Breast Pumps

Best Breast Pumps

Best For: Baby

Whether you’re a breastfeeding mom returning to work, or a stay-at-home mom who wants the freedom to leave baby from time to time, a breast pump is something you will probably want to consider. You can rent hospital grade pumps from a variety of sources, but if you plan on purchasing one, these are the ones to choose from.

What to look for

1. Power. To put it plainly, a weak breast pump just won’t get the job done. You want to invest in a high quality, powerful pump so that you don’t find yourself having to replace it every few months.
2. Portability. If you’ll be pumping at work, you want a pump that transports easily. It’s also worth checking out the bag you’ll be toting the pump around in to make sure you’ll feel comfortable carrying it around every day.
3. Functionality. Breast pumps make noise, but they don’t have to be disruptive. The models we choose below are some of the quietest on the market.

Best Overall Breast Pump

Medela Pump in Style

Price: $260
Weight: 8 pounds
Buy Now: Amazon.com

Pros: A backpack is a must if you are a working mom who chooses to breastfed.

Cons: It’s an investment, but if you’re committed to breastfeeding, it’s one of the best ones you can make.

Best Single Breast Pump

The First Years miPump Single Electric Breast Pump

Price: $49
Dimensions: 2.5 pounds
Buy Now: Walmart.com

Pros: If you don’t think you need a double breast pump, but still want a full service electric one, The First Years offers their miPump Single Pump. Best for occasionally pumping or relieving discomfort (it can take some time to pump both sides with a single pump), this model is compact and discreet but still strong, and gets praised for being remarkably quick and quiet.

Cons: Some moms complain that even with the eight different suction strengths, this pump still wasn’t strong enough.

Best Manual Breast Pump

Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Price: $33
Dimensions: 1 pound
Buy Now: Amazon.com

Pros: If you only need to pump occasionally, invest in Medela’s Harmony Manual Breast Pump. Two pumping modes mimic baby’s nursing rhythm, reducing the amount of pumping time, and it’s easy on your hands.

Cons: The Harmony, like any other manual pump, isn’t ideal for regular pumping.