Editors Note
Boppy has discontinued all of their newborn loungers with no plans to create replacements. Leachco Podster no longer carries these reviewed loungers but they do offer the Leachco Cuddle-U Basic Nursing Pillow. While this is a nursing u-shaped pillow, it is also a pillow to lay your child in that includes a seat wrap to keep your infant in place. This is similar to the Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner. Both can be used for feeding, propping, tummy time, and sitting; however, they are not designed to leave a baby alone while sleeping. They should only be used when a baby is awake with parental supervision. Check out other baby loungers here.
Which baby lounger can become a mom’s hero?
Newborn loungers are such a unique helping hand for moms. They literally let you catch your breath or even eat a bite or two of what normal people call lunch. As you can probably tell, I’m a pro-baby lounger mom. In my opinion the best loungers can be narrowed down to the Boppy Newborn Lounger and Leachco Podster . Both are fantastic for your little one’s comfort but my preference goes to Leachco Podster. It has all the benefits of the Boppy and none of the issues, making the Podster into an all-encompassing product.
What baby loungers are a must-have
In my opinion, Boppy Lounger brought the hype back to baby pillow loungers and reminded parents how great of a necessity it is.
When the Leachco Podster was introduced, it came as an improvement to the Boppy. And it does incorporate everything that the Boppy was lacking. Even heightwise, the head resting area is slightly taller than the Boppy’s.
The added height is welcomed with open arms especially since you can prop the baby in there without having to worry as much about spit ups. Plus being at an elevated angle is extremely helpful for the baby’s digestion process. Definitely a win win.
A couple things to remember while using a baby lounger:
- Never leave the baby unsupervised especially if napping
- It’s not recommended for long naps
- Always keep the baby face up to avoid
- Limited tummy time just on the lounger
Now that we know what precautions to take as parents, let’s quickly look at the awesome features that the lounger has to make it uber useful. Both the Podster and Boppy are great pillows for your little one and follow each of the above requirements. One a little more than the other as I compare the two.
Hands-free life
With the amount of work we have to do on a daily basis, you know you can’t be carrying that baby in your arms all day. It’s not a feasible option at all. That’s where the baby lounger comes in to play. It’s set up to enclose around the baby so that the little one stays put in one place without being carried all the time. That frees up your hands to do pretty much anything within a watching distance.
The possibilities are endless. You can eat, go to the bathroom, do chores or even sit down, hands-free! The baby meanwhile wonders why you have tears of happiness in your eyes.
The Boppy and Podster nailed the hands-free aspect completely.
Portable
The Boppy is small, compact and has a carrying ‘handle’ that helps you out especially while traveling. Or you can zip it up in its original packaging (zipped up plastic) and carry it too.
The Podster is slightly larger (although both loungers weigh the same) in size and if you want you can use the adjustment tab to carry it. I wouldn’t really recommend it though. That would make the tabs loosen up and would not let you change the level of support. However you can still pop it in your luggage or in the car trunk while on the go.
The best part is, both the loungers can be taken anywhere and placed anywhere just as long it’s a flat surface.
I will say the Boppy serves the portability factor a little better than the Podster.
Comfortable
The Leachco Podster and Boppy Lounger provide the baby a super comfy alternative to your arms.
The main concern will be the baby sliding down or rolling over the pillow. Generally, it is recommended to be used by babies who are not able to push themselves off the floor yet so the chances of that happening are low. But that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent and that’s a risk no one should take.
That’s one of the reasons Leachco Podster has contoured sides. It helps give a tight snug fit in the lounger whilst still being soft and cushiony. The material on the lounger is cotton so it’s not a slippery fabric. In fact, you can even choose a plush fabric that also acts as an anti-slip agent so you essentially have a second layer of security.
Boppy Lounger, on the other hand, is much firmer and sturdier. The pillow has a polyester blend fabric that’s sown on tight on the pillow. That causes the surface to be slightly slippery. With preemies, newborns and even small babies that may pose a risk of slipping or sliding down the pillow.
Adjustable
The Podster lets you adjust the size of the inner depth of the lounger, allowing the baby to be propped up in a more supportive manner. You can increase or decrease the level of recline as well as the level of snugness at the same time. Pull the tab closer for a cozier layout for the infant and adjust to a looser fit as the infant grows bigger. That acts as a third layer of security to keep the little one from slipping.
