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Baby Lounger

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It’s like a big leather La-z-boy for your baby.

except it’s not leather….and not a chair.

Ok.  So it’s like a squishy contoured pillow for your baby to lay in.  kinda like a pool lounger…that isn’t waterproof.  it would sink.

This is going nowhere fast.

It’s a pillow.  for a baby.  that’s all.

SOoo….when I saw that Boppy sells newborn loungers I was totally on board.  Except I grow giant babies.  They come out toddler-size.  So the only thing that worried me about their version was that it looked really small to me.  Also…they are forty dollars.  That’s right.  Forty.  I don’t like spending forty dollars on something that I’m not 100% sure I will even use.

That’s when I had my little light bulb moment….this is a pillow…a weird shaped pillow with a little tufts.  I could totally make my own.

And that’s exactly what I did.

My materials here are simple…

My fabric was roughly 54″ x 24″ and I folded it in half so each side was about 27″ x 24″.

The first thing to do is wash and dry your fabric.

Then pin the wrong sides together.  I pinned each corner to make them rounded (I just used a large bowl to get my curve and keep it consistent).

I left about six inches on one end unpinned…this is the hole in which you are gonna need to turn the whole thing right side out and stuff the poly fill through.

Ten minutes later, a little sweet-talking to my sewing machine and I had an inside-out-pillow-cover with a hole.

I turned the entire thing right side out and ripped open my other Walmart pillows and stuffed like flat-chested Dallas cheerleader.  Oh right…those don’t exist 🙂

 

Then I just sewed my hole shut.  This isn’t the cleanest way to do it (a hidden stitch would have been prettier) but since my fabric is nubby anyway, I don’t care.

Then I used a needle and thread to create my little pinches.  These will help your pillow stuffing to stay put and to allow for your baby to sit in a more contoured seat.

Since you are gonna pull really hard on this thread, you may want to use upholstery thread or double thread your needle for extra strength.  I decided I wanted the little ‘tufts’ to sit in the middle of the pillow (vs the inspirational pillow has the seat off center).  Then it’s just a matter of choosing your pinched spots and pulling that thread as tight as possible.

As you might imagine…my baby loves his lounger.  I like the fact that it’s machine washable (just in case a burp or blowout occurs) and it ended up being the perfect size for my almost-ten-pounder.  The best part about this project is that you can make it any size you want and with whatever fabric you love.  I think it might be my go-to craft for friend’s who might be expecting…you know, until they come out with a leather newborn La-z-boy 🙂

Update : Looking for more info on something you see in our house?  We have a Shop the Bower House page with paint colors and links to accessories, furniture and decor!

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  1. What a cute pair! Your new precious boy in his custom lounger.
    That might end up being his favorite pillow one day!
    Thanks for sharing the how-tos…
    And, congrats on your growing family.

  2. So smart! Especially since you only use this kind of thing for a few weeks or at most months. I love that you can customize it too. Great idea.

  3. This looks great! A couple questions: After washing the fabric, wrong sides together? How many “pinched spots” did you put in the middle? Thanks for the idea!

  4. This is great!! I have the newborn lounger from my first but my second is on the way, and the babies do tend to grow out of the lounger quickly.
    Few questions:
    How big were the pillows? Regular bed size pillows?
    Did you stuff the pillows in with long sides together, meeting in the middle?

    I’m just having a hard time figuring it out. I’ll blame pregnancy brain.

  7. Do you throw the whole thing in the washing machine? Or was there a way to pull the pillows out that I just missed? I love this idea!

  9. That is an awesome idea for a DIY! I wish I’d thought of it when I was pregnant with my daughter, but we are WAY past the lounging stage now. Unfortunately.

  10. Love this! Your little LJ is too stinkin’ cute! Such a great way to save money on a baby item that you never even know is going to work! I am definitely going to include this in my how-to baby registry post!

  11. Katie my dear: You. Are. Awesome. 🙂 I will totally be making these for presents/future kid(s).

    LJ looks so comfortable (and cute)!

  12. This looks like it would be good for very young newborns. I wouldn’t use it out of my sight or when Baby starts wiggling around/turning over. You might oughta put in a disclaimer, just to cover yourself.

  13. Love this!! If I were going to have any more peanuts I’d totally make one for myself. Great job on the pillow and congrats on your beautiful addition to the family!

