Finding the best breast pump was high on my priority list when I had my baby (as well as buying a baby carrier, breast pads and stylish baby changing bag, of course).
If you want to bottle feed formula because it works best for your routine then that's brilliant; a fed baby is a happy baby. If, on the other hand, you're breastfeeding or combi feeding and hoping to pump some breast milk to bottle feed, then that's also brilliant. As my mum pals always say ‘do whatever you have to do to get through the day.’
I breastfed my baby for a year but, equally, I wanted a social life and have a very real penchant for wine - and that's where my trusty breast pump came in.
If you're new to this whole parenting game and have no idea what a breast pump actually is (no judgement here because I had no clue either), allow me to break it down for you. Ultimately, breast pumps draw milk from your boobs by mimicking your baby's sucking action. There are 2 different types: electric and manual. As the NHS states: “With the manual type, you squeeze the plunger by hand, while the electric version does the work for you.”
As Sioned Hilton, Medela’s Lactation Consultant, explains: “Many mums choose to express milk at some point during their breastfeeding experience, whether it’s so their partner can join in the feeding experience, to build a freezer supply or so their breast milk is on hand for any events away from baby. However, without a good breast pump, expressing milk can be time consuming, not ideal for mums who are short on time!”
Personally, I pumped at 4am when milk production and quality is thought to be at its highest. I would then store the milk in the freezer and save it for occasions where my boobs were out of action e.g. when I was attending a wedding that I wanted to drink at, or when I was out for dinner in the evening and my husband was in charge of feeding baby.
Shopping for a breast pump can be a bit of a minefield because no two parents are the same. While one mum might prioritise the efficiency of a breast pump - with timesaving at the top of their list - another may put comfort at the forefront, especially if they're struggling to express milk or suffering from engorged nipples. As such, we've tried to cover all bases, compiling a selection of affordable and high-end breast pumps for mums short on time and mums with nipples that are in need of a little extra tentative care and TLC. We've also looked at some brilliant manual breast pumps that are super efficient and purse-friendly. Mamas, we've got you.
What are the benefits of using a breast pump? | What type of breast pump is best? | More on manual breast pumps | More on electric breast pumps | More on wearable breast pumps | Our full breast pump reviews.
Which breast pump is best, at a glance
- Best do-it-all breast pump: Medela Freestyle Flex Electric Breast Pump, £349.99, John Lewis & Partners
- Best electric breast pump: Philips Avent Electric Breast Pump, £144.12, Amazon
- Best manual breast pump: Haakaa Generation 1 Silicone Breast Pump, £16.19, Amazon
- Best wearable breast pump: Elvie Single Electric Breast Pump, £269.00, John Lewis & Partners
- Best breast pump for bigger breasts: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Manual Pump Breastfeeding Starter Kit, £47, Amazon
How we tested:
Our Website Director, Bianca London, tested out a plethora of breast pumps when she had her daughter. She used manual ones like the Haakaa Generation 1 Silicone Breast Pump, to help her let down first thing in the morning, and invested in more high-tech pumps like Elvie Single Electric Breast Pump for use whilst completing household chores (because pumping on the go is a very real thing). Bianca also grilled all of her mum mates, NCT group and midwives for their expert guide to the best breast pumps - and to ensure an unbiased spread, she also trawled the internet to read customer reviews on retailer sites to provide you with a thorough run-down of the best breast pump options available in 2023. We've included any problems with each product's spec, and equally any problems buyers themselves have experienced. Whether you're looking for something to help with low milk supply or something that will help with your transition from mat leave back to work, this guide should answer all your FAQs and provide you with the info you need to make your purchase.
Because, let's be honest, that pregnancy glow doesn't always arrive on its own.
Which type of breast pump is best?
Before we answer that question, you'll want to consider whether your top priority is extra comfort, ease of on-the-go expressing or time-saving. Though, that's not to say you can't have all three. Our main bit of advice (and something we didn't realise when beginning our pumping journey) is to ensure your shield fits your boob perfectly. As Danielle Facey, The Breastfeeding Mentor and breastfeeding expert at The Baby Show which returns to the NEC Birmingham (12th – 14th May) and Olympia London (20th – 22nd October) says: “Above all, I would advise any mother choosing a pump to ensure that they buy the correct flange/shield size for them. Many pumps come with two or more different sizes in the box because one size does not fit all. In fact, correct flange/shield sizing is essential for pain-free, effective milk removal. To find the right size for them, mums need to measure the width of the base of their nipples, then add 3-4mm.”
Now let's break down the different types of pumps…
Many mothers credit manual breast pumps as the most comfortable choice, providing both more control over the strength of suction - after all, your hands will be performing the job of the electric motor. Plus, with the Haakaa silicone breast pump, for instance, you needn't worry about any materials other than food grade and BPA-free silicone coming into contact with your baby's milk, while electric breast pumps are often comprised of silicone and plastics (e.g. polypropylene and ABS). I found this an absolute life-saver first thing in the morning when my boobs were engorged if my daughter hadn't fed as much throughout the night. It's also great for popping under the boob you're not feeding on to collect extra milk and ideal for the weaning off breastfeeding process when you need to drain excess milk.
For mums hoping a breast pump will help them to express more milk in less time, an electric breast pump will likely be the route to take. We'd also recommend a double electric pump, as double pumping can produce, on average, 18% more milk compared to a single breast pump.
“Electric pumps are more powerful than manual pumps, meaning it takes less time to collect the milk you need,” says Tania Boler, Founder and President of Elvie. “An electric breast pump is a great choice for women who express regularly or choose to exclusively breastfeed. They are also perfect for mothers who need to express once they’ve returned to work and may be limited on time.”
I often pumped during my daughter's very sporadic naps and because they'd often only last 30 minutes, I needed the most efficient pump I could find.
Electric breast pumps work by using a motor to recreate the natural suction pattern of your baby's mouth at a rate somewhere around the 50-cycle-per-minute mark. Nowadays, electric breast pumps are sophisticated enough to include a stimulation mode, too, enabling the device to prompt your supply's let-down in the same way that your baby would.
One last thing to consider? Whether you want your electric pump to feature a rechargeable battery, enabling on the go use, or simply rely on a mains plug, meaning you'll be chained to the sofa or bed whilst pumping (also the perfect excuse to actually relax).
With household tasks falling by the wayside in new parenthood, being able to express milk on-the-go is understandably a priority. They allow you to be hands free and mobile, meaning you can get sh*t done whilst pumping. Friends of mine even attended events and work conferences with their pumps in.
As Danielle Facey says: “Wearable pumps offer the ultimate in flexibility, allowing mothers to pump hands-free and on the go. They are generally less powerful than manual or non-wearable electric pumps and so are not recommended as a primary pump for anyone who wants to pump exclusively. Nonetheless, because they are lightweight, portable and quiet, wearable pumps are a fantastic option for anyone who wants to express breast milk whilst going about their daily activities. As with electric pumps, they also offer the option of pumping from both breasts at the same time.”
While there are a whole host of portable breast pumps - small enough to fit in a bag and simple enough to assemble quickly when needed - wearable breast pumps, on the other hand, are harder to track down. Elvie are leading the way in this department and their 12.8cm pump, which is small enough to tuck into your bra, is a top choice among busy mums and one I couldn't live without in my pumping journey.
Moulded to your breast much like a silicone bra insert, the Elvie pump is silent, wireless and can collect around 140ml of milk at a speed somewhere between its manual and mains-powered competitors. It may be expensive, but the glowing reviews really do speak for themselves. Still not convinced? Why not check out our full Elvie review, written by a mum, for mums.
Scroll for our full edit of the best breast pumps for pain and hassle-free expressing.
Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? Yes.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Adaptable breast shields, an accessories pack - including a cooling bag - and a touchscreen interface with a delay start function, giving you 10-seconds to fix both flanges into place before stimulation begins.
Cons: The control panel vibrates when in use and can move across surfaces as a result.
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Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? Yes.
Wearable? No.
Pros: It detects the right about of stimulation to initiate maximum milk flow and features a rechargeable battery so you needn’t be sat by a mains plug. Plus, the breast shields fit 99.98% of nipples.
