The 8 Best Breast Pumps of 2024

As environment friendly as electrical breast pumps are for expressing milk, having a guide breast pump readily available can also be useful in surprising conditions. This is very true when it is advisable to pump to alleviate engorged breasts or when you end up with out a energy supply. Also, some folks simply want a guide pump.

“[Manual breast pumps] haven’t any motors or mechanical components and depend on your hand energy to work,” explains breastfeeding counselor Ashley Blankenship. “They shouldn’t be painful or too uncomfortable. You’re in control of how much suction you create. You only need enough suction to get the milk flowing. More suction will not make more milk and can cause breast or nipple damage.”

To discover the perfect guide breast pumps, our editors examined the top-rated and hottest choices in the marketplace within the consolation of their houses. We wore the guide breast pumps for an preliminary two weeks and proceed to make use of all choices for months to find out sturdiness and longevity. We analyzed every breast pump on a number of attributes, together with ease of setup, ease of use, portability, and worth, noting our findings beneath. 

How Do You Use a Manual Breast Pump?

Exact directions rely upon the pump type, however guide breast pumps sometimes create suction by squeezing and releasing the pump whereas the breast protect presses towards the areola and nipple. If you solely have one pump, you’ll need to change breasts about each 10 to fifteen  minutes throughout your session. What’s extra necessary, nevertheless, is guaranteeing you’re snug utilizing a guide breast pump bodily and mentally. 

“Breastfeeding is a mental game,” Blankenship says. “Sometimes pumping doesn’t elicit the same emotions as feeding your baby straight from the breast. If you find the noise of an electric pump too distracting and are having a hard time relaxing, a manual pump can help express more milk than an electric pump. Keep in mind that just because it’s a manual pump, doesn’t mean you’ll need to squeeze it the whole time. You’ll squeeze until milk starts to flow, then you can rest until milk flow stops before squeezing again.”

Our Favorites

Best Overall: Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Why We Like It

The Medela Harmony is every little thing you need in a guide breast pump: light-weight, compact, quiet, straightforward to arrange, easy to make use of, and inexpensive. We recognize the practically easy setup, minus a bit of confusion with placing the protecting cups on the flanges. Once we put it collectively the primary time, we might do it repeatedly with none wrestle or want for the guide. The controls are additionally tremendous intuitive as soon as you use the guide breast pump. 

What stands out to us essentially the most is the portability of this guide breast pump. The unit suits proper within the cellphone pocket of our yoga pants and even comes with a wrist strap. The ice packs with this guide breast pump are additionally nice for simply getting milk from the workplace to your private home. We don’t really feel as free to do issues whereas carrying the breast pump, however total, it’s an amazing profit.

The Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump makes use of “two-phase” know-how to intently mimic a child’s pure sucking in order that it gained’t intrude together with your common breastfeeding routine. We loved this function because it mechanically switches from the stimulation to the letdown mode after two minutes. If you simply get distracted, this function might rapidly develop into your favourite. 

The pump is designed with a deal with, diaphragm, and stem with an O-ring to make guide pumping simpler. The oval-shaped versatile protect with a padded rim and a 105-degree angle helps you discover the precise match in your physique. We discovered that the suction doesn’t really feel very robust however is snug, even on the best suction degree. 

This guide breast pump has a variety of worth as a consequence of its nice options and considerate equipment. The set comes with one 5-ounce bottle with extra-wide mouths, a lid and stand, one Harmony connector, one valve, and one membrane. The battery lasts 6-9 pumping classes or three days on one cost.

But Take Note

This breast pump passes the Zoom take a look at—it’s quiet sufficient that you just gained’t hear it on Zoom while you’re pumping; nevertheless, it does make a smooth buzz sound. As lengthy as you retain the motor away from the speaker, different folks shouldn’t have the ability to hear you pumping. 

The Details: 

• Breast protect measurement: 24mm 
• Bottle measurement: 5 oz. 
• What’s included: Breast pump (deal with, stem, and diaphragm), breast protect, milk bottle, lid, stand, Harmony connector, valve, and membrane
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best Comfortable: Lansinoh Hand Pump for Breastfeeding

Why We Like It

This Lansinoh guide breast pump has an easy-to-use design with a deal with for pumping and two different-sized breast shields that can assist you discover the perfect match. It additionally has two completely different modes:  stimulation and expression, so it is nice for pumping and helps get your milk to begin flowing.

