Best Breast Pumps – Manual and Electric Pumps that Moms Can Use Every Day

There’s a reason why experts say that breastmilk is best for babies. It boosts their immune system and strengthens the mother-child bond. It helps the mom reach her pre-baby weight (woohoo!) and helps new parents save a ton of money. But breastfeeding your baby doesn’t mean you won’t be giving your them a bottle. Moms need their rest. Dads also need bonding time with the baby.

And, let’s face it. Bottles are lifesavers for moms who are going back to work. But just because it’s a bottle doesn’t mean that it needs to be a formula. Breastmilk can be bottled too. And that’s where breast pumps come in. Unfortunately, there are just too many products in the market for frazzled, tired mothers sift through.

Who has the time anyway with the baby taking up too much of your time? That’s why we’ve made things easier and found the 10 best breast pumps that’ll pump YOU up and your baby too.

Top 10 Breast Pumps Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Spectra Baby USA S1

Best Breast Pump to Induce Lactation

This is a double electric pump that comes with rechargeable batteries that will allow you to conveniently use the pump anywhere for up to 3 15-minute sessions in one entire day. It has customizable settings such as cycle length and vacuum strength. It also features the letdown and expression modes which enable the machine to mimic a baby’s suckling pattern very, very closely.

This breast pump utilizes a closed system. This means that there is a physical barrier in the flange that prevents the milk from accidentally getting into the tube going into the motor which could later turn to mold. This means that not only does your baby’s milk stay bacteria-free, you don’t have to dismantle the pump and clean the tubing every time. However, replacement parts are hard to come by and the shield sizes are limited. Also, the flanges don’t screw onto all bottle sizes. If you don’t need the battery option, Spectra offers the same features without the battery at a lower price – the Spectra Baby USA S2.

Spectra Baby USA S1

Pros:

  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Customizable settings
  • Closed system

Cons:

  • Limited shield sizes
  • Flanges don’t screw onto all bottle sizes
  • Hard-to-find replacement parts

2. Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with On-the-Go Tote

Best Breast Pump for Working Moms

This is the all-in-one electric double breast pump. You get the pump, the carrying case, a removable cooler bag, and a contoured ice pack. Everything you need to pump away from home. The bag can carry up to 4 breastmilk bottles which are included in your purchase too. These bottles come with lids, by the way, so spilling precious milk is not going to be an issue.

You also get a battery pack but the 8 AA batteries will need to be bought separately. Like our first pick, this unit makes use of two-phase expression technology which is the let-down mode and the expression modes. The speed and vacuum strength are also adjustable. However, there are some drawbacks. The motor isn’t that quiet. And it is built into the bag so it’s not removable. Since the Medela uses an open system, a lot of complaints are about condensation that builds is in the tubing which makes cleaning a pain to do. If you don’t like the tote, you can get the same model in a stylish backpack – Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump Backpack.

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump

Pros:

  • All-in-one pumping kit
  • Two-phase expression technology
  • Battery pack

Cons:

  • Condensation issues
  • Pump cannot be removed from the bag
  • Noisy motor

Madela Pump in the Style available from Shop.com, and WallGreens . Also consider getting storage bags for the mike from StoreNVY.

3. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Best Breast Pump for Inverted Nipples

If you want to go manual with your breast pump, there’s nothing better than the Medela Harmony. For one, you get extra accessories like 2 bottles with lids, a bottle stand, a nipple with collar, and 2 membranes for just a little over $30. And then, this pump also features Medela’s 2-Phase Expression technology through its unique lever which stimulates and increases milk flow.

It’s lightweight, compact, and easy to use. It’s perfect for traveling or if you want to express milk from one breast while your baby is feeding on another. However, it doesn’t always produce as much as electric pumps. You also need to switch hands a bit during your session because it can get tiring. You’ll also need both hands to operate and hold the bottle upright to maintain a good seal.

Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Accessories included
  • Portable
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Can get tiring
  • Requires two hands
  • One breast at a time

4. Philips Avent Manual Comfort Breast Pump

Best Breast Pump for Travel

This is another manual breast pump option for moms who want something small, lightweight, and easy to use. What’s great about the Philips Avent pump is the fact that it comes with the company’s Natural bottle and nipple. Now, this specific bottle and nipple were designed to mimic the shape and feel of a breast so your baby won’t have a hard time transitioning between your breast and the bottle.

The flange comes with a massage cushion to provide comfort and help stimulate milk flow. The pump is designed to let you express milk sitting up straight so you can stay comfortable and relaxed. It’s very easy to clean. And it even comes with a travel cover, a sealing disc for storage, and 2 breast pad sample packs. However, it is noisy; the handle makes a squeaking sound when you pump. The bottle only holds 4 ounces so if you have more milk, you’ll need more bottles.

