Whether you’re want to pump milk for your little one due to latching issues, work, personal preferences, or health issues, this Medela vs Lansinoh breast pump comparison should help you in your search.
My fianceé used breast pumps for quite a while (about 1.5 year), so we have some experience with different models. She works in a pharmacy so she’s exposed to different models. Read on to learn more about how to select a pump, its features, pros, and cons. Her favorite is the Lansinoh Signature Pro.
- My Top Picks
- Different types of breast pumps
- Main features of a breast pump – Differences and Similarities
- Medela breast pumps
- Lansinoh breast pumps
- Best Overall – Lansinoh Signature Pro
- Most High-Tech – Lansinoh SmartPump
- Accessory – Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
- Best Style – Medela Pump in Style Advanced (PISA) Breast Pump
- Best Suction – Medela Symphony Breast Pump
- Best for Travel – Medela Freestyle
- Which one is the best for you
- Medela and Lansinoh Breast Pumps FAQs
- Conclusion
My Top Picks
- Best Overall – Lansinoh Signature Pro
- Most High-Tech – Lansinoh SmartPump
- Best Style – Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump
- Best Suction – Medela Symphony Breast Pump
- Best for Travel – Medela Freestyle
Different types of breast pumps
A breast pump is a device that lets mothers extract breast milk. Some do it manually, meaning you have to squeeze a lever to extract the milk while others do so automatically. Electricity or batteries power the latter ones.
- Manual – You hold this pump in place using one hand and squeeze the lever using the other hand. These single pumps are a good choice either as a backup to an electric pump or if you don’t need to extract milk as often.
- Electric – This pump is plugged into a wall socket, and it automatically extracts milk from your breasts. They can either be a single electric pump or a double pump. A double breast pump has two breast shields to extract milk from your breasts simultaneously. This reduces your pumping time in half, and it’s a great option if you need to pump often.
- Hospital-grade – these are powerful pumps that are made for multiple users, such as in hospitals. They are ideal for mothers whose children are in intensive care. They have sensitive controls that allow for rhythm, intensity, and pressure regulation, making them quite efficient. However, moms are required to purchase their own accessories. Since they can be quite expensive, you can rent one from a hospital.
Here’s an educational video on how to pump effectively.
Main features of a breast pump – Differences and Similarities
Type
Decide whether you want a manual, electric, or battery-powered pump as each of them has its advantages and drawbacks. The pumps in this review all electric-powered pumps that can also run on batteries. All the pumps in this review are electric pumps.
Suction settings
The best pump mimics a baby’s natural nursing rhythm, a rapid cycle to induce milk flow, and a slower rate to simulate a baby’s deeper suckling to produce the most milk flow. The Lansinoh smart pump 3 pumping styles and 8 suction levels, while the signature pro has 8 suction levels, a feature the Medela models lack. However, the Medela Symphony is a hospital-grade pump renowned for its amazing suction power while the Medela Freestyle is best for moms who pump numerous times a day. The Medela Advanced mimics a baby’s suckling for maximum flow and efficiency.
Pump weight
If you have to carry your pump everywhere, even a 5-lbs one can feel heavy after a while. If you have a lot of luggage, get the lightest ones. The Lansinoh Signature and Pro and Smart Pump both weigh at 3 pounds while the Medela Freestyle weights 5 pounds and Medela Advanced weighs 4 pounds. Medela Symphony is the heaviest model in this list.
Medela breast pumps
Medela pumps are made by a Swiss-based company, which develops both healthcare and breastfeeding equipment.
They have a wide range of innovative breast pumping products developed through continuous research and customer feedback. Their breast pump range includes a manual pump, the Harmony single manual pump, and several electric ones, the Sonata, Freestyle , and the Pump in Style double electric pumps. They also have the Symphony model which is a hospital-grade double electric pump
What parents think of Medela Pumps
Madela pumps are a parent favorite getting a 4-star rating across the board for most models. Most parents love them because they are quieter than other models; they have a wider range of features, even in their basic models, and are comfortable to use. They also love the Sonata pump app that comes with the pump, which allows parents to keep track of pumping schedules, and it works well, making it a big hit.