  14. Brilliant! And so sweet and soft! How on earth are you getting things done right now? lol…
    My youngest is two and I’m still a mess!

    I just combined bedrooms for my two smallest… a boy and a girl. It’s tough when they aren’t the same gender. In some ways you’re lucky to have all boys!

    This is their room so far…

    http://hystericallyeverafter.com/2014/03/28/brothersister-room-sharing-part-2/

    I can’t wait to move soon and do my son’s room in HIS favourite decor. Your boys rooms are gorgeous.. thanks for the inspiration!
    MB

  15. That looks so perfect. But I’m confused… did you use both pillows? If so, did you stack them or put them side-by-side? You said you used poly-fil; in addition to the pillow(s)? How many ‘tufts’ did you make? Did you go through the pillows?- cuz you’d need a super long needle, right? Any additional info on how to make one would be appreciated!

  16. In spite of the fact that I’m pregnant with my third, I see that and my first thought is that it would also make a great dog bed! Maybe post-newborn use recycling idea?

  18. By “go-to craft for friends that might be expecting” you totally mean present for some pregnant girl in Illinois you’ve never met, right? I love the pillow and I’m wondering how I can convince my mom to make one for her grandchild.

    Darling pictures of little LJ. Congratulations!

  20. Lovely baby and lovely craft for a newborn!!
    I will try it for my next baby due in november…
    Xoxo

  22. What a great idea! I think I might make a few of these for a few people I know who are expecting. How many “tufts” did you put into yours to make the sunken area? Also, little LJ looks like he is as comfortable as can be. He is adorable!

  23. Congratulations! LJ is so cute!

    This idea is so great! We just would stack a pillow and the boppy nursing pillow (hand-me-down) so our daughter could lounge, but this is a much better idea. How many tufts did you put in your pillow?

  25. Love this!! I’m expecting my first child and was looking at the boppy loungers but just couldn’t justify the price for something that would only be used for a few weeks. I can’t wait to make my own. Thanks!

  26. What a great idea Katie! I have the Boppy Newborn Lounger and it is pretty small. My babies didn’t fit in it for very long. If I have another I’ll definitely try this!

  29. First. You are amazing.
    Second. LJ is so cute. Is it just me, or does he look totally different from Will and Weston? I’m not implying that a milkman got involved… babies are just cool, and yours are especially cute.

    Anyhow- have a great day! I’m glad you and bebe are safe and sound.

  30. Thanks for the tutorial! I might just have to make one of these for my next “almost ten pounder”!

  34. I love this! what a great idea and great gift idea. Thanks, Katie!
    Your little one is adorable. 🙂

  35. Man, you are creative, and like you said there is much more room to grow with this version.

    Well off I go to convince my mom to sew this for me…

  37. This is genius. We had the boppy newborn lounger and used it for 2 months. (Maybe 3) But I didn’t like the fabric and he did grow out of it fast, and my baby was only 7lbs when he was new! Lj is so handsome.

  40. Genius! I love this! I was just trying to think of a way to do this with my actual boppy pillow, but I like this much better. Project begun… 🙂

  42. I did five (for some reason it just made sense to me) but it looks like the original version has six so I’m sure any number could work.
    xo – kb

  43. It is! And I don’t think it’s that hard to work with…but then again, I’m not the type to make things perfect 🙂
    xo – kb

  45. Sorry – that was really unclear. You have to rip open the pillows and just use the polyfill (it’s cheaper this way than buying a bag of polyfill by itself – at least in my area) and tear the polyfill up in a shredding motion before stuffing it in the lounger. Mine used one and a half pillows worth of polyfill. I did five tufts and you go straight through the entire lounger from top to bottom pulling as tight as possible.
    xo – kb

  47. Yes. You can throw the entire thing in the washing machine. Both the fabric and the polyfill are washable 🙂
    xo – kb

  48. I had huge babies too. One 9 lbs 11 ozs and the other 10 lbs 5 ozs…and no, I didn’t have gestational diabetes. 🙂 We used our regular boppy pretty soon after they born, on a bed, but this would have been better for the first month or so! My boys are now 14 and 12. The sweet little years go by SOOOO fast.

