9 best pregnancy pillows for a better night’s sleep

Score: 98/100

Our testers were fans of this innovative design, with one telling us it was ”one of the best cushions” they'd used for them and their baby. The large U-shaped pillow offers much more than meets the eye. Unzip the cover, turn its belly inside out and re-zip into the other supplied cover and you have a smaller, C-shaped pillow that’s great for keeping you comfortable throughout the day or for feeding your newborn.

It's great for providing extra support on the sofa and comfortable when lying in bed, with the internal microbeads providing a good level of firmness and support for our tester who found the pillow helped ease her back ache. The covers washed well too and were easy to get on and off the inner cushion. It’s a fairly expensive pillow but its versatility makes it our winner.

Score: 98/100

Struggling to keep your cool? This is the pregnancy pillow for you. The cushion not only has a soft jersey cover, but it uses spacer mesh panels, which allow air to circulate, helping to regulate your temperature. Testers liked that the cover was easily removable for washing, and fuss-free to get back on afterwards.

One panellist also praised the ergonomic C-shaped design, which naturally follows the contours of your body and can be placed between the legs, around your back, or under your head – supporting you however you like to sleep! Our expert liked that it can be used as a feeding pillow too, or as a tummy time cushion for little ones from around four months old (but not for newborns as it’s quite thick).

Score: 91/100

When feeding your newborn, you want a well-filled, supportive pillow that won’t move around or slip on your lap. This is where Hippychick’s Feeding Pillow comes in. It ties around your waist, allowing you to sit comfortably on any chair, sofa or bed and still have a stable surface for feeding.

Testers found the microbead filling provided just the right height to save your arms from fatigue and one confirmed that the firmness "kept [her baby] in a comfortable position throughout the feed." We appreciated the machine washable cover, and you can also purchase replacement covers, allowing you to keep your pillow looking fresh.

Score: 91/100

Testers loved this pregnancy pillow from BBhugme because of its sleek design, pretty colourways and, most importantly, its functionality. It’s a long sausage-shaped pillow with a BPA-free (a chemical used to make certain plastic) microbead filling, which we found easy to squish around and adjust. Panellists noted that it's much lighter than other pregnancy pillows on the market, too.

You can also move the end clips (called pebbles) to adjust the firmness level – move further into the centre for firmer support or outwards for a softer pillow – to create the perfect pillow for your bump.

This makes it more versatile, as you can adjust it as your needs change throughout your pregnancy and for using afterwards as a feeding pillow. The outer cover was a little tricky to get back on post-wash and it's a pricey option; however, if you can splash the cash, it’s a worthy buy.

Score: 89/100

The unique shape of this pillow won our expert over. They appreciated its large, supportive style, which makes it adaptable to a range of sleeping positions and different uses. Its extra back pillow helps prevent you from rolling onto your back in your sleep and the long, curved section is perfect for offering support to your legs, hips and bump. Note that it can be tricky to adjust and reposition when turning over in bed.

The cushion is well-padded though, and one panellist said they loved using it for extra support on the sofa. You can also use it as a feeding pillow after you give birth, making it a fantastic, versatile buy.

Score: 88/100

This affordable buy was labelled a "must have" by one panel member, especially for the later days of pregnancy. It works in a similar way to C-shaped pillows, and has a more pointed middle section (like a V-shape) and can be used to prop yourself up on the sofa or in bed.

Our expert thought it was a good option for wrapping around the body, with one end providing extra support, which is great for breastfeeding. They appreciated its full, firm padding but found the point of the V compressed a little too much when placed between the knees while side-sleeping. This didn't prove an issue for our pregnant mums though with one saying the pillow gave them "the best sleep since becoming pregnant."

We’d recommend getting one of the covers available for extra protection but the whole thing is machine washable anyway so it can be easily cleaned if it does get stained or sweaty.

Score: 87/100

Created with the support of breastfeeding experts, this nursing pillow is wide and flat and is a good shape for laying your baby on during breast or bottle feeding. It's a firm pillow with gently curved sides that will help position your baby’s head properly and relieve strain on your arms, back and shoulders; it can also help ease wind, as your baby’s head is held higher than their tummy.

While the padding isn’t adjustable, it does have a strap you can fasten around your waist to keep it secure while you concentrate on your baby. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee so you can be confident that it will last you throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Score: 85/100

Like BBhugme’s pregnancy pillow, this nursing-specific design comes in an I-shape and is filled with microbeads. Its cover is longer than the pillow itself so you can adjust the firmness of the filling with the help of the two ‘pebbles’ on either end. Our panellists loved the removable and washable cover as well as the handy carry case for trips away.

Its versatility impressed our expert too – the adjustable support means it’s suitable for people with different body shapes, so both you and your partner can find a comfortable position for feeding your baby. Plus, with lots of different colourways and designs, it can be used as a normal cushion when you no longer need it for feeding.

Score: 82/100

Designed in collaboration with pregnancy experts (including chiropractors, midwives and physiotherapists) to support side-sleeping, this is a great buy for getting a comfortable, supported night’s sleep.

It has a section called the 'knee blade', which slips between your legs to keep your knees and ankles separated and your hips aligned, easing pressure on those key areas. It also means you’re less likely to change position and roll onto your back, which one panel member said she appreciated as she moved into her third trimester. The top section feels soft and squidgy and can be moved around to help you get comfy, but it isn't long enough to offer any head support.

It doesn't have the same versatility and longevity offered by some of the other pillows we tested. Our panellists would have liked an attachment or wedge to support your back or the other side of the body. It's designed for sleep so doesn't double as a nursing pillow. However, if you're looking for a pillow to encourage side sleeping, it delivers.