Cons: None of note.
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Type: Manual.
Dishwasher safe? Although dishwasher safe, the brand recommends hand washing in warm soapy water and rinsing and drying thoroughly. Do not use any bleach based cleaners or tablets to sterilise or clean your Haakaa products, they warn.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Uses natural suction, requires zero battery or mains supply and, in terms of ease of use, it’s by far the most simple to clean and is even suitable for the dishwasher.
Cons: Lid sold separately.
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Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? Yes.
Wearable? Yes.
Pros: Ultra-quiet, controlled via bluetooth on an app on your smartphone, is easy to clean with only five parts and no tubes, and it can automatically detect let-down in your nipples and switch from stimulation to expression on its own.
Cons: Not the fastest at expressing milk.
Read our full Elvie breast pump review now.
Save money on wearable breast pumps for hands-free pumping with these Boots discount codes, John Lewis discount codes and Amazon discount codes.
Type: Manual.
Dishwasher safe? Yes.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Gives mums more control over how much they’re expressing, to avoid that feeling of milking you dry (for lack of a better phrase…). Plus, it’s super lightweight and features only three parts for really easy cleaning.
Cons: Takes longer than an electric pump to express a good amount of milk.
Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? All parts, excluding the tubing and pump connector are dishwasher safe though the brand highly recommends gently hand washing the white valves and diaphragms as they are delicate and can affect the performance of the pump if damaged or torn with vigorous washing or harsh detergents.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Can be used with batteries, comes with two sizes of breast cushions and the fitted LCD display tracks suction phase.
Cons: Mums who are just expressing milk to feed their babies will need to change the valves monthly.
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Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? Yes.
Wearable? No.
Pros: It’s quiet, comfortable and, according to some mums, even good for helping to stimulate surplus milk flow for parents with a low supply.
Cons: Cannot really be worn in a bra on the go.
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Type: 2-in-1 manual and electric.
Dishwasher safe? It can be cleaned by hand with warm, soapy water or in the dishwasher (in the top rack or in the cutlery compartment). MAM recommends cleaning the valve body and the valve membrane by hand.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Great for weaning and also for mums who prefer electric but don’t want the faff of carrying all the accessories when out and about. Plus, the pump is compatible with MAM’s anti-colic bottles, which are hugely popular among new mums.
Cons: Can only use with the MAM steriliser with one tray.
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Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? No.
Wearable? No.
Pros: With no tubes or wires and a whopping 2-hour battery life, this LOLA&LYKKE® wireless breast pump is lightweight and, still - even with its compact design - features a touch display screen. It has nine different expression levels, plus six stimulation modes - more than most of the ultra high-end models - as well as one year warranty and simple five-part design.
Cons: Only one 24mm size breast shield included, so may not be a perfect fit for all mums.
Type: Electric.
Dishwasher safe? Yes - on top rack.
Wearable? No.
Pros: Recommended by the brand as a pick for mums having “issues affecting [their] breastfeeding,” this pump includes two sizes of breast shield which can both be rotated with their unique oval shape to best suit the form of your breasts. Also, attached at a 105° angle, the Medela shields put less pressure on the breasts when pumping for extra comfort.
Cons: While the light on the device is comforting for the mother during night feeds, it can wake baby at the same time.
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Say goodbye to bump-induced aches and pains 👋
What are the benefits of using a breast pump?
- Partners and co-parents will have a chance to experience the same bond with their baby as the birthmother does when breastfeeding.
- Tired mums can share the night feeds with a partner or co-parent.
- Bottle feeding provides some parents with peace of mind about exactly how much milk their child has consumed.
- Breast pumping can avoid some of the pain associated with breastfeeding - e.g. biting once teething begins.
- You'll likely generate a surplus of ‘back-up’ milk should you encounter any blocked ducts or low supply issues.
After more content for parents? Check out our round up of the best pregnancy pillows over here, the best nursing bras this way and, over here you'll find our round up of baby changing bags, too. We've also got maternity leggings, maternity nightwear and maternity swimwear, as well as travel cots. Enjoy!
