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These electricity-free picks are comfortable, convenient and easy to travel with.
If you've chosen to breastfeed, a good breast pump can be key to your comfort and convenience when away from baby. And while an electric pump is helpful for longer at-home and in-office pumping sessions, a manual breast pump offers quick relief on the go, helping to boost your milk supply and catch extra milk when baby (or an electrical outlet) isn't around.
A manual pump can give you the freedom to do anything from running errands to enjoying a night out with friends, without the need to lug around a heavy pumping system or find an outlet. Most manual pumps are small enough to fit in your purse or diaper bag, and they're discrete, quiet and fairly easy to clean. They also let new moms control their own pumping speed (though that also means that if your hand tires out easily, you may not be able to collect all of your milk). When it comes to finding the best manual pump for your needs, you'll want to consider how easy it is for you to assemble and wash, how comfortably it fits your body and how effectively it pumps milk.
There are two different types of manual pumps to consider when you're shopping for manual breast pumps:
The parenting product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute rigorously test everything new moms need for infants and themselves, from bottle warmers and baby formula to nursing and pumping bras. When we review manual pumps, we take into account comfort, ease of use and additional benefits, including how difficult it is to dissemble and wash, transport and store. Our analysts have road-tested many of the models included on our list — in fact, our lead tester has personally pumped for over 1,000 hours among her three kids in the past five years! We also queried new moms on our consumer testing panel about their experiences. These are the best manual breast pumps you can buy:
This breast pump is lightweight, compact and collects milk well due to its two-phase technology that mimics your baby's natural sucking. It's small enough to carry around in your bag and holds up to 5 oz of milk. The soft, flexible rim of the breast shield helps eliminate excess pressure on the breast and can be rotated 360° for optimal pumping. It's fairly straightforward and easy to use, and also easy to clean. The GH Institute's Chief Technologist Rachel Rothman personally loves the Medela and, while breastfeeding, often kept it handy for those inopportune times — driving in the car with the family or when a meeting was running late — so she could discretely pump.
The Haakaa silicone breast pump has a large following, and for a good reason. The pump uses natural suction capabilities to help you express milk. Simply squeeze and attach to your breast and the natural suction and pressure will help pump. Since it's made up of one single piece, no disassembly is required to clean, use or transport it, plus you don't have to worry about misplacing any stray pieces. We love how convenient it is to use during nursing or pumping, and how easy it is to take on-the-go. The Good Housekeeping Institute's Registered Dietitian Stefani Sassos calls it a "game changer" that was a "pain-free way to build up a freezer supply of breast milk without having to do much work." It does a great job of capturing milk, and at this price point, it's worth your time to try it out.
The Lansinoh manual breast pump's easy-express handle is particularly comfortable for new moms to grasp in their hands, and comes with two flange sizes for different body shapes. Its two different modes help you get milk flowing and ease the process of pumping. Your pump comes with everything you need to store your excess milk and a NaturalWave slow flow nipple for baby that mimics their natural breastfeeding experience. It's lightweight, portable and easy to assemble.
The Elvie wearable breast pump conveniently fits right into your bra where you can use its gentle, natural suction to help express milk by pressing on the silicone pouch. Its unique shape can hold up to 4 oz of milk and features a valve that controls the level of suction. While it may take a minute to get used to for new moms, it's portable and discrete. Plus, our reviewers love that it's dishwasher safe and can easily be positioned in ways unlike other manual pumps.
Our testers loved how portable and convenient the Philips Avent breast pump is. While it only comes with one flange size, so you may need to purchase an additional size separately, it's lightweight and easy to hold and position on your breast. The soft massage cushion helps stimulate your milk flow and encourage easy pumping, and the pump is designed for maximum comfort, so sit back, relax and pump easily. The manual pump is also compatible with other Philips Avent items so you can mix and match parts such as bottles and milk storage containers depending on your needs.
For the mom on the go, Tommee Tippee's Made for Me manual breast pump is great for travel. Its ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand and it's small enough that you can easily tuck it into any bag. It's remarkably quiet and discrete, so you don't have to worry about any discomfort, and requires less power than other pumps to express milk. Once you're done using it, simply pop the parts into the dishwasher for an easy clean.
If you're looking for something that uses natural suction technology for pumping, the BumbleBee pump is a great option. To apply, simply squeeze this silicone one-piece pump and position it on your breast. Natural suction and pressure will do all the work for you. This pump comes with a stopper, lid and travel bag so you can easily transport and store your excess milk. The flange fits varied bust sizes and is soft and flexible for sore breasts. Keep in mind, this pump is smaller than others and can only collect 3.5 oz of milk, so it's great for those looking for something easy to clean, store and carry with them on-the-go.
✔️ Comfort: Many manual pumps come with different size shields, or with massage cushions to ensure the most comfortable pump possible. Ensuring that your pump fits properly, keeps a strong suction and extracts milk painlessly will make each session much more comfortable.
✔️ Suction: Some moms need a little more arm-work to get their milk flowing, so you want to make sure you have a pump that maintains a strong suction and does its job efficiently.
✔️ Purpose: Are you hoping to pump one side while your baby is nursing, or are you just looking for something to catch the excess milk and keep you from ruining your favorite clothes? Do you need something with a letdown function? Depending on the purpose you're hoping your pump will fill, you'll need to consider different models.
✔️ Ease of use: For first time moms, a manual pump may be more of a learning curve than an electric pump. While the handle pumps can be a bit easier to use, the natural suction pumps serve a different purpose of catching excess milk that many moms love, plus, they're incredibly easy to clean! Another thing to consider is how easy it is to extract milk and each pump's compatibility with other bottle or pump parts. If you also have an electric pump, you may want to purchase a manual pump from the same company in order to mix and match parts.
✔️ Size: The best part about manual pumps is how portable they are, so new moms are going to want to pick one that can be easily tucked away into their purse or diaper bag. Some handle pumps have a number of extra parts that can make them bulkier to carry around.
Manual breast pumps are not one size fits all, so the first thing you'll want to do is consult the instructions manual of your particular product to ensure best use. But, here are a few simple tips to help you get started with your manual breast pump: