Chairs to breastfeed in - any recommendations?

[asicsgirl]

I'm expecting dc2 in May and thinking about chairs to bf in (particularly for the night shift). Last time round I bought one of these from IKEA and it just about did the job; I remember it being uncomfortable in some way but unfortunately can't remember why!

I'm tall with back/ neck problems and wondering if I need something with back/ neck support too - I remember bf sitting up in bed was agony. I have been looking at the purpose-designed ones like Hauck but they all seem to be so huge - not sure we have the space - and also to encourage a very 'laid-back' feeding position which I'm not sure about.

What have people found to be good for them? Thanks!

[NotQuiteCockney]

I got an Aeron desk chair when I had DS1. Its a very comfortable chair with good support, it worked very well with him, and now it's a great computer chair. Much more practical than buying a specialised chair.

Oh, but the best place to feed for the night shift is your bed, tbh. Co-sleeping is so much less work than not. And depending on the age of your DS1, a sling to feed in, in the day, might be better than a chair ...

[insywinsyspider]

I got one of these now on ds2 and its still great, we moved it into lounge in between ds's as it works anywhere in house, I have the foot stool too which was great

[newgirl]

im not sure - i was most comfortable on our very firm backed sofa with pillows when baby was small - as they got bigger, i could feed with a normal cushion under my elbow

did you ever try lying down to feed? it is possible - perhaps practice with a doll?!

[doggiesayswoof]

I have this

Was a present... it turned out to be not that great for bf (or at least my style of bf). I think I need something more upright. I found the arms got in the way of dd's feet.

I had to surround myself with cushions and have dd on a feeding cushion too. Not a recommendation, sorry - more of a warning.

[TheBlonde]

We have the chairs insywinsy linked too - always found them good
I also had a mybreastfriend feeding pillow

[MrsBadger]

well, my insanely generous MIL bought me one of these, which, although comfy, attractive and much more economical on floorspace than a glider-style one, is almost certainly not worth £250.

What I really wanted her to get was an old-fashioned one thus or similar - PIL have several in their house and they are bliss to feed in but she didn't take the hint and let me have the one from their spare room (boo hiss).
this? or this perhaps?

Mind you, having said that, I seem to spend unconscionable amounts of time soothing dd by sitting on a gym ball bouncing gently, which is a bit hard on the old back, so maybe some kind of rocking chair would have been a good investment...

a v pillow can help with sitting up feeding in bed, but I agree with NQC that cosleeping is the way to go.

[Monkeybird]

I have a glider chair but it is better for older babies than little ones IMHO because when you're holding them horizontally at first the arms get in the way. But brilliant later on when baby can sit more upright.

I looked at the BF chair listed on this thread (the low one with no arms) and it looked good but expensive. In the end I used an IKEA padded dining chair with no arms and a couple of phone books under my feet when I was really struggling.
You can also buy low, padded no-armed 'nursing chairs' secondhand/antique: try searching for nursing chair on ebay. Some of them look kind of cool and not too expensive...

[Monkeybird]

yeah, like wot MrsBadger said

[doggiesayswoof]

Yes, the glider is great for soothing and cuddling. just not for feeding.

(and you're right about the floor space issue MrsB, mine sticks out a mile into my narrow living room and I have to keep it so as not to offend my mum)

[TheFallenMadonna]

I liked a chair with arms. I rested a pillow on the arm, dc on the pillow. My favourite was a hideous chair that we got from dh's grandmother. Of the sort you see in old peoples homes. Upright, high-backed, just the job.

[NotQuiteCockney]

The arms seem necessary to me - DS1 fed for hours on end, and the arms were a real life-saver, meant I could feed hands-free.

I still think the Aeron is a good plan - the armrests are solid and very adjustable (in and out and up and down). And when you're not BFing so much, you have a very good desk chair ...

[KashaSarrasin]

I've tried the glider chairs, very comfortable but also very expensive. We have a Poang chair from Ikea, with footstool, that is brilliant for nursing in, just the right amount of "bounce".

[asicsgirl]

Thanks very much for these suggestions! Insywinsy/ Kasha, we have those chairs downstairs and I spent quite a lot of time in them during the day, tho' I did find I needed loads of cushions to feel comfortable.

MrsBadger - I know, those ones on eBay are gorgeous aren't they! But I think I need something with arms... I used a bf pillow when ds was very small but when he got too big for it holding him up made my shoulders ache. I was in IKEA yesterday and tried out a couple like the ones you suggest - but they are so low to the ground I found it almost impossible to get out again! (the problems of tallness again, or maybe just being heavily pg...)

FallenMadonna, yeah, I was actually thinking nostalgically of the really upright wing chair my grandad used to sit in. Hmmm... maybe I'll go back to eBay...

NotQuite - the Aeron does look the business - but can't stretch to that kind of budget sadly!

[asicsgirl]

Just being picky I guess! Same as ever...