Philips Avent Manual Comfort Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Effective pump
  • Easy to use; does not tire hand
  • Comes with Natural bottle and nipple

Cons:

  • The bottle only holds for 4 ounces
  • Very noisy

Philips Avent Manual breast pump available at LuckyVitamins.

5. Haakaa Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump

Best Breast Hand Pump

Out of all manual breast pumps in the world, there is nothing as convenient to use as the Haakaa model. It has no moving parts. It is only one compact piece made out of soft silicone that you can place on your breast and let the let-down do the work for you. One initial pump and you’re good as gold.

This is the perfect choice if you don’t want to fiddle with a pump while feeding your baby. As he triggers the let-down in both breasts, the Haakaa will stay in place and collect the leak from the other breast for you. Because it is one solid piece, it’s very easy to clean. The soft silicone is very comfortable and the shape can accommodate most breast sizes. However, you’ll need to place a hand on it if you have a fidgety feeder because a kick from the little one will have you crying over spilled milk, literally.

You’ll need to transfer it to a bottle for storage because the lid and stopper are not included in your purchase. And the measurements on the Haakaa aren’t accurate.

Haakaa Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Easy to clean
  • Very compact
  • Very affordable

Cons:

  • Can get easily dislodged
  • Lid/stopper not included
  • Measurements are inaccurate

Also available from Walmart.com.

6. Philips Avent Breast SCF330/30 Pump

Philips Avent has built a worldwide brand that can attest to their ability to cater to both the mom and her children. This is why they have gone above and beyond, consulting healthcare professionals, physicians, and of course, moms in order to make the Philips Avent Breast SCF330/30 Pump. The first thing that will pull you in once you lay eyes on it is its design. The massage cushion has a beautiful floral pattern. In the perfect union of business and pleasure, the pump has this styling for more than beauty purposes.

The cushion has a soothing, soft, and velvety texture to it. Once the pump has been put into place, the surface feel of the Philips Avent SCF330/30 takes over. It’ll feel both warm and pleasant against your breast’s skin. This will trigger milk flow. What brings out its floral appearance is really the petals lining the inside of the cushion. It’s an ingenious hack that mimics your little one’s suction rhythm letting your brain know feeding time is imminent. Comfort is one thing this pump delivers on as you don’t have to lean forward to get started. With its special design, milk will stream into the bottle even when you’re seated vertically. 

Its construction is lightweight. This means you can go with it anywhere, and fill up the bottle where you’re most relaxed. Milk flows better this way. Having to clean out the breast pump is a given; however, it doesn’t have to be a chore. Its component parts are easy to disassemble and reassemble and even easier to clean up. Lastly, babies are very smart. They are bound to know the difference between the bottle and the real thing if they feel that something’s off. Because of this reason, the pump’s nipple is wide and breast-shaped. The resemblance ensures your baby won’t reject the bottle, making the transition from breastfeeding to using it that much simpler.  

  Philips Avent Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Easy to clean
  • Simple to use
  • Unaffected by a power outage

Cons:

  • Lacks in terms of suction power
  • Handle positioning makes it awkward to use for long periods
  • Sometimes painful to use

7. Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump

The Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump is one of the most affordable options in its category. Like a lot of our other picks, this comes with a bag and a boatload of accessories which includes 2 5-oz. bottles, 1 NaturalWave slow-flow nipple, 2 breast flange bodies, storage lids, diaphragms, and diaphragm caps. It also comes with an LCD screen with a backlit display so you can easily pump at night.

The display shows the monitored pumping sessions, a digital clock, suction levels, and battery power. You can also keep track of the phase settings using the display. There’s even a timer to let you know how long you’ve been pumping. The Lansinoh Signature Pro also makes use of a closed system which ensures your breastmilk remains bacteria-free. Similar to the others, it makes use of two-phase technology.

Like the Avent model, it also has three expression mode settings for you to choose from. But unlike all the others, this has 8 suction levels that are easily adjustable so you can customize your pumping session to mimic your baby’s natural feeding patterns. And it can also run on batteries (not included) should the power go out. However, some moms feel that it was noisy. Some also reported that it doesn’t fully drain their breasts.

Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Lower price point
  • Closed system
  • Customizable pumping sessions

Cons:

  • Slightly noisy
  • Does not fully drain breasts

You can get the sanitizing and cleaning wipes for the bottles from Walgreens.

