Breastfeeding is a beautiful part of being a mum, but it’s not always possible in today’s busy world. So to keep your baby in breast milk, you can procure a tool to help.
There are many types of breast pumps available today. We’re going to clue you in on the top 10 manual best pumps and why you might choose manual over electric.
We reviewed the top manual breast pump brands and products available to help you make your pick.
What Are the Best Manual Breast Pumps in 2024?
The best manual breast pumps out on the market to buy in 2024 are:
- NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump
- Haakaa Generation 1 Silicone Manual Breast Pump
- Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump
- Baby Bliss Silicone Manual Breast Pump
- Halovie Manual Breast Pump
- Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
- Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump
- Bellababy Manual Breast Pump
- Tommee Tippee Manual Breast Pump
- Jebester Silicone Manual Breastfeeding Pump
The Top 10 Best Manual Breast Pumps
Now that you know what our top picks are, let’s see what each one has to offer.
1. NatureBond Silicone Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 100 ml.
- All-in-one: Yes.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: Yes.
The NatureBond is on the better side of manual breast pumps. Although they’re simple tools, this one has all the essential add-ons, including a stopper, cover lid and a carry strap. So not only does it pump the milk, but it lets you store and transport it, too.
2. Haakaa Generation 1 Silicone Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 100 ml.
- All-in-one: Yes.
- Storage: No.
- Dishwasher safe: Yes, but not recommended.
Stepping away from the fantastic add-ons of the last pump, we like this one for its simplicity. It’s plain, not too large, but it gets the job done. The only issue will be transferring the milk from the pump to a bottle.
3. Bumblebee Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 100 ml.
- All-in-one: Yes.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: Yes.
We like this manual breast pump because the stopper is shaped like a heart. Yes, it’s a silly thing to pick as a favourite, but there’s not much to manual breast pumps. That is, until you add the heart-shaped stopper and wonderful matching lid.
4. Baby Bliss Silicone Manual Breastfeeding Pump
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- Capacity: 110 ml.
- All-in-one: Yes.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: Yes.
If you liked the plain look of our second pick but the accessories of the last, the Baby Bliss manual breast pump might be more your style. It comes with a lid and a storage bag for your travels. So you can store the milk in the pump and the pump in the bag.
The pump also has an extra-wide opening for your comfort, and a higher capacity than many silicone manual breast pumps.
5. Halovie Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 160 ml.
- All-in-one: No.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: No.
We like this one because yes, it’s a manual breast pump, but it’s electric too. However, it has the lower price of a strictly-manual pump.
Furthermore, it comes with 10 storage bags. This is excellent for freezing breast milk, or hanging it in a large fridge without taking up too much space. They’re reusable, and Halovie sells sets of 10 more storage bags for a low price on their own, too.
6. Medela Harmony Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 150 ml.
- All-in-one: No.
- Storage: No.
- Dishwasher safe: No.
The Medela Harmony is unlike the other pumps so far. It’s manual but pumps using a handle, which we like. And it has a stand, which is another pro in our book.
But the best part is the two phase expression, made to mimic a baby’s suckling. This is sure to keep your supply coming and healthy.
7. Lansinoh Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 160 ml.
- All-in-one: No.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: Unspecified.
This is another one with a handle for pumping, and two phases for pumping, mimicking a baby’s mouth. It’s an excellent, lightweight, smart and portable breast pump.
An excellent design feature is how easy the handle is to use, so this eliminates fatigue. But if you do need a rest, the stable base makes sure there are no spills. The stopper helps, too.
8. Bellababy Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 100+ ml.
- All-in-one: No.
- Storage: No.
- Dishwasher safe: Unspecified.
The best part of this breast pump is the gentle indents that massage your breast. The massage simulates your little one’s hands patting and grabbing while nursing. It also stimulates milk flow so you can pump more than with other breast pumps.
9. Tommee Tippee Manual Breastfeeding Pump
Key Features
- Capacity: 100 ml.
- All-in-one: No.
- Storage: No.
- Dishwasher safe: Yes.
We like the Tommee Tippee because of its thin neck. It makes it easy to hold as you pump using the simple and light handle.
When you’re done, you can place the pump down with ease too, due to the sturdy and flat base.
10. Jebester Silicone Manual Breastfeeding Pump
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- Capacity: 100 ml.
- All-in-one: Yes.
- Storage: Yes.
- Dishwasher safe: No.
Going back to basics, if you’re on an extreme budget, this is the pump for you. You get two pumps complete with stands and stoppers for a very low price. It’s basic, it’s classic and it gets the job done.
Why Use a Manual Breast Pump?
Electric pumps are faster, but manuals have their upsides, too. Here are a few:
- Great for occasional use.
- You control the speed and pressure.
- Often dishwasher safe.
- Lightweight.
- Easy to use.
- Very quiet.
- Easy storage.
- Highly affordable.
- More eco-friendly than electric breast pumps.
- You can balance things out if the baby prefers one breast, by pumping the other.
How to Use a Manual Breast Pump
With electric breast pumps, it’s simple. You just put them on, hit some buttons, and relax. But when you’re doing it manually, it’s still easy but not as obvious how you go about it.
Step One: Clean Your Breast and Hands
Your breast milk needs to remain free of any bacteria from the world outside of the breast. So, wash everything thoroughly, including your hands, just in case.
Step Two: Position the Breast Shield
The breast shield is the large, disk-like part of the pump.You want to position this with the gap over your nipple.
Don’t let your nipple touch the sides of the shield, as your breast milk may cause a mess. Or worse, the pump won’t work effectively to start with.
Step Three: Start Pumping
If you’re unfamiliar with the all-in-one breast pump, maybe you know how to use a turkey baster. It’s the same premise.
You squeeze the air out of the storage part, then release your squeeze. The pump returns to its former shape, and as it does, it sucks, gently