I hoard pillows. One wimpy little pillow doesn’t do it for me. I have at least three pillows every night, one under my head that supports my head just right, one between my knees to keep my hips and back aligned, and one in front that I like to hold on to while I sleep. When I’m pregnant, I have to add pillows for back support and tummy support. My side of the bed is basically a nest of pillows that shift and slide and have to be repositioned throughout the night.
That’s the beauty of full body pregnancy pillows. Designed to adjust to and support your changing shape, pregnancy pillows give you full body support without the hassle of contending with a pillow nest. The two main brands of full body pregnancy pillows are Snoogle and Boppy. This review will compare the Snoogle and Boppy. While the Boppy is less bulky and fully washable, I prefer the Snoogle’s design, versatility, and overall support.
Boppy Multi-Use Slipcovered Total Body Pillow
Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow
Overview
Both the Snoogle and Boppy are designed for total body pregnancy support. Doctors recommend that pregnant women should sleep on their sides, and pregnancy support pillows can help mothers-to-be find a comfortable side sleeping position.
Though they are designed for the same purpose, the Snoogle and Boppy have slightly different shapes. The Snoogle is designed in a large C or U shape. The Boppy is more of a flattened M with a thinner spot in the middle designed for belly support.
Here are manufacturer’s videos on both the Snoogle and the Boppy so you can compare.
Let’s see how these two pillows stack up in our Snoogle vs Boppy head-to-head comparison:
Adjustability
Snoogle
The Snoogle can be adjusted into six different positions, two for sleeping and four different ways of curling the pillow up for support while lounging in bed or on the couch. The two sleeping positions are the Belly Basic and the Back to Back position. In the Belly Basic position, you lie with your stomach toward the long side of the U, supporting the tummy while aligning your hips, back, and legs.
The Back to Back position is the reverse, sleeping with your back along the long side of the U and curling the short sides of the U around toward your tummy. This position supports the entire back while aligning the hips, neck, spine, and legs and reducing hip and lower back pain. The four seated positions offer different ways of curling the pillow to offer upper body support, back support, or even cushioning your lower body for hemorrhoid or post-episiotomy relief.
Boppy
The Boppy total body pillow can be adjusted for multiple positions but doesn’t offer the same kind of specific guidance as the Snoogle pillow. The primary sleeping position appears to be sleeping with the pillow in front supporting your belly. I don’t see a way to get both back and belly support with this pillow, although you can wrap it around yourself for seated positions like the Snoogle.
Winner: Snoogle
The Snoogle is the definite winner in the adjustability category. It’s easy to adjust for both belly and back support and also offers a variety of seated positions. The Snoogle also appears easy to adjust while sleeping.
The U shaped design means you can roll over in the Snoogle and readjust for a comfortable sleeping position without flipping the pillow over and tangling up the sheets and covers in the process. I don’t see a way to change sides with the Boppy without moving the pillow.
Firmness
Snoogle
The Snoogle is designed for firm support. Some users actually find it too firm, saying that the pillow is hard. However, the firm design appears to hold up well over the life of the pillow.
Boppy
The Boppy is also designed for firm support, though perhaps slightly less firm than the Snoogle. Some users report issues with the pillow filling becoming lumpy or flattening out with after only a few weeks of use. Others dislike the thinner section in the middle designed for belly support, although many users do find this fits their bodies comfortably.
Winner: Snoogle
I like a firm pillow, and that flatter section in the middle of the Boppy Total Body Pillow doesn’t appeal to me.
Varieties
You want your pregnancy pillow to fit your body, but you also want a pillow that comes in colors and fabrics you like. The Boppy comes in two fabric pattern choices, Ring Toss and White Trellis. Both patterns are grey and white, but Ring Toss has a grey background while White Trellis has a white background. Boppy slipcovers are made out of Pima cotton.
In contrast, Snoogle offers a variety of fabric types, including an organic cotton option and a 300 thread cotton option. You can also buy additional Snoogle covers in your choice of color and material. Here’s a list of Snoogle types:
Family Name: Fabric: Cover:
THE BASIC 65/35% polyester/cotton Non-removable cover
THE ORIGINAL 65/35% polyester/cotton Sham-style removable cover
THE CHIC 100% cotton or cotton-blend Zippered removable cover
THE CHIC JERSEY 100% cotton jersey or cotton-blend Zippered removable cover
THE CHIC ORGANIC 100% organic cotton Zippered removable cover
THE CHIC SUPREME 100% cotton 300 thread count Zippered removable cover
Winner:
Snoogle, if you prefer organic products and want more choices of cover material. I like the idea of having extra covers.
Washability
Snoogle:
The Snoogle cover is washable but the pillow is not. The pillow itself is spot-clean only. On the Snoogle Original, the cover comes off and then has to be gathered up and pulled down over the pillow in the same way you’d gather up and pull on a pair of tights. That sounds like a wrestling match, especially with a baby belly in between you and the pillow.
If you opt for the Snoogle, I’d recommend upgrading to one of the covers with a zipper. The zippered removable covers unzip in the middle. You still have to stuff in the ends, but that seems much easier than stuffing the whole pillow into the cover.
Boppy:
Both the Boppy pillow and cover are machine washable, and the zippered Boppy cover appears easier to remove and replace than the Snoogle cover. However, I don’t see an option to buy extra covers for the Boppy.
Winner:
Boppy. I like the option to throw both pillow and cover into the washing machine if they need it, and the cover seems easier to take off and replace than the Snoogle.
Temperature Control
Keeping your temperature regulated is a challenge in pregnancy. Let’s face it: being pregnant is kind of like walking around with a space heater strapped to your belly. While sleeping, you need pillows that offer support but don’t cause you to overheat. Here’s how our two pregnancy pillows stack up:
Snoogle:
The Snoogle claims one of the benefits of the pillow is temperature control. The only actual temperature control feature of the pillow seems to be putting the pillow between your knees to help with airflow, however. The U-shaped design offers great support, but I’m concerned that sleeping surrounded by a pillow may feel overly warm to some users.
Boppy:
The Boppy does not mention temperature control as a feature, but simply putting the pillow between your knees should help somewhat. However, it seems to me that this pillow would sleep cooler than the Snoogle because it doesn’t totally surround you. However, that may require some users to use an additional pillow to get both back and belly support.
Winner:
Boppy, although both pillows are designed more for support than temperature control. Neither excels in this area.
Size:
Both pillows weigh about the same, 5.5 pounds for the Snoogle and 5 pounds for the Boppy. Both pillows are also pretty bulky and may make you feel like there’s a pillow wall between you and your partner. If that bothers you or your bed is small, you may prefer a pregnancy wedge or a belly support pillow. However, if you want total body support, you’ll probably be happier with a full body pillow.
Winner:
Tie. There’s not a significant difference in the weight of these two products, and both pillows will take up a good bit of room in your bed. However, that’s a small sacrifice if it helps you get a better night’s sleep during your pregnancy.
Conclusion
I pick the Snoogle as my overall winner. I wish that the pillow itself were washable, but that’s the only major negative I see. I like that the Snoogle offers both back and belly support and that I can turn over at night and continue to use the pillow without flipping the whole pillow in the middle of the night. I also like being able to order additional covers for the pillow and being able to choose the fabric type of the cover, though I strongly suggest upgrading to one of the zippered covers for ease in removing and replacing the cover. However, if you don’t need back support or are concerned about getting overly warm, the Boppy may be a better option.
Overall Snoogle vs. Boppy winner:
SnoogleHave you found a pregnancy pillow you love? Let us know your favorite in the comments, and tell us how you use it to get better sleep and keep you and your baby comfortable.