8. Eccomum Electric Double Breast Pump

Best Double Breast Pump

There’s something that people say. That one is good, but two is better. Eccomum knows this, and this pump’s standout feature espouses this. With a lot of thought being put on efficiency, this family brand presents to you a breast pump that can work on both breasts simultaneously. This feature to the working mom is priceless. You might have a chip on your shoulder as you finally go back to work because you have to compete with the boys’ club at work while also catering for your baby. The Eccomum Electric Double Breast Pump does more work in less time. In actual figures, this pump can save up to 80 percent of your time when compared to the basic ones.

It has four modes for varied operations. Firstly, comes the Massage Mode. The suction power here is minimal and therefore focuses on breast milk output near the nipple. It gently rubs on your breast, stimulating the flow and generally has six intensity levels. We also have Normal Suck Mode. This is the more conventional mode of the four and has a grand total of nine intensity levels. Next, comes the Continuous Suck Mode. It uses micro shock pumping to drain milk quickly from your breast. Lastly is the Frequency Conversion Mode. The pump sucks out milk at a varying frequency a while after being turned on. Intuitive engineering has been used here to mimic how a baby suckles.

An electric pump will need a source for its power. The Eccomum breast pump uses a 2500 mAh lithium battery that, when fully charged, can provide reliable service for more than two and a half hours. Once it has been drained of juice, it’ll need USB charging to get the power level back up. Fluids can act unpredictably, but this pump doesn’t. Anti-backflow design was put into consideration to prevent any secondary poisoning of the milk getting into the bottle while also preventing flow into the driving motor. It is highly portable due to its compact nature and can thus good for trips and work. 

Electric Double Breast Pump Eccomum Breastfeeding Pump

Pros:

  • Very highly rated by the majority of moms
  • Small and portable
  • offers good suction

Cons:

  • quite noisy
  • Washing is a chore because of all the removable parts
  • The quality of the build is lacking

9. Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump

Best Manual Breast Pump

From Bumblebee comes this family essential, the manual breast pump. The bottle comes in a beautiful and colorful design, a clear bottle with sky blue attachments. Aesthetic isn’t the only thing going for this breast pump. To get the pump going, you will need to exert the pulling force manually. It’s a very straightforward procedure. Simply hold and press the bottle near the top for the lowest pressure option, in the middle for the most pressure, and at the lowest section for medium force. 

The manual pressure allocation has a lot of advantages such as no need for any assembly, no cords, no batteries, and no associated circuitry. All these pros work to make the pump lightweight, less bulky, and more portable. In spite of the lack of an electrical power source, the Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump isn’t a dud. Due to the plastic nature of the bottle, the pump still has very strong suction. After you have filled the bottle up, you’ll need to seal it, thus keeping it out of reach of nasty pathogens. The anti-dust lid, therefore, comes into play.

It also has some amusing features that your baby will be sure to enjoy. For instance, the baby-blue heart-shaped stopper keeps your milk secure in the bottle. The shape and feel of this silicone stopper will also keep your baby amused. Consequently, this budding interest will slowly have your little one switching from the real thing to the Bumblebee Breast Pump. You can easily sterilize the bottle after use in piping hot water to completely sanitize it for the next round of feeding.

Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Has a beautiful design to it
  • Its compact size makes it easy to travel with

Cons:

  • Suction wears off eventually
  • The lid easily comes off, so accidental spills are commonplace
  • Measurements for the milk produced are off

10. BelleMa Effective Pro Double Electric Breast Pump

The BelleMa Effective Pro Double Electric Breast Pump is a closed system pump that features 10 suction settings so you can choose which suction strength feels most comfortable for you.

It can run on a battery pack (sold separately) for times when the power is out. It features an LCD screen and even has a timer. But what makes this particular pump stand out is the independent dual control. What this means is that you can control the suction of each breast pump independently! However, parts and accessories are hard to find. Flange size cannot be changed. There’s no bag included in your purchase.

BelleMa Effective Pro Double Electric Breast Pump

Pros:

  • Can run on batteries
  • Independent dual control
  • 10 suction settings

Cons:

  • Hard-to-find components and accessories
  • Only one flange size
  • No bag included

How to Choose the Best Breast Pump: the Ultimate Buying Guide

Everybody says it: “Breast is best.” But you can’t always have your baby with you wherever you go. Sometimes, a mom just needs a break. Or, you need to go back to work. Or your breasts are providing lots of milk that you have to wear nursing pads. If you want to be able to continue to provide your baby with breastmilk, you’re going to need to store some away to be used later.

And that’s where breast pumps come in. Now, as any breastfeeding mom will tell you, not all breast pumps are made equal. And since we all know you’ll want the best there is, we’ve created a guide that has everything you need to know about getting the best pump for your breast.

As a general rule, your breast pump must mimic a baby’s suck and stimulate your milk supply. This means that it needs to have a sucking rhythm that is almost as efficient as a baby which is 40 to 60 cycles (of suck and swallow) per minute. Aside from efficiency, you’ll want a pump that feels comfortable for you. Breastfeeding isn’t supposed to be painful; perhaps slightly awkward and uncomfortable at first.

But with the right pump, you should get the hang of it almost off the bat. Now, there are several different types of breast pumps in the market. Several factors will affect which type is right for you and your baby including how often you pump, where you’ll be pumping, and how much time you’ll be spending just pumping.

Type of Breast Pumps

Manual breast pump: As the name states, you manually suck out the milk from your breast with a pump mechanism like a bulb or lever. This type is typically small, light, quiet, and inexpensive. It also requires less setup and cleanup so it’s ideal for short/quick pumping sessions. However, it requires effort to use, can be cumbersome, and takes a while to use. Manual breast pumps are recommended for those who don’t (or aren’t planning on pumping often. It’s also a good travel option.

Electric breast pump: if physical exertion isn’t your idea of a good pumping session, an electric breast pump may be more your speed. This type features adjustable suction levels and cycles. You can buy a single or a double electric breast pump. This type is recommended for working mothers or moms who will regularly be away from their babies. Some models come with a bag and all the accessories you’ll need including milk containers and cooler storage. Take note that experts suggest this type of pump for moms who already have little ones that are feeding well and established milk supply.

Battery-powered breast pump: Some models have non-rechargeable batteries. The problem with these is that they lack the power to mimic the natural sucking cycle of a baby; they’re slow and run through batteries fast so you’ll need to keep extra on hand just in case. But they’re inexpensive, small, portable, and easy to use. Some models feature rechargeable batteries. These tend to be more expensive but typically have all the features of an electric pump which means you can switch between the two modes whenever the need arises.

Hospital-grade breast pump: this is the most expensive type (can reach up to $1000) that is found in hospitals and lactation centers. It is also available for rent from many medical shops. Compared to all other types, this breast pump is the best at efficiency. The controls are typically adjustable (i.e. speed, intensity, rhythm). This option is best if you’re having problems with nursing your baby or you want to increase your milk supply dramatically. However, keep in mind that these tend to be large and can be awkward to carry because it doesn’t come with a case or bag.

Double or Single?

All experts recommend double pumping because it cuts your pumping session in half as well as increases the level of prolactin in your body. Prolactin is the hormone that is responsible for milk production.

Features to Look for

There are certain features that can make pumping milk a pleasure instead of a chore.

  • Suction settings: you’ll want a pump that mimics a baby’s natural sucking cycle as close as possible. This means that you want a pump that offers two modes. Letdown mode – fast and shallow initially to get the milk flowing. And expression mode – slow and deep to get the most milk.
  • Adjustable speed, rhythm, and suction: customizable settings will enable you to find what’s most comfortable for you.
  • Memory: this feature allows you to store your favorite settings in the pump’s memory so you never have to fiddle with the controls every single time.
  • Carrying case: if you plan to use the pump away from home, you’ll want something to carry it in that’s discreet. Some cases feature a cooling compartment that allows you to safely store your milk for later.
  • Car adapter: if you want to pump on-the-go, then this is a handy feature. Keep in mind that pumping may distract you from driving so maybe you can use it as a passenger instead.
  • Weight: if you’re always going to be going from one point to another, then lugging around a heavy breast pump isn’t going to pan out well for you. Even a light one that weighs only 5 pounds could feel heavy after some time. If you’re going to be on-the-go throughout the day, it’s best to get the most lightweight option you can find.

What About Warranty?

Other than manual pumps, all breast pumps use a motor to get things going. This means that there are moving parts that may break down. At least get a pump that comes with a one-year warranty. Longer terms typically mean better quality and durability.

Shield size: the shield or flange is that circular thing that you put on your breast for pumping. You need to make sure that you have the right size. If it’s too small, it will make your breasts sore.

No BPA: parts of your breast pump, if not all, are made out of plastic. To keep you and your baby safe, make sure that you get a model that has a  “No BPA” label.

What if You’re Still Not Sure Which one is Best for you and Your Baby?

It’s easy to get confused or indecisive when it comes to making incredibly important decisions, especially if it’s something that concerns a loved one. Don’t get stressed out about not knowing what to do. Lactation consultants are everywhere these days. Find time to meet with one to help you with your selection process and get answers to any questions you may still have.