Breastfeeding has amazing health benefits for you and your baby, allows crucial bonding time and is much more cost-effective than bottle feeding. The main downside of breastfeeding is that you can't share the task with your partner – unless you invest in a breast pump, which will allow you to express and store milk to feed when you can't be around.
We've navigated the tricky waters of finding the best breast pumps for expressing and done all the hard work and research for you, including ranking the best options on Amazon, Argos, Boots and eBay to make sure that you can express with as little fuss as possible. We've included top brands like Tommee Tippee, Nuby and Elvie, so read on to find out more!
Quick List - Top Breast Pumps
NatureBond
The Top-Selling Silicone Manual Breast Pump in the UK and Beyond
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When choosing a breast pump, you might ask 'Where to begin?', and you wouldn't be alone in your confusion! Let's look at all the different variations and how they all work so you can decide what will best suit you and your little one.
There are a few different pump styles and options for you to choose from including single and double pumps, manual, battery-powered and even electric. The variety you go for will all depend on your preferences.
Electric pumps run off the mains, so they offer stronger and more consistent pumping without the need to charge them up, change their batteries or pump them by hand. The only downside is that you have to ensure that you have access to a mains plug socket whenever you need to express, so they're not as portable as other options.
Battery-powered or rechargeable pumps let you express and bottle when out and about, which means you’re not left feeling like you’re tied to home. Owing to this, they're also a brilliant option for travelling or working mums.
Though still handy, they're not as powerful as electric mains-operated pumps so they can be a slower process, and you’ll need to remember to have adequate batteries to hand or to make sure the unit is fully charged for when you need it.
Manual pumps are a great option if you’re not going to be using a pump regularly enough to warrant splurging on an electric one, plus their designs tend to be really straightforward and fuss-free and therefore easier to clean.
However, be aware that quite a bit of work is required from you to make them work and the suction may not be as strong as other types. So if you want to pop your feet up with a book while you express, these may bring about some disappointment!
Closed pump systems (sometimes also referred to as overflow protection) are sealed off from the milk by a barrier so there’s no risk of the milk coming into contact with it. This makes them more hygienic and makes the pump much easier to keep clean, but they are generally more expensive.
Open pump systems don’t have a barrier, so the milk flows through tubes and other small pieces of the system and may come into contact with the pump mechanism. They are usually less expensive than closed pump systems but can be quite difficult to keep clean and sterile.
Double pumps are a great time-saving option, which is always useful when you have a million other things to do or you're in a rush to get out the door; however, they’re generally more expensive. Likewise, single pumps aren’t as quick to use as you have to do one breast at a time, but they’re much cheaper to buy.
Some pumps offer features that can help make expressing as hassle-free as possible. Here are a few of the main ones to look out for:
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | PiAEK Electric Double Breast Pump | ![]() | A Great Value Pump With Additional Back-Up Power | |
2 | NatureBond Silicone Manual Breast Pump | ![]() | The Top-Selling Silicone Manual Breast Pump in the UK and Beyond | |
3 | Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump | ![]() | Uses Natural Suction to Draw Down Your Milk | |
4 | MAM 2-in-1 Single Electric Breast Pump | ![]() | An Easy-to-Adapt Single Pump From a Trusted Baby Brand | |
5 | Madela Swing Maxi Flex Double Electric Breast Pump | ![]() | An Adaptable Great Pump for Mums With Larger Breasts | |
6 | Lansinoh Single Manual Breast Pump | ![]() | A Simple but Effective Pump With the Right Technique | |
7 | Tommee Tippee Made for Me Single Electric Breast Pump | ![]() | A Very Quiet Unit With Soft Silicone for Comfort | |
8 | Lansinoh 2-in-1 Double Electric Breast Pump | ![]() | Runs on the Mains or Batteries to Allow You Greater Flexibility | |
9 | Nuby Natural Touch Digital Electric Breast Pump | ![]() | Comes With a Clear Digital Display That You Can Also Read at Night | |
10 | Elvie Single Silent Wearable Breast Pump | ![]() | A Hands-Free Pump Ideal for Tech Lovers |
This pump from PiAEK is only 32 dB while running, so is one of the quieter pumps available to buy. It comes with a multitude of adapters and charging options, but one great selling point is that it comes with a portable power bank so that even if you do run out of charge, you're still good to pump.
It can be used as a single or double pump, and its fans say how easily it cleans and how user-friendly the whole system is – the LED touchscreen, in particular, is a breeze. It has rave reviews and we think this is a fantastic buy, which is why we've chosen it for our number 1 pick!
This manual breast pump from NatureBond collects breast milk leaks during feeding, and also relieves engorgement using pure natural suction pressure to help you feel comfortable. It's made from super-soft dishwasher-safe and food-grade silicone and is perfect for travelling as it's lightweight and portable.
It also comes with a strap to loop around your neck to prevent you accidentally dropping it, and there's a built-in stopper and removable lid to prevent any milk spillages and give you peace of mind that nothing will be wasted. Mums love this product as it catches so much extra milk that they would normally lose.
This manual silicone breast pump from New Zealand company Haakaa has a whole legion of fans who love its fuss-free design which uses natural suction to express your milk. It's compact enough to fit into your handbag, and while it's not dishwasher safe, its simple shape can be cleaned really easily.
It's comfortable to use, and particularly useful when you are pumping on the other breast as it can catch leakage. It can also draw down some additional milk from the stimulation of the pump. While some can find it a bit tricky to get the technique, this is a great beginner pump to try out.
In two simple steps this pump converts from an electric pump to a manual one, meaning that you can pop it in your bag and take it with you whenever you head out the house. And not only can it be turned into a manual pump, but you can also run it off batteries so you can choose however you want to express.
It's also compatible with other breastfeeding products in the MAM range, so you can buy other items knowing it ties in with this system. However, as with other battery-operated pumps, it doesn't last too long while running off the mains, so if you do decide to use it this way make sure you're armed with plenty of AAs!
This Madela breast pump promises to express 18% more milk than single pumps, giving you more time to spend with your new baby. This is also convenient for larger-breasted women who produce more milk, as is the option of two cup sizes.
Mums who have used this pump have noted that it's quite loud which can make it inconvenient to use during the night. They also reported that the pump goes through batteries really quickly if not running on mains power. These two faults may not apply to some, but this is why this unit only made number 5 in our listing.
This manual pump from Lansinoh features an ergonomic handle so that you can pump longer before your hand gets too tired. The bottle base is also weighted so that there's less risk of it tipping over, and it's compatible with other products in the Lansinoh breastfeeding range.
It would have been a good idea to offer more than one cup size to make using this pump more comfortable, and because of the design, it can be hard to maintain the suction with one hand. However, as a back-up or occasional pump, it's a great budget choice.
The breast cup supplied with this pump has a soft silicone ring that's very comfortable. It is a rechargeable unit and one full charge promises up to 60 minutes of pumping time. There are 5 massage modes to help bring your milk down and 9 different suction variations, too.
With this being a rechargeable pump, you'll need to ensure you leave adequate time to charge between uses which may be a nuisance for some. A lot of mums report that you don't get the 60 minutes of pumping time promised on one charge, so you may need to bear this in mind depending on how often you express.
This pump has strong reliable suction for day-to-day use, but portable should you need to express away from home. The backlit LED screen allows clear reading no matter the light level, and the soft breast cushions supplied make sure you're as comfortable as possible.
This pump isn't dishwasher-safe which some may find too laborious, and it is on the heavy side so you may only want to take one pump out with you if you need it to be portable. It is also not as quiet as other models so you may need to take this into account if expressing at night or if you want to be discreet while using it.
This pump from Nuby has both stimulation (to help encourage milk let-down) and expression functions, and can be adjusted at the touch of a button for extra comfort and control. The digital control panel is easy to read in daylight and at night-time and has 5 settings for both suction and speed.
One main issue that users have found with this otherwise good pump is that not a lot of types of bottles fit it, so you'll either have to buy more Nuby bottles or constantly wash and reuse the one that's supplied. Some mums have also reported that the pressure could be greater.
This hands-free pump from Elvie is packed with features from a linked smartphone app to USB recharging, so it's bound to have broad appeal. The wearable style lets you get on with your day, and it's easy-to-assemble and clean design is simple to manage.
There are a couple of instances of reliability issues, which is why we've ranked it at the bottom of our list, especially seeing as this is the most expensive pump in our ranking. Some mums have also advised that the suction isn't as strong as other brands so may not work very well for you if you need strong suction.
We hope that you found this listing of our best breast pumps useful, and that you've found your ideal pump to keep you happy and your baby well-fed no matter where you are. Breastfeeding can be really tough, so keep at it – you're doing great!
Author: Catherine Torrance
No. 1: PiAEK|Electric Double Breast Pump
No. 2: NatureBond|Silicone Manual Breast Pump
No. 3: Haakaa |Silicone Breast Pump
No. 4: MAM|2-in-1 Single Electric Breast Pump
No. 5: Madela |Swing Maxi Flex Double Electric Breast Pump
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