We love you can effectively pump straight into the model’s milk storage luggage—a game-changer for pumping on the go. One of our editors used this pump on automobile rides and at a live performance with zero points. In addition to exploit storage luggage, this breast pump comes with a NaturalWave nipple, cap, collar, and wide-neck bottles appropriate with Lansinoh’s electrical pump.

But Take Note

Putting the Lansinoh Hand Pump collectively and taking it aside for cleansing is so simple as utilizing it. The solely difficulty we encountered was squeezing the deal with; it makes a slight squeaking noise, but it surely’s minimal. Moreover, the deal with was nearer to the bottle, which felt a bit of unsmooth when pumping, although not a dealbreaker.

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: 25mm and 30.5mm 
• Bottle measurement: 5 oz. 
• What’s included: Pump (stem, deal with, and silicone diaphragm), two flanges, wide-neck bottle, a valve, stand, slow-flow nipple, and bottle storage lid
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best Budget: Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

Why We Like It

Easy to make use of, smooth materials, and at a ridiculously nice worth, the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump will shock you. It’s a mild and extra simple strategy to pumping, particularly in case you’re a newbie breastfeeder. To set it up, connect it to your breast by squeezing the 100% smooth silicone bottle on the backside, relaxation your breast within the protect, after which launch the bottle to create suction. You can repeat this step as wanted till you’ve sufficiently pumped. 

We love that the Haakaa is solely silent and makes no sound when used. It can maintain as much as 4 ounces of milk, is tremendous snug, and is dishwasher and scorching water-safe.

“The Haakaa could be a useful gizmo if used correctly,” Blankenship says. “It may also trigger a variety of points. Only use a Haakaa if advisable to you by a breastfeeding skilled.”

But Take Note

Setup was a breeze, though discovering the precise angle when utilizing the pump could take some trial and error. After accumulating milk, it might really feel just like the pump misplaced some suction, and you’ll have to appropriate it so it doesn’t fall off. Also, in case you regularly use the guide breast pump over time, discovering the “right” angle could also be tougher. Otherwise, the silicone and physique are very sturdy, and we have not expertise any points.

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: N/A
• Bottle measurement: 4 oz. 
• What’s included: One pump
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best Wearable: Elvie Curve

Why We Like It

The Elvie Curve is a silicone guide breast pump worn straight on the breast (contained in the bra), which permits for hands-free expression. You connect, acquire, and go on together with your day. This pump could be very intuitive and simple to make use of. To improve the suction degree, merely press on the pouch, or use the management valve on high to lower suction. It has two dishwasher-safe components, so there aren’t a variety of items to assemble and clear. After you pump, you may place the Elvie Curve on its entrance to forestall spilling milk.

With solely a few items, it’s seamless to move. The 4-ounce silicone pouch is versatile and might squeeze into your bag with out harming every other a part of the guide breast pump. Additionally, it maintains its form after frequent use. Overall, the pump has held up effectively throughout testing, and there aren’t any indicators of wear and tear and tear after months of use. 

But Take Note

It’s nonetheless very noticeable underneath one layer of clothes, so this might not be a guide breast pump you need to put on when leaving the home. On the plus facet, it’s easy to make use of anyplace you go, so that you don’t must cease working errands or take a break to pump.

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: Universal 
• Bottle measurement: 4 oz.
• What’s included: Frame and pouch
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best for Travel: NatureBond Silicone Breast Pump

Why We Like It 

If you’re on the lookout for a small breast pump you may simply carry round, that is the one. The NatureBond Silicone Breast Pump works just like the Haakaa: squeeze the smooth silicone, place your breast within the protect, after which launch the pump to create suction. The distinction between the Haakaa and NatureBond’s Silicone Breast Pump is the various equipment the NatureBond consists of. It comes with a pump, a capsule for storage, a stopper to forestall spilled milk, and a carrying strap for the last word portability. A marbled silicone stand additionally retains the pump upright to forestall additional leakage or spilled milk. 

But Take Note

This guide breast pump could be top-heavy, so we at all times advocate utilizing the stopper and capsule to maintain milk in. 

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: Universal
• Bottle measurement: 3.4 oz.
• What’s included: Pump, capsule, stopper, strap, and stand
• Washing directions: Not listed

Best for Large Nipples: Evenflo Advanced Manual Breast Pump

Why We Like It

With this guide breast pump, you get a 24.5-millimeter flange and a 30.5-millimeter flange, which is useful for an individual who wants one thing that can accommodate bigger nipples. You should buy further sizes individually if these two do not work.

The Evenflo Advanced Manual Breast Pump has a light-weight, compact design with an easy-to-use deal with pump that pivots, so it’s snug to carry on each the left and proper sides. 

But Take Note

If you need to clear this guide breast pump completely, you’ll must take aside a number of items. On the plus facet, every little thing is protected to toss within the dishwasher on the highest rack. 

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: 24.5mm and 30.5mm
• Bottle measurement: 5 oz.
• What’s included: Pump, flange package, smooth flange insert, bottle, cap ring, sealing disc
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best for Small Nipples: Dr. Brown’s Manual Breast Pump with Softshape Silicone Shield

Why We Like It

The 100% silicone breast protect (25mm) on this pump conforms to your physique and stays snug whilst you use it. It has a squeeze deal with and two pumping modes to mimic a child’s pure feeding. We recognize how the entire components are top-rack dishwasher-safe. Along with the pump, you get one 5-ounce Dr. Brown’s wide-neck bottle with a level-1 nipple, a wide-neck cap, and a cleansing brush for when it is advisable to hand-wash the items.

But Take Note 

The Dr. Brown’s Manual Breast Pump includes a lengthy, slender deal with, which makes it easy to search out when pumping at midnight. However, it might not really feel ergonomic relying on the way you maintain the bottle to pump. 

The Details:

• Breast protect measurement: 25mm
• Bottle measurement: 5 oz.
• What’s included: Pump, breast protect, wide-neck bottle, nipple, wide-neck cap, cleansing brush 
• Washing directions: Dishwasher-safe

Best Pump and Bottle Combo: Philips Avent Breast SCF430/03 Pump Manual

Why We Like It

The Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump creates optimum consolation. The angled breast protect has a smooth, textured cushion to make a safe match and stimulate the nipple for feeding. It has an ergonomic deal with for pumping and comes with a 4-ounce Avent bottle. According to the corporate, there are fewer components to assemble and disassemble for cleansing than earlier fashions. Initially, attaching the pump lever to the flange was a bit of complicated, however as soon as we did, it was a chunk of cake every time. Taking the pump aside to scrub it’s simply as easy. 

We recognize how compact and light-weight the Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump is for portability. Our editors saved this pump in a diaper bag, took it on an airplane, and carried it to the workplace.

Although this pump solely consists of one 4-ounce bottle and a nipple, its large neck is appropriate with all Philips Avent Natural and Anti-Colic bottles, which was useful after we wanted to swap bottles to feed the child with the freshly expressed milk whereas pumping the second breast.

But Take Note

During the Zoom take a look at, we discovered that there was a slight squeaking sound when the deal with was launched, but it surely wasn’t too bothersome. Note additionally that some retailers promote a primary package that features solely the pump, cushion cowl, bottle, and sealing disc with the screw ring, whereas others additionally embody a nipple and disposable breast pads.

The Details: 

• Breast protect measurement: One measurement suits most (as much as 30mm)
• Bottle measurement: 4 oz.
• What’s included: Pump, bottle, cushion cowl, sealing disc with screw ring, nipple, disposable breast pads.
• Washing Instructions: Dishwasher-safe

Our Testing Process and Experts

To select the perfect guide breast pumps, we researched and reviewed greater than two dozen breast pumps in the marketplace and spoke to specialists, together with a breastfeeding counselor and our editors who’re or have been breastfeeding. Our editors examined the guide breast pumps at house for an preliminary testing window of two weeks, adopted by a months-long real-world testing interval. First, our editors unpacked the breast pump from the packaging, sanitized them correctly, and breastfed and pumped as traditional. They switched between breasts, mimicking a child’s suction patterns till performed. When completed, they cleaned and sanitized the product and famous their findings relating to noise, setup, sturdiness, ease of use, portability, and worth. 

