Best manual breast pumps for efficient and convenient pumping
- Best manual breast pump overall:
- Most comfortable manual breast pump:
- Best adjustable manual breast pump:
- Best manual breast pump set:
- Best hands-free manual breast pump:
- Do I need a manual breast pump?
- What kinds of manual breast pumps are there?
- What should I look for in a manual breast pump?
- How to use a manual breast pump
- When should I get a breast pump?
A manual breast pump can be an important tool for breastfeeding moms, and an essential part of the toolkit for those who exclusively pump. Like electric breast pumps, manual breast pumps (which use manual force rather than an electric motor) can help you build a stash of breast milk so you can share feeding responsibilities with your partner or another caregiver. Manual pumps can also help you get relief from engorgement and other issues that can make breastfeeding painful.
Most manual breast pumps are made of plastic and have some type of lever you squeeze to pump out your breast milk. In recent years, though, more brands have created manual pumps made of soft silicone that use vacuum suction to empty your breasts.
Manual pumps are less expensive than electric pumps; they're also usually smaller, lighter, and easier to carry around. Moms who regularly pump typically use a manual pump as a portable alternative to their electric pump, or to catch let-down on one breast while pumping or nursing on the other. For such an inexpensive piece of baby gear, manual pumps can prove themselves valuable by making pumping easier, and helping women capture milk that might otherwise be wasted.
How we chose the best manual breast pumps
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We spoke with Jessica Madden, M.D., Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and medical director of Aeroflow Breastpumps, and Krystyn Sparks, IBCLC. Per their advice, all of the manual breast pumps on this list are:
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Easy to use
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Comfortable for most women
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We utilized results from the 2022 Best of Baby Center Awards, which polled more than 1,100 parents in the BabyCenter community.
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We spoke with five moms who shared their experiences using three of the manual breast pumps on this list, highlighting what features they liked
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We searched BabyCenter's community boards to find a consensus of opinions on the best manual breast pumps. All the breast pumps on this list received positive reviews for:
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Ease of use
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Comfort
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Effectiveness
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Value
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Availability
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Best manual breast pump overall
Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
Voted Best manual breast pump in the 2022 Best of Baby Center Awards, the Haakaa is a favorite among moms and lactation consultants alike because it's easy and effective. It uses simple suction to express milk, so you don't need to move a lever – just give it a squeeze, attach it to your breast, and watch the milk flow. Even if you favor electric breast pumps for regular use, Sparks says the Haakaa is great "for [relieving] engorgement, to try and get a little more milk while baby is feeding on the other side, or something along those lines."
"I had a lot of milk come in, so I used it on the other breast while [my daughter] breastfed,” Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director for Everyday Health Group, says. “It was so easy!" Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director for BabyCenter, used the Haakaa similarly noting that the suction on the pump was strong, so she didn't have to support it while also holding her daughter. “There were a few times she knocked it off my breast, but more often than not it stayed on,” Leah says. “I was usually able to collect 1 to 2 ounces of milk which added up to a pretty substantial stash."
Lisafé Carreon, Senior Product Manager at BabyCenter says the Haakaa was helpful when she would breastfeed her daughter in the middle of the night. “She used to only take one boob, so I’d pop this onto the other boob," Lisafe says, which gave her some relief without wasting milk.
The Haakaa is made of a food-grade silicone that's safe for moms and babies, and easy to clean since it's just one piece. Leah points out that it's light and compact, which makes it great for travel: "There were a few instances where I was away from my daughter for several hours and I didn't want to lug my whole pump with me. I'd throw this in my cooler with a few bottles and be able to relieve any engorgement without losing any milk," she says.
Heads up
The Haakaa has an open top, so you can't use it to transport your milk unless you buy an upgraded model that includes a lid or stopper.
Moms say
"I love my Haakaa pump. I use it while nursing or immediately after, and it pretty much does everything itself just with the suction, though sometimes I have to manually pump it to get it going. It's super easy, and I love how little there is to wash."
"I got one for my second baby and it was a game-changer! I produced a lot of milk, so while my son was nursing on one side, I would suction the other side. The letdown would give me a few ounces, then I would nurse him on that side after. No engorgement, no waste, and no pain! Anyone I know who's pregnant and planning to breastfeed gets one as a gift from me."
"I love mine! It's definitely a must. We took some trips with my son last year that cut into his feeding time, but we didn't want to stop just before getting there. I'd attach the Haakaa in the car and get 5 ounces in 10 minutes."
"The Haakaa is magical. I have about 20 ounces just from today. I can quietly and discreetly pump at work with it."
Specs
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Material: Silicone
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Capacity: 4 ounces
Most comfortable manual breast pump
Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump
Manual pumping shouldn't hurt your hands or wrists, and moms say the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump is easier to use than competitors due to the design of its handle: It's curved, so your hand has a comfy place to rest while you pump. "I found it very easy to use, primarily because the handle is designed to be very easy to pull,” says Sarah Darby, BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist. “Definitely a little more involved than an electric pump in terms of requiring manual labor, but nothing that bothered me or caused any pain."
The Lansinoh Manual's flanges are more comfortable than those on other brands too, moms say, as the part that touches your skin is soft silicone. The pump comes with two flange sizes, so you can get a more comfortable fit. "When using a manual pump it’s especially important to make sure that the appropriate sized flanges are used," says Dr. Madden (see the end of this article for more information on choosing flanges).
As for convenience, this pump is compatible with Lansinoh's milk storage bags and bottles, making it easy to store your expressed milk. And, most importantly, moms say it works very well to extract milk: "I honestly preferred it over my double electric much of the time," says Sarah. "I truly got more milk in less time with the Lansinoh manual."
Heads up
The flanges that come with this pump are 25 and 30.5 millimeters in diameter; Lansinoh sells compatible flanges in other sizes.
Moms say
"The Lansinoh pump works very well. I use it if my baby sleeps through a night feeding and I feel engorged, since it's much quieter than an electric pump and I don't have to wake everyone up."
"I used it on one side while having my electric pump on the other, and I was able to pump comfortably for 10 minutes without any issues or hand cramping at all. When I checked how much I pumped with the manual I saw that I got 1 ounce more than I did on the side with the electric pump. This little manual pump has helped increase my milk supply, and I recommend it!"
"The Lansinoh manual pump is my favorite – it's comfortable and I get the most milk from it. It's perfect for travel, or if my baby only nurses on one side I can pump on the other."
Specs
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Material: Plastic, silicone
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Capacity: 4 ounces
Best adjustable manual breast pump
Medela Harmony Breast Pump
“In general, shorter, quicker sucks trigger a let down and longer, slower sucks help to pull the milk out better,” says Sparks. The Medela Harmony mimics these two styles of baby sucking with its unique pumping lever that allows you to adjust speed and suction. Pump the top part of the handle to make short, quick sucks in the "stimulation phase" to get your milk flowing, then use the longer bottom end of the handle to create a slower "expression phase" cycle to pump out the rest comfortably.
In addition to simulating a more natural flow, the Medela Harmony allows you to pump directly into Medela bottles. That was a favorite feature for Jeanne Beacom, BabyCenter's Senior Campaign Reporting Manager: "I had a Medela as my primary pump so having relatively interchangeable parts was a big plus." Jeanne also appreciated that if she had clogged ducts, she could take her Harmony into the shower to express milk.
Heads up
This pump only comes with one breast shield, so if you need a different size you'll need to buy it separately.
Moms say
"I really like the Medela Harmony. I use it as my first choice if I have to pump, rather than hooking up the electric one. The handle is easy on my hand, and I can pump quickly with one hand while focusing on something else. It's easy to clean, too."
"I have two of these, and while traveling I double pump with a pumping bra. This is great at airports without nursing stations or other venues where outlets aren't available. The Harmony works better than my electric pump."
"I feel like I get more milk, and faster than I'm used to, with the electric pump. Plus, it's more comfortable and doesn't make annoying noises."
"My favorite part about this manual pump is my ability to control the flow. After letdown, I pump very slowly and just let it flow!"
Specs
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Material: Plastic, silicone
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Capacity: 4 ounces
Best manual breast pump set
Dr. Brown’s Silicone One-Piece Breast Pump
The accessories are what set Dr. Brown's pump apart from similar ones. It comes with a Dr. Brown's anti-colic baby bottle with both a storage cap and a nipple (most breast pumps don't include a bottle at all). So you can pump and transfer your milk into the Dr. Brown's bottle, then screw the storage cap on to pop the bottle into the fridge for later, or attach the nipple to feed your baby right away. This set also comes with a travel bag to keep the pump and accessories clean in between uses.
Like the popular Haakaa, Dr. Brown's silicone pump is a suction-style pump and works the same way: You suction it onto one breast and it draws milk out without you having to do much of anything. Moms say it's easy to clean, easy to use, and works well to catch leaking breast milk, and to gently pump milk from full breasts. They also love that it's silent and inexpensive.
Heads up
This set comes with a level 1 (newborn) nipple for Dr. Brown's but you can buy other nipples separately if the flow is too slow.
Moms say
"This is essentially an all-in-one manual pump set. You can pump or collect letdown and immediately transfer it into an anti-colic baby bottle and begin feeding!"
Specs
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Material: Silicone
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Capacity: 4 ounces
Best hands-free manual breast pump
NatureBond Silicone Breast Pump
The NatureBond pump is similar to other silicone pumps in that it’s lightweight and suction-based. But unlike these pumps, it comes with a strap that goes around the pump and over your shoulders to hold the pump on more securely. No curious baby’s going to kick your pump off! Moms say that they found the strap reassuring, as they feared the pump detaching and spilling collected milk. Instead, the support kept the pump on well, and moms were more confident about sitting up straight rather than hunching over protectively.