The Podster also has a sling-style seat which helps provide a customized support based on the baby’s weight. As the baby grows bigger, the stretchy sling dips in the lounger to give the baby more space and prevent the little one from rolling out.
The Boppy Lounger cannot be adjusted but it does provide as much support as the Podster for infants up to 16 pounds in weight.
The recommended age to use the both the Podster and the Lounger is up to 4 months old or until the baby is able to push him/herself up, whichever comes sooner. However, the Podster works better for taller babies because if it’s own size.
Elevated view
Both the Boppy and the Podster are made to provide upper body elevation which helps the little one see his/her surroundings. To be precise it helps the baby keep an eye on mom, making sure she’s nearby. Not only that but after a feeding, this level of incline helps immensely with digestion. The teeny difference between the two is that the Podster is just a little bit higher
Easy to clean
Boppy has a wipeable surface that pretty much lets you wipe away any spit ups etc. For bigger accidents, you can pop the Boppy in the machine and wash it on a gentle cycle. For drying it you can either let it air dry or tumble dry in the dryer. If you have dryer balls or tennis balls, it’s best to put them in the dryer too so that the Boppy retains its shape. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully otherwise the stuffing has been known to come out.
One of the best features about the Podster is its removable cover. So if there are any messes, (and there will be!) you can just slip it off and throw just the cover in the machine. It’s recommended to wash it on a warm gentle cycle and dry at low heat. For the actual pillow, you can spot clean it.
Many machines may even find the loungers are too big to fit in. Convenience wise, the Podster is much better since you only need to take the cover off with needing to wash the whole lounger.
Adorable Prints
Despite not having a removable cover, the Boppy does 
come in a great variety of colors and prints that will definitely match with whatever color theme you have in mind. Podster has fewer options in prints and patterns, but it does let you choose between cotton or a plush cover. Leachco Podster’s replacement cover or an extra cover also has limited prints. Still a pretty neat option to have if you ask me.
Despite having a similar look as breastfeeding pillows, the loungers will not be of much help as breastfeeding pillows. They are too bulky for that. For feeding snack, the loungers may come to assistance and even for supervised bottle feed but that’s about it.
Both are awesome in propping the baby in place while you get some much needed R&R or you know, Instagrammable pictures since the baby won’t be moving much.
Pros
Leachco Podster
- Adjustable according to your baby’s size
- Easy to clean with a removable cover
- Elevated a little higher than other loungers
- You can get multiple covers if you want to switch out the color theme
Boppy Lounger
- Lightweight and compact
- Has a carry handle that’s great when traveling
- Comes in a cute variety of prints
Cons
Leachco Podster
- It’s fairly large in size
- Expensive
Boppy Lounger
- Does not have removable covers
- The whole lounger needs to be washed each time there’s a big accident
- Not that suitable for preemies or small babies
Reviews
Leachco Podster
4.6 stars, 9 reviews – Buybuybaby.com
5 stars, 22 reviews – Toysrus.com
Boppy Lounger
4.9 stars, 135 reviews – Buybuybaby.com
4.9 stars, 177 reviews – Target.com
5 stars, 269 reviews – Toysrus.com
In my opinion, the most relevant baby lounger is the one that understands the need for a hands-free life whilst ensuring the small bundle of joy stays put comfortably. It helps adjust with your growing child making sure it stays as a relaxation spot for the baby. Being elevated from the upper half of the pillow lets the baby keep an eye on you. Not only that, being elevated at an angle also helps in digesting after a feed.
The lounging pillows or loungers don’t necessarily take away all responsibility from you but they help make it convenient for you. It’s become super easy to clean and portable, so you always have it within reach.
My Recommendation
The Boppy Newborn Lounger is an awesome baby pillow that can guarantee hours of comfort for both the parent and the baby. But Leachco Podster is just one step ahead of the Lounger, fixing some of the issues parent usually had with the Boppy. Although Leachco Podster is a little more expensive, it is cozier than the Boppy and more convenient to clean up. If you’re willing to spend slightly more I’d say go for the Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Lounger, it’s worth it.