For guide breast pump ideas and recommendation on the best way to use them safely, we spoke to the next professional: 

• Ashley Blankenship, breastfeeding counselor, founding father of Supported Season, and creator of Bump Up Birth Method

Other Notable Manual Breast Pumps

• Tommee Tippee Single Breast Pump: We like that this pump comes with a nipple high to transform from pumping to bottle feeding, however the flange was large and flat, making it tough to get a safe match to the breast. 
• Boon Trove Silicone Manual Breast Pump: This pump works just like the Haakaa and NatureBond breast pumps by accumulating milk by way of a pure suction; nevertheless, it’s a tad cumbersome underneath skinny layers.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Manual Breast Pump

• Comfortable Design: You need to have a pump that’s as snug as potential, Blankenship explains. “Find one with a comfortable grip and easy action. If the handle is tough to press, it’s going to really tire out your hands,” she says. “The pumps with a lever you press are generally considered easier to use than syringe types. Bulb types can be good for relief of discomfort but aren’t going to express as much as more complex pumps.” 
• Cleaning: To assist in killing potential micro organism—and make life an entire lot simpler—go for a guide pump that’s dishwasher-safe to make sure all items are squeaky clear after every use. “I also like the pumps that come apart to clean. It makes sanitization easier,” Blankenship says. You might also desire a pump with a cap or cowl to maintain it sanitary whereas in your bag.
• Efficacy: Some guide breast pumps could have a slight studying curve, whereas others could also be simple to make use of proper out of the field. Either means, you want to have the ability to use the pump correctly to get the total advantages. The pump gained’t work if it doesn’t create a robust suction/maintain in your breast, so match is extraordinarily necessary. If potential, store from retailers with versatile return insurance policies in case the one you buy doesn’t be just right for you.
• Size: Chances are excessive that you just’ll carry this pump round, so ensure that it’s sturdy and easy to tote. Whether you are pumping at work, at a pal’s home, or on the highway, having a guide pump that’s compact and light-weight is good. You’ll additionally need to search for one thing that’s both made in your breast measurement or comes with completely different protect choices to search out the perfect match. If you could have bigger breasts, choosing a pump appropriate with a number of flange measurement choices is the best way to go.

Safety Considerations

Before utilizing a breast pump, step one is to learn the producer’s person guide. You’ll learn to assemble and use the pump accurately, and it might turn out to be useful to have the corporate’s customer support line for any questions. Once you’ve learn via your guide, wash and dry your arms, assemble the pump, and discover a cozy place to connect the breast protect. You shouldn’t pinch or pull your breast to regulate the breast protect as it might irritate your nipple or breast tissue. While utilizing a guide pump, discover a velocity that’s snug for you. 

I like to recommend talking to a breastfeeding skilled earlier than beginning a pumping routine. There are many issues to consider when pumping, and it might save a variety of hassle down the highway in case you provide you with a plan that works in your specific points forward of time. More milk shouldn’t be at all times a superb factor.

Do Manual Breast Pumps Work Better Than Electric Ones?

“If you’re pumping often or solely pumping, an electric one may be better because to use a manual pump, you need to squeeze a handle of some sort, and it can tire out your hands,” Blankenship explains. “Same goes for issues with carpal tunnel, which is very common after having a baby. However, if you’re using it only once a day or sporadically, a manual pump can be a great option! They’re much less expensive than an electric pump and take up less room.”

How Do You Sterilize a Manual Breast Pump?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends eradicating the pump utterly (if relevant) and completely rinsing each bit. If your breast pump is dishwasher-friendly, pop it in there. If it is not, you may wash it by hand utilizing scorching soapy water. If you’re hand-washing, use a brush just for cleansing bottles, then rinse the items once more and allow them to air dry.

To additional sterilize it, you may place the pump in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes earlier than letting it air dry or use a bottle sterilizer (nevertheless, test your pump producer’s information earlier than you do that).

Who We Are

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting author and mother to a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. She has private expertise researching and buying merchandise important to motherhood. Key concerns she used when choosing these suggestions embody performance and private expertise.

Additional reporting by: 

Katrina Cossey is a commerce author, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mother. She spent a number of years in broadcast journalism however discovered her true ardour in writing about the perfect merchandise for households, pregnant folks, and children of all ages. She’s researched 1000’s of child merchandise, toys, presents, and extra and personally examined lots of them. In her spare time, you’ll seemingly discover her within the lovely outside of Oklahoma along with her husband and 3-year-old son. Katrina began with an electrical wearable breast pump however struggled to get a superb match. Instead, she switched to the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump, which created higher suction than her electrical pump and felt snug to make use of.