A decision every mom or dad must make, including myself and my fianceé, is whether you will breastfeed your little one, bottlefeed her, or both. In all these cases we quickly saw that you’ll probably need a breast pump to get milk out.
This Haakaa vs Bumblebee vs NatureBond comparison should show you that all these manual breast pumps are great options if you don’t want to use an electric pump or just want a supplementary pump.
As for my top pick, the trophy goes to Haakaa.
- My Top Picks
- What are manual breast pumps and why you should consider them
- Main features – similarities and differences
- Which one to choose?
- Best for portability – Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
- Best budget option – NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump
- Best for added accessories – Bumblebee Breast Pump Manual Breast Pump
- Conclusion
My Top Picks
- Best for portability – Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
- Best budget option – NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump
- Best for added accessories – Bumblebee Breast Pump Manual Breast Pump
What are manual breast pumps and why you should consider them
When you compare electric vs Haakaa pumps or other manual pumps, you’ll quickly see that, unlike the battery-powered options, manual breast pumps require your effort to power them. You need to continuously press down on them to help create a pumping motion.
The big advantage of using them is that you can easily express milk anytime the need arises. You can relieve yourself whenever you get engorged or use it to massage your breast to build up your milk supply. My fianceé used such manual pumps whenever we were on the go.
Main features – similarities and differences
Price
Since you operate them by hand, manual breast pumps don’t cost as much as electric or battery-powered options. All options reviewed are quite affordable, with almost similar prices. If you’d like to compare prices with electric-powered options, see this Medela vs Lansinoh review or the Medela Sonata vs Spectra 1 Plus vs Spectra 2 Plus review.
Portability
In case you’re a working mom, or you need to head out, having a pump you can carry around in your bag helps. It needs to be lightweight and compact, which happens to be the case with the majority of hand pumps, just like the ones in this review. Therefore, you won’t need an extra bag to carry it.
Included accessories
There are manual breast pumps that have a variety of accessories, just like with the electric and battery-powered models. These could consist of additional bottles, bottle holders, and pump covers, to list a few. The Haakaa breast pump requires you to buy accessories separately. However, both the NatureBond Silicone Pump and the Bumblebee Breast Pump come with a pump cover and carry bag.
Ease of use
To make getting milk something to look forward to, the hand pump you buy needs to be easy to use. In general, manual breast pumps tend to be simple to operate. In case you have a unit that requires assembly, there should be a manual to help you get started fast. If it’s a single unit, such as the three models in this post, no individual connections are necessary. All you need to do is position it well and begin pumping. It may take a few tries if you’re new to the process, but this video should give you tips on how to get started.
Efficiency
Breast pumps should mimic the suckling motion a baby creates as they feed. That massaging motion helps stimulate milk production. Therefore, when you opt for a manual breast pump, ensure it enables you to express as much as possible when your baby is suckling. According to moms’ feedback, all three handpumps reviewed here are suitable for nursing mothers and even come with flanges suitable for any breast size. Moms also agree that the pumps are small enough to allow you to pump while you breastfeed your baby. I’ve seen this with my fianceé when our daughter would wake up in the middle of pumping. Instead of abandoning the mission, you continue to do both at the same time.
Discreet
You need to be comfortable as you express, regardless of the environment. With manual breast pumps such as the ones reviewed, you can express milk anywhere since they’re not only small but also they’re also quiet. Therefore, you won’t be distracting your baby or someone else sleeping nearby.
Which one to choose?
The three breast pumps in this review are relatively similar. Therefore, you need to think about what’s essential to you and make your choice based on that. It could be the price, the accessories, or even the reputation a particular brand has among mothers who’ve used them. If you need a quick recommendation, however, I’d bet my money on the NatureBond Silicone Breast Pump because of its size and ease of use. Also, moms say you can constantly pump enough for a feed and when applied correctly it’s super comfortable.
Best for portability – Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
Product information
- Material: 100% Food Grade Silicone
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
Why you should consider it
The Haakaa Manual Breast Pump makes expressing milk easy, even for first-time moms. It’s a single unit, operated manually, so no assembly is necessary. It comes with a single unit that has a silicone flange attached to a silicone bottle-shaped pump. To use it, invert the pump flange outwards and press the pump to remove excess air. Attach the flange area to your breast and secure it for a perfect fit. From there, you can release the pump to create suction.
The design of the unit enables your milk to only flow downwards into the pump collection area. It can hold up to 100ml of expressed milk during a single session. Once you’re done, you can pour out the milk into a bottle since the unit’s shape is similar to that of a small jug.
Another reason why I like this manual pump is because of the many ways to store your Haakaa between its uses.
Who it’s best suited for
- For any nursing mother
Pros
- Phthalate, BPA, and PVC free
- Lightweight
- It’s a single unit
- No assembly necessary
- Easy to use
- Has a spout free design for extra comfort
Cons
- Does not come with accessories like a pump dust cover included
Best budget option – NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump
Product information
- Material: 100% Food Grade Silicone
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
Why you should consider it
As an FDA-approved option, the NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump is a single lightweight unit. Its compact design makes it possible to carry it in your handbag without needing extra space. Since it’s small, you can also express without calling attention to yourself whenever you’re around people. It’s quiet, which means your activities are discreet. During letdown, for instance, when you’re feeding your baby, you can place it on the other breast. It will collect milk without requiring you to hold it in place. You can, therefore, concentrate on your nursing baby while still expressing.
Other than helping you pump milk with little effort on your part, you’ll also help stimulate your milk production. The pump section comes with a Smart Pressure feature. It provides varied pump thickness levels depending on how much suction you’d like. The bottom creates gentle suction. The middle creates medium suction. The top of the pump just below the flange creates strong suction. When you buy this breast pump, you’ll also receive a velvet pouch to store it and a dust cover for the pump.
Who it’s best suited for
- Ideal for nursing mothers
Pros
- Certified safe by the USA FDA
- PVC, Phthalate, Lead, and BPA free
- Soft and comfortable
- You can use it handsfree
Cons
- If not placed correctly, it loses suction after a while
Best for added accessories – Bumblebee Breast Pump Manual Breast Pump
Product information
- Material: 100% Food Grade Silicone
- Weight: 4.2 ounces
Why you should consider it
If you need a breast pump that’s affordable and comes with a few accessories thrown in, then try the Bumblebee Breast Pump Manual. Along with your breast pump, you’ll also receive a carry bag for storage, a heart-shaped stopper to keep your milk from spilling, and a dust cover to keep your expressed milk free from contaminants. To help you get started, you’ll get a detailed user manual. Depending on how much suction you desire, the pump comes with different levels to suit you. Press the top or bottom part of the breast pump for gentle and medium suction strength, respectively. If you need strong suction, then press the middle of the bottle as you express.
Who it’s best suited for
- Any nursing mother can use it
Pros
- Easy to clean and sterilize
- No assembly required
- You can boil it to sterilize quickly
- No connections or batteries are necessary
- You can operate it handsfree during letdowns
Cons
- If you’re using it while nursing be careful your baby doesn’t kick it as it could detach
Conclusion
Breast pumps are a much-needed accessory once you have a baby. They proved to be handy for us because we wanted to bottle feed our little girl exclusively on breast milk. They’re also helpful for when a mother would like to wean their breastfeeding baby. You could also use them to help stimulate your milk supply once your baby’s born.
With the various options available now, you can travel with your manual breast pump tucked away in your bag. They’re lightweight and compact, making it possible even to carry them in small pouches.
Although manual breast pumps require you to create the needed suction, they’re also quiet. This means you can even express in the presence of others without calling attention to your activities.
Another option is getting a wearable breast pump, like the Willow or Elvie or even the Freemie pumps. However, be ready to fork out more for those then.
Last update on 2024-04-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