  49. Yes – regular bed size pillows and you actually rip the pillowcases and just use the polyfill to stuff the new lounger (it’s cheaper this way). It took mine one and a half pillows worth of polyfill to fill the entire lounger.
    xo – kb

  52. Sorry that was unclear. After you wash the fabric, you lay the fabric with the wrong sides out to pin. And I did five pinched spots.
    xo – kb

  53. Great idea! Another project to add to my already-to-long-to-complete-before-baby-list.

  54. I LOVE this! Such a great idea. I’m due in June so it’s a super nesting project. ALSO… you’re an inspiration to me. I have a seven (going on eight) year old and had a c-section but really want to have a VBAC this time. Your experiences give me motivation and a sense of peace that it’s possible. Thanks and congratulations to your sweet family!!!!

  56. That is definitely the case with the Boppy lounger! It is much smaller and seems so easy for the baby to roll off. I do not like the Boppy at all! I love this! Maybe for my next I will try this out!

  57. This is so cute….as is LJ! Hope you guys are getting settled in and that you’re feeling okay. By friends who might be expecting, you mean Sherry?? 🙂

  58. This is an awesome idea! My baby is grown, but I would have loved this. And LJ is so cute and sweet! I can’t wait until you tell us more about him!

  59. Thanks for clarifying – I thought maybe you stuffed both pillows in but that makes more sense. I was gonna put a zipper on mine and use the pillows, but with the sewn shut and just the poly – I think it would still be washable right?

  60. This is amazing! I love it and it looks simple enough I may even be able to do it. 🙂 I’ve also been looking for a cheap solution for a prop for newborn photos. This would be perfect! Thanks!

  61. So cute!! I don’t mean to be picky but I think you meant you pinned right sides together. Just don’t want people to mess up if they make it!

  62. I was just thinking that! I still see the family resemblance (to me LJ looks more like Jeremy at this stage) but all three of the brothers look SO different.

    He’s adorable! Congratulations!

  64. Hi Katie! How are you feeling post-baby? He is just perfect! Question — where does one obtain such lovely fabric??

  74. Yes but in my area it’s cheaper to buy the pillows 🙂 I could have bought a big box of the polyfill at a fabric store that is a half hour away but if you calculate the time and gas…well…pillows are the way to go!
    xo – kb

  77. Haha! I don’t know that she would like this kinda thing…she is way minimalistic and so her gift for the little guy is mostly boy clothes…so LJ and P2 can be twins 🙂
    xo – kb

  78. Wow, neat, neat idea. I need a babyshower gift; one newborn lounger coming right up!

  79. Looks comfy! Just be very careful when using it. There have been plenty of items like this recalled due to suffucation hazzard and this doesn’t look particularly safe.

  81. Great idea! I did buy one of the Boppy ones and both my girls loved it. So much better to make yourself though since you aren’t stuck with their fabric options. PS baby is super cute. You guys def make cute ones!

  82. I love this idea! I want one for me and my toddler-sized infant.
    Also, LJ is just so darn cute!

  83. Katie,

    I can’t get enough of your newborn’s goodness….I wish I can take a sniff…oops sorry…I am not creepy at all…mine is due end of june. Enjoy him!

  84. You know when you are on #3 when you diy what you need for your baby to take a good solid nap. He is beautiful Katie. Congrats!

  85. seriously…you are a super mom! 5 minutes after popping out a baby…you are making baby loungers? I am currently 4 days over due with baby#2…and I’m just hoping that I can shower again;) heheheheh You rock!

  86. That is one handsome little man! And the lounger is nice, too! I love the fabric. It looks so soft.

  87. I love it! I think it’s much nicer than the ones at Pottery Barn 🙂 He looks so cute in it.
    LOVE the fabric too. I’m expecting #1 and I might have to try making this. I’m not nearly talented enough to make a quilt or something; I might be able to try this though!

  88. I got it at a discount fabric store but I think they sell it everywhere…it’s called minky fabric 🙂
    xo – kb

  90. I am currently using a borrowed Boppy pillow and he is quickly growing out of it. I will be making something similar because I LOVE baby pillows!!!! Thanks for the great idea!

  91. After seeing this post I had to have this for my newborn son. I actually found it on Babies R Us’s website for only $29. If you order over $50 worth shipping is free. My baby loves it and will stay in it for a good amount of time. Thanks for the post.

  92. Made this for my granddaughter and now my daughter has asked for two more for friends that are expecting. So easy and fun! Thanks

  94. question. When you made the tucks in the middle, did you go through to the other side to where the tucks were on both sides? I am making one for my new grandson and not sure about this step.

