Finding a nursing pillow position that’s comfortable for Mom that also allows her baby to nurse successfully can be a challenge. Even more challenging, though, is finding a nursing pillow that’s always there when you need it, no matter where you go.

If you’re looking for ways to make life with a baby easier, let us introduce you to Tushbaby —where we help you do that, and so much more. We’re more than a brand; we’re a team of hardworking moms that knows and understands all that goes into raising a child. With the day-to-day in mind, we’ve created the Tushbaby, our supportive hip seat carrier that doubles as a breastfeeding pillow. 

In this blog, we’ll review the benefits of a very popular nursing pillow position, the football hold, and how your Tushbaby carrier can double as your breastfeeding pillow to achieve it with ample support. Whether you’re nursing in public or nursing from the comfort of your own home between daily household chores, the Tushbaby can go from carrier to breastfeeding support in just seconds, allowing you to quickly (and safely) transition to feeding your hungry baby. 

Best Nursing Pillow for Football Hold

Table of Contents

• What is the football hold?
• Benefits of the football hold
• How to do the football hold while nursing
• Is the football hold best for breastfeeding?
• Do you need a nursing pillow to do the football hold?
• Why Tushbaby is the best nursing pillow for football hold

What is the football hold?

The football hold is a very popular breastfeeding position used by mothers for a variety of reasons. We know a baby isn’t a sports object, so what’s with the name? If you can picture a football player running down a field, they’ve got the ball laying over their forearm and tucked at their side in order to keep it secured. The football hold nursing position really looks just like that. The baby will lay across your forearm and at your side, with their head at your breast. This is different from a traditional cradle hold, where a baby is held across your torso. We’ll review next just how handy this can be for mothers. 

Benefits of the football hold

There are many benefits that the football hold nursing position can provide. Here are just a few scenarios in which Mom may benefit from this position rather than other traditional nursing positions: 

• C-section Recovery: The football hold is notably common for mothers who are recovering from a c-section. With the football nursing position, the baby is kept on the mother’s side, which reduces any additional friction or pressure on the mother’s abdomen. Mom’s ability to hold her baby at her side for nursing can help an incision site best heal. 
• Nursing twins: We give moms props for having to nurse two babies at once. As you can imagine, trying to get two babies breastfeeding at a time can result in some seriously awkward positioning. The football hold allows mothers of twins to comfortably get one baby on each side, tackling two feeds simultaneously—yes, football pun intended. 
• Mothers with large breasts: For mothers with large breasts, finding a comfortable nursing position can be a bit challenging. The football nursing position is a great option to try, as it can be more comfortable for mothers with large breasts and can allow Mom to see and guide her baby to the nipple for latching. 

How to do the football hold while nursing

Let’s talk about how to best achieve the football nursing position. 

First, you’ll need to have your baby tucked at your side, with their feet closest to your back and their head at your breast. Your baby will lay on your forearm, with your hand supporting their head and neck. 

Be sure to keep your baby nice and close to your body. This will be better for your posture and will keep your baby feeling nice and secure. If you’ve got a fussy baby, this position can be great to try in order to get your baby feeling more relaxed and ready to eat. 

The support of a nursing pillow or the Tushbaby can help keep your baby extra supported when doing the football hold. Keep reading to see how the Tushbaby carrier can allow you to achieve the football nursing position. 

Is the football hold best for breastfeeding?

When it comes to the best nursing pillow position, it truly depends on what works best for a mother and her baby. While the football hold can be great for a variety of reasons we’ve mentioned above, the best nursing position is one that allows a mother to safely and comfortably feed her baby while keeping good breastfeeding posture. Mommas all have unique needs that can make finding their best nursing position a bit of a journey, which is why we encourage enlisting some support from the Tushbaby carrier. Used in the feeding position, mothers can try various nursing positions without straining their back or upper body. 

For mothers who are having a hard time breastfeeding, it can be incredibly stressful. The last thing a mother needs is back pain, tense shoulders, or muscle strain from trying various breastfeeding positions. At Tushbaby, we’ve designed our products to serve an array of functions to simplify the everyday lives of parents, grandparents, and caregivers alike.

 The Tushbaby Carrier can be used in four different carry positions, including the feeding position. Strapped high and tight around the waist, our streamlined carrier provides built-in lumbar support to keep the strain off your back while you nurse or carry your baby-- this will come in handy, especially for mothers spending more time to find a position that works best for nursing. 

Do you need a nursing pillow to do the football hold?

While you don’t have to have a nursing pillow to do the football hold, it certainly helps. A nursing pillow can provide added support for the baby while taking some of the weight and pressure off of Mom’s body. The problem is, not all nursing pillows are designed to comfortably sit at your side in order to achieve the football hold. Be sure your nursing pillow can be worn or sit snugly at your side to tuck under your arm for added support. 

Why Tushbaby is the best nursing pillow for football hold

The Tushbaby is undoubtedly the best nursing pillow for a football hold. Its versatile and open design allows you to wear it at your side for the best football hold nursing support. Simply strap your Tushbaby high and tight above your waist with the padded seat at the side of your body, and lay your baby between the seat and your torso.

The built-in lumbar support in the waistband will help Mom keep her posture upright while evenly distributing the weight of her baby across her body. Better still, the ability to rest your arm across the seat will help reduce any hand or wrist strain from supporting your baby’s head and neck. And when you’re done, you can stand up and switch your baby’s position for supported babywearing. Need we say more? 

Conclusion

With four different carry positions, including the feeding position, Tushbaby is the ultimate baby carrier for at-home use, travel, and everyday errands. With the ability to use your Tushbaby from 0 to 36 months as both a baby carrier and a breastfeeding pillow, what’s not to love? And with built-in lumbar support and five functional storage pockets, Tushbaby has your back, whether you’re out and about for the day or tackling household chores.

Check out our instructional videos and see for yourself just how convenient and comfortable our Tushbaby Hip Carrier is to nurse or carry your baby, all while stashing your stuff. And don’t just take our word for it: we have thousands of reviews from parents and caregivers all around the globe who have enlisted the support of their Tushbaby to make everyday life with a baby more fuss- and fluster-free. 

Keep your most valuable player safe, close, and milk drunk. . . order your very own Tushbaby today!