppy bare naked nursing pillow review - the classic "c" shape pillow is easy to use and versatile.
The classic "C" shape pillow is easy to use and versatile.
Credit: Micah James

Nursing Comfort


The Boppy Pillow is plush and comfortable for both mom and baby. The shape provides adequate arm support for mom during nursing using any of the three most popular holds. Unfortunately, we find that the round shape of the pillow makes it easier for the baby to slip and roll towards mom while feeding, especially on smaller women. This rolling issue held true with the youngest and oldest babies in our tests, especially when mom sat slightly back, such as while feeding in bed. It is also somewhat on the thin side, which can result in little ones rolling toward mom's body and the incision site of cesarean deliveries.

boppy bare naked nursing pillow review - boppy offers multiple patterns and colors for the slipcovers.
Boppy offers multiple patterns and colors for the slipcovers.
Credit: Micah James

Ease of Use


The structural quality of the Boppy makes it very easy to use, even with one hand or while your baby is sleeping. There are no tricky buckles or clasps to deal with, making it a breeze to put on or take off. Plus, it does not need flipping when you change breasts, something that is necessary for some of the competition. It can potentially shift while nursing, depending on mom's shape and size, and as a result, needs readjusting to keep everyone comfortable. The Boppy is also great for uses beyond feeding time, and the pillow works well as a tummy time prop or support for little ones as they learn to sit or hold a bottle.

Unfortunately, the shape of the Bare Naked does not fit people of all shapes and sizes. The shape only expands to a certain extent, making it uncomfortable or impossible for some mothers to use.

boppy bare naked nursing pillow review - both the cover and pillow of the original boppy are machine washable...
Both the cover and pillow of the Original Boppy are machine washable and can go into the dryer.
Credit: Megan Benedik

Materials


Boppy has never used flame-retardant chemicals in any of its products. The covers are playful and soft, liquid repellent, and come in organic options. The materials in this pillow help it maintain its shape, but the 80% polyester cover and 10% polyester batting are less desirable than natural options for many families.

boppy bare naked nursing pillow review - after washing, putting the boppy back together again takes no time...
After washing, putting the Boppy back together again takes no time at all, in fact less than two minutes.
Credit: Megan Benedik

Ease of Cleaning


One of the things we love most about the Boppy Bare Naked is how easy it is to clean. Both the cover (sold separately) and pillow are machine washable and can go in the dryer, which is time-saving and means you won't feel guilty about towing this pillow around wherever you may nurse. Also, the pillow retained its shape after many washes and took a mere 0:36 seconds to put back together. Small victories are BIG victories for new moms, so the time savings and lack of pillow stuffing struggle cannot be over-appreciated!

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Lindsay Selig
 

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