Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Identify your Boppy model first, then follow that model's setup. Boppy sells several pregnancy pillows, from two connected side pillows to a full C-shaped body pillow, and each is used and washed differently.
- Check: the sewn-in tag and the shape.
- Use: Boppy's guide for that model.
- Skip: nursing pillow instructions.
How do you find the right instructions for your Boppy?
Read the tag, match the shape, then open that exact model's page on Boppy's site. Four steps, about five minutes.
- Read the sewn-in tag. Boppy says to follow the care instructions on the product tag. Take a photo of it before it fades in the wash.
- Match the shape to the table below: two small connected pillows, a long C, a compact curved pillow, a straight body pillow or a small wedge.
- Check the cover. Boppy sells some models with a removable slipcover and some with an organic cotton cover. The care can differ.
- Open the model's own page on boppy.com and Boppy's how-to-use guide. If you still cannot tell, ask Boppy Customer Care with a photo of the tag.
Week 26, 11:40 p.m.
Leah's sister had passed down "the Boppy" in a laundry bag, no box, no card. Leah searched "how to use Boppy" and spent twenty minutes on videos about feeding a newborn. None of it looked like the two squashy pillows joined by a stretchy band on her bed.
"I kept trying to wrap it around my waist like the nursing one," she said. "It made no sense, because it isn't that pillow." The tag said Side Sleeper. After that, the setup took one minute.
Same brand name, different pillow. Start with the tag, not the logo.
Which Boppy pregnancy pillow do you have?
Match what you see to one row. The setup notes come from Boppy's own product pages and how-to guide.
| Model (Boppy's name) | How to recognise it | How Boppy describes using it | Care as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow | Two separate pillows joined by a stretch panel | Made for side sleeping. Boppy says the connection keeps the pillows from spreading apart at night. The page gives no step list; the usual setup is one pillow at your front, one behind your back | Slipcover: delicate, 30°C/85°F, tumble dry low. Insert: front-load washer recommended, delicate, tumble dry low |
| Total Body Pregnancy Pillow | Long C shape with a contoured centre | Hug the open front side for more back support, or hug the back side for more belly support. Curve at your head and neck, end between your knees | Slipcover: delicate, 30°C/85°F. Insert: commercial-size washer or dryer |
| Cuddle Pregnancy Pillow | Compact curved pillow, smaller than the Total Body | Described as compact support without the bulk. We did not find model-specific steps | Check the tag and product page |
| Pregnancy Body Pillow | Long straight pillow | Boppy's guide describes a full body pillow as hugged in front of you from neck to knees | Check the tag and product page |
| Pregnancy Support Wedge | Small, thin angled wedge | Under the belly, under the neck or between the legs, alone or with a larger pillow | Spot-clean-only foam core as listed |
Boppy also has an older Full Body Side Sleeper that its guide says has a removable side pillow for the opposite side of your body. If yours has a piece that detaches, look up that model by name.
Where does Boppy keep its instructions?
Online, not in a booklet. We found no downloadable manual for the pregnancy pillows, so the instructions are spread across three places on Boppy's site.
- The how-to-use guide on Boppy's blog, with positioning for each pillow type.
- Each model's product page, for what the pillow is built to do and its fabric and care.
- The Product Care page and the tag on your pillow, which Boppy points to as the final word on washing.
If two of these disagree for an older pillow, go with the tag sewn into it. It was printed for that pillow.
"it's not so easy to turn sides what with having to adjust the pillows, lifting your body up to turn, too much work"YouTube comment on a pregnancy sleep video
If that sounds like your nights, the setup may be fine and the pillow may simply be the wrong type for how often you turn. That is a different question, covered in our buying checklist.
When should you stop and check instead of guessing?
Stop when you are about to wash the insert, when you cannot name the model, or when a guide shows a baby. Those are the three places a wrong guess costs you.
- Washing the insert. Boppy lists a front-load washer for the Side Sleeper insert and commercial-size machines for the Total Body insert. A wrong cycle can lump the filling.
- No tag, no match. Email Boppy Customer Care with photos of the whole pillow and any label, plus where it came from.
- Nursing or infant pictures. The Boppy Nursing Pillow is a different product with its own rules. Boppy says its products are for adult-supervised awake time and never for infant sleep. This page only covers using a pregnancy pillow for your own sleep.
Ongoing hip, pelvic or back pain is something to raise with your midwife or OB-GYN. Setup advice is for comfort.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a Boppy Side Sleeper pregnancy pillow?
Boppy's page does not give a step list. It says the two pillows are joined so they stay put while you sleep on your side. The usual setup is one pillow at your front and one behind your back, with the stretch panel between them.
How do you use the Boppy Total Body pregnancy pillow?
Boppy says to hug the open front side for more back support, or hug the back side for more belly support, with the curve at your head and the end between your knees.
Can you wash a Boppy pregnancy pillow insert?
It depends on the model. Boppy lists a front-load washer for the Side Sleeper insert and commercial-size machines for the Total Body insert. Always follow the tag on your pillow.
Where is the Boppy pregnancy pillow manual?
We did not find a downloadable manual. Boppy's how-to-use guide, each product page and the Product Care page cover setup and washing. Boppy Customer Care can help if you cannot identify the model.
If your Boppy is set up right and still not working
Relvay does not make a Boppy model or a Boppy part. If you have the right setup and your nights are still about rebuilding pillows, our two-wedge set is one different approach: bump and back support joined by a strap, on your half of the bed. If your Boppy works, keep it.
Two wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap, about as wide as your torso. Keep a regular pillow between your knees. $79.99, 90-day returns.
Leah's story is a composite based on public posts from pregnant side sleepers using hand-me-down pillows. Names and details are changed.