Lansinoh breast pumps
Lansinoh is best known for producing breast pumps. The company was founded by a mother who wanted to make a better pump than what was available at the time. This lead to the manufacture of products that have gone on to win many awards, such as the PTPA Gold Award, The Bump Best of Baby Award, Mom’s Choice Awards, and many more. They have three pumps available in the market, two double-breast electric pumps, the Smart Pump and the Signature Pro, and a manual pump.
What parents think of Lansinoh Pumps
Even though Lansinoh’s range of pumps is smaller than Medela’s, they have a 4.2/5 star rating on Amazon. Many parents love these pumps because they are lightweight, portable, and can easily be taken to work. The kits come with great accessories, and the pumps offer great suction. This and the soft breast cups allow you to express the milk you need easily and comfortably.
Best Overall – Lansinoh Signature Pro
This Lansino Signature pump offers independent control over three pumping styles and 8 suction levels to maximize comfort and milk production. The closed design ensures that there is no backflow of milk into the motor, ensuring its contaminant free. Its small size and quiet motor make it ideal for the mom on the go.
Product description
- Pump Weight: 3 lbs
- Bottles included: (2) 5 oz
- System: Closed
- Type: Single or Double Electric
- Breast shield size: 25mm
- Warranty: 1 year
Why it may be a good option
The pump comes with two 5-ounce bottles, a tote, capped one bottle nipple, 2 breast milk storage bags, 2 disposable nursing pads, an AC power adaptor, 2 breast flanges, and an assortment of pumping accessories such as tubing connectors and tubes. The LCD screen aids you in tracking the pumping time.
Pros
- Easy to assemble, clean and use
- BPA and BPS Free
- Comfortable
- Great suction
- Closed system maintains the milk’s hygiene
- You can pump directly into the pre-sterilized storage bags
- Inexpensive for a double electric pump
Cons
- You need an adapter to use other bottles
- Doesn’t fully drain breasts of the milk
- Breaks down easily according to some users
Most High-Tech – Lansinoh SmartPump
The Bluetooth feature on this Lansinoh SmartPump makes it stand out from the rest of the products in this list. It seamlessly connects to the Lansinoh baby app and allows you to track pumping sessions, and baby activities to simplify your pumping sessions. It also has 3 pumping styles, 8 suction levels, and an easy to use control panel.
Product description
- Pump Weight: 3 lbs
- Bottles included: (4) 5 oz
- System: Closed
- Type: Single or Double Electric
- Breast shield size: 25 – 30.5 mm
- Warranty: 1 year
Why it may be a good option
It connects to the Lansinoh baby app to seamlessly track pumping sessions. It has a backlit touchscreen display with a timer that allows you to time your pumping sessions. It comes with a tote bag, a cooler with an ice pack, extra bottles, and lids to pump on the go. Its BPA and BPS free and can also be powered using 6 AA batteries.
Pros
- Easy to clean and assemble
- Easy to monitor your pump times
- Three pumping styles and suction levels make it quite flexible
- The app signals you when you need to pump
- You get value for your money
- Ideal for various breast sizes
- Dishwasher safe
- Closed system assures hygiene and helps keep the milk safe from contaminants.
Cons
- Can be quite noisy
- Doesn’t come with batteries
- Due to poor connectivity, the app is not always accurate.
Accessory – Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
These Lansinoh bags are ideal for storing and freezing your breast milk. They are pre-sterilized, so the milk is safe and secure, preserving all the nutrients needed by a growing bay.
I actually compared Lansinoh breast milk storage bags with those from Medela in another article.
Product description
- Weight: 1 lb
- Bags included: 100
- Capacity: 6 ounces
- Material: Low-density polyethylene
Features
Sealable bags ensure no contamination occurs, are easy to write on, and are tamper-proof. The bags have a double zipper seal, a reinforced double seam with clear volume measurements.
Pros
- The double seal ensures they are safe and secure
- The bags are easily stackable in the freezer
- Clear volumetric labels
- The bags are recyclable
- You can pump directly into the bag
Cons
- One time use
- Bags leak sometimes
Best Style – Medela Pump in Style Advanced (PISA) Breast Pump
Medela’s PISA is one of the most popular breast pump models available in the market. This double electric pump is made for mothers who pump a lot and can pump one side or both simultaneously.