  96. Hi Katie — did you end up using this a good amount or just a few times and the rest of the time you found yourself putting him a bouncy seat/wearing him/etc.? Just wanted to follow-up and see if it’s a worthwhile project to make! Thanks so much

  97. We actually used it every day. I would not recommend it for other people but I overstuffed mine to be extra firm and then used it for naps (of course when I was there watching him). I did a fair amount of baby wearing with him but usually when I was in and out of rooms. If I were to sit down to work on the computer, I had him next to me on the lounger. It just made sense for me.
    xo – kb

  100. I feel really ridiculous because I don’t understand the tucks. Can you dumb that down for me? I’m looking forward to making this! The only place the little human is content is when I wear him or if in lucky, propped up on the boppy. I think he’d like this!

  101. It’s just a stitch that goes all the way through the pillow. So wherever the baby’s bum goes, mark five spots and then do one ‘tuck’ at a time. Make a knot with some tripled thread and then push it all the way through the pillow and back again so that it sinches that spot tightly….repeat in that same way like four times in that same little spot till it’s a nice strong pinched area. Then tie off….and then do it again in one of the other five spots. Does that make sense?
    xo – kb

  102. Don’t you mean pin RIGHT sides together? Leave opening and TURN right side out before stuffing??

  104. Hi! I love this project and I wanted to let you know I am in the process of making mine. I thought I would make it out of some material I already had as a test run. It is just a cotton, but when I try to make my tucks it pops right through the cotton fabric. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get my tucks done. Also did you have any issues with the Minky doing this?

    Thanks Again,
    Hawley

  105. When you do your knot, make it triple thick (loop the needle through the knot three times before pulling it tight) and it should hold better!
    xo – kb

  108. I would never in a million years let my baby lay in this in case they fell asleep! I think you need lots of disclaimers on the top of this post to not let babies sleep in this, boppy has been through many infant death lawsuits because airways were blocked due to to it not being a flat surface. This DIY is terrifying to me.

  110. Hello Katie, I love this idea as a baby shower gift and quite possibly for my baby due in October 🙂 I was just wondering if you could please tell me how the tufts help to keep the stuffing in place? Does the tuft just go through the top layer of the fabric? Sorry, I’m a basic sewer with not very much technical knowledge. Also, do you just sew one tuft in the the middle of the baby lounge?

    Thank you very much in advance for your help!

    Louise 🙂

  111. There are five of them and the needle goes through the top and the thread tail stays while you come back up and tie tightly! You repeat it in the same small area several times pulling it tight and firm until you feel it’s totally secure and then tie off!
    xo – kb

  112. No you have to go all the way throught the fabric, poly fill and up through the other side of the fabric do this 5-6 times then tie off. Going through the poly fill is what holds the stuffing in place!

  116. Thanks for a quick and easy pattern… I am going to try this over the weekend – I know of 3 babies to join us in the next 4 months…
    FYI have you tried putting tiny polystrene balls (I’m sure it is spelt wrong) – you use it to fill up bean bags….
    Don’t you just love pinterest….
    Colleen
    Nelspruit
    South Africa

  118. Hi Katie. First of all…..Beautiful baby! I was wondering if you sell these? My Grandson is having a hard time transitioning from a sleeper to a flat surface, such as a mattress. Unfortunately Grandma does not have a sewing machine ( or talent ).I’m afraid anything I purchase will be too small for him.I’m not sure if you sell them or not but would love to buy one if you do. Such a great idea!

  120. So cute. Heading into my craft cave as my grandsons call it, to whip one up for grandson #7 due in February.

  122. Just tripled my thread and tied a good knot before going through. I know it’s awkward at first to do the first tuft but once you pull the needle back up, you can knot it even further.
    xo – kb

  123. Not to burst any bubbles, but my highly creative and talented mother made one of these for each of her four grandchildren as they were born–the oldest, my son, would be 41 if he were still alive, and my sister’s three are now 38, 36 and 35–so this isn’t a new idea. Our kids used those things way into their so-called “tween” years (whatever that silly word means), and only gave them up when each pillow finally fell apart and could no longer justify repairs.

  124. There’s nothing new under the sun, right?! I’m sure it isn’t a new concept…I mean, it’s basically a dog bed for a baby! Haha!
    xo – kb

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