The NatureBond also comes with an airtight silicone stopper so you can cover it before storing in the refrigerator, as well as a lid that allows you to move your milk without worrying about spills. Pump and accessories go in the included travel bag to keep everything together.
Heads up
The NatureBond's lid doesn't snap on and will come off if the bottle is dropped.
Moms say
“If you're breastfeeding, this manual suction pump is magical! You suction it to your other boob that you aren’t feeding on and it catches your letdown, I’ve collected over 600 ounces in a month.”
Specs
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Material: Silicone
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Capacity: 4 ounces
Do I need a manual breast pump?
The answer depends on your circumstances, but many moms who pump regularly find they need both an electric and manual pump.
Unlike their electric counterparts, manual pumps are lighter (most weigh less than 2 pounds) and easy to take on the go (Sparks even says she’s even seen photos of women pumping while running a marathon using a hand pump). Manual breast pumps are also quieter than electric pumps, as well as less expensive.
Some mothers say manual pumps better mimic a baby's suckling and feel more natural than electric pumps, some even find they are able to extract more milk with a manual pump, because they have more control of the suction and rate with a hand pump. "The suction with a manual pump is lower than when directly breastfeeding or using a double electric pump,” Dr. Madden says. “Because of this, milk flow and yield are typically less."
So you might think of a manual pump as a great backup to keep on hand when using an electric pump is difficult or impossible.
What kinds of manual breast pumps are there?
There are two types of manual breast pumps: hand pumps and suction pumps.
Hand pumps require you to squeeze a handle or lever multiple times to extract your milk. You often need both hands to operate one, and you can only pump one breast at a time. Women generally use hand pumps to relieve engorgement, or to pump quickly in between longer sessions with an electric breast pump.
Suction style pumps are made of silicone and operate hands-free: You squeeze part of the pump, place the pump on your breast, and let go. The pump suctions on, and extracts milk automatically. Women often use suction pumps when their baby is feeding on the other side: When your baby triggers a letdown on one side, the suction will extract some milk on the other. Suction pumps can also work well when you're engorged or overfull and just need to release a little bit of milk.
What should I look for in a manual breast pump?
With all the manual pumps available on the market, how do you choose between them? Sparks says features you may want to consider include:
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Portability: Smaller, lighter pumps are easier to put in a diaper bag for on-the-go use, or to take while traveling.
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Ease of cleaning: Any parts that come in contact with your breast milk should be cleaned as soon as possible after pumping, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dishwasher-safe pumps make this process easier, as do pumps with fewer parts.
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Accessories: Some pumps come with accessories like bottles, flanges in multiple sizes, or storage bags. Dr. Madden notes that choosing flanges that are the right size is important when using manual pumps; Aeroflow has great advice on choosing the right flanges.
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Angled flanges: These types of flanges can make pumping more comfortable for many women. "The angling can make it easier to use while the manual pump is being held in place," says Dr. Madden, who also says she hasn't heard of any downsides to using angled flanges.
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Storage caps: Some pumps come with special stoppers or caps so you can cover up your milk inside the pump or in a bottle to save for later.
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Pumping modes: Some manual pumps allow you to switch between different pumping styles: long pulls as opposed to short ones, for instance.
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Interchangeable parts: Some breast pump brands have bottles or other parts that can be used for both manual and electric pumps.
How to use a manual breast pump
Each manual breast pump operates differently, which is why Sparks encourages moms to read the included instructions. In general, however, you use a hand pump by holding the pump to your breast with one hand and operating the lever with the other. For suction pumps, you most likely squeeze the base of the pump, place the opening onto your breast, and let go of the base to create a suction.
Sparks says you should aim to use a pump for around 15 minutes per side, but anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes per side is considered “normal.” If you feel any discomfort or notice blisters or chafing on your nipples, check that you have the proper flange size and proper positioning. If you do and the discomfort persists, consider reducing the length of pumping sessions.
There may be a learning curve with your manual pump, especially as you learn how your body produces and expresses milk. Give yourself some time to get used to your pump, ideally before you really need your pumped milk. That way you can avoid some stress and create a more positive pumping experience.
When should I get a breast pump?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends you get a breast pump about a month before your due date.
Kelly Bailey contributed to this story
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ACOG. Undated. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. How to Prepare for Breastfeeding in the Month Before Birth. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/how-to-prepare-for-breastfeeding-in-the-month-before-birthOpens a new window [Accessed May 2023]
AAP. 2023. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to Clean Your Breast Pump: Tips to Keep it Germ-Free. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/How-to-Clean-Your-Breast-Pump.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed May 2023]