Product description
- Pump Weight: 4.2 lbs
- Bottles included: (2) 5 oz
- System: Open
- Type: Single or Double Electric
- Breast shield size: 24 – 27mm
- Warranty: 1 year
Why it may be a good option
It is a double electric pump that uses two-phase expression technology to mimic the way a baby suckles, which is harder at first then more gently to ensure that it extracts enough milk. Its BPA-free and comes with a microfiber bag, four 5oz breast milk bottles with lids, a cooler bag with an ice pack, a double pumping kit, a 9-Volt AC adapter, and a battery pack that requires 8 A batteries.
Pros
- Most insurance covers cover it
- Comes in different set-ups, from the starter pack, which contains the essentials to the full kit that includes a tote bag or backpack, a cooler bag, and milk collection bottles
- You can use any bottle that fits the pump
- Easy to use and reassemble
- Stylish carry on tote
- Can run on AC or batteries
- This pump can be used multiple times a day
- It quickly expresses breastmilk
- Has a car adapter for use on the go
Cons
- Heavier
- Also a bit pricer than the other models
Best Suction – Medela Symphony Breast Pump
The Medela Symphony is an electrical hospital grade pump popular for its excellent suction power. It can also be used by multiple users and assembled easily. It is the one my fianceé used when she was breastfeeding our little one.
Product description
- Pump Weight: 6.2 lbs
- Bottles included: (2) 5 oz
- System: Closed
- Type: Single or Double Electric
- Breast shield size: 24 – 27mm
- Warranty: 1 year
Why it may be a good option
It has an LCD screen to help you monitor your pump session, and can accommodate several users. It has two separate membrane units for convenient and easy switching between single and double pumping. The easy letdown button allows mothers to easily return to the simulation phase while pimping. The pump promotes milk initiation and maintains your milk supply.
Pros
- It is a high-end hospital-grade pump
- Ideal for moms with low milk supply
- The powerful motor expresses milk more easily, and it is quiet
- Has the 2-phase expression technology used to express more milk
- Easy to use even though its hospital-grade
- Has an innovative design with overflow protection
- Efficient
- Contains a chip that stores all the information about the pumping program
Cons
- Large in size
Best for Travel – Medela Freestyle
The Medela Freestyle is a double electric pump that can be used many times a day. It has a lightweight motor that makes using it outside the house a breeze. It’s a great pump and many moms think about getting a Medela Freestyle or Elvie double pump, which I compared in another article.
Product description
- Pump Weight: 5 lbs
- Bottles included: (4) 5 oz
- System: Closed
- Type: Single or Double Electric
- Breast shield size: 24 – 27mm
- Warranty: 1 year
Why it may be a good option
It has a tote carry bag, a cooler with an icepack for keeping your milk safe, and a 12 V AC power adapter. You can pump both breasts simultaneously or one at a time. It also has an LCD screen that shows the pumping time.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- LCD screen is backlit, allowing you to pump breastmilk anytime, anywhere
- Secure as the tubing doesn’t come loose easily during use
- Easy to use and assemble
Cons
- Quite pricey
- Difficult to clean
Which one is the best for you
The pump you choose will depend on your needs and personal preferences. All the models in my top picks are easy to use, efficient, and offer great value for money. If the price is a big factor for you, then the Lansinoh models are ideal. However, if you have low milk production, then the Medela Symphony can come in handy
Medela and Lansinoh Breast Pumps FAQs
Do they come with a mains adapter?
All the pumps in this list come with a mains adapter. The Medela Pump in Style model has a rechargeable battery pack that allows you to pump on the go. The Lansinoh models have battery compartments that allow you to use batteries in case of an emergency.
Are they compatible with supplies from other pumps?
The Lansinoh models can use other supplies, but you’ll need to check their compatibility; the Medela models aren’t as adaptable.
How many batteries do I need?
The Medela Pump In Style requires 8 AA batteries while the Lansinoh models use 6 A batteries. How long they last will depend on their use. However, the rechargeable battery pack on the Medela Pump in Style can last between one to three hours.
Conclusion
Both these brands are well respected, and it is hard to go wrong with either one. That said, the Medela models are costlier than their Lansinoh counterparts. The reason is, they also don’t come with as many accessories as the Lansinoh kits do. Ready to go for the Lansinoh Signature Pro?
Another great comparison regarding brands which produce pumps is my post on Avent vs Medela pumps.
Last update on 2024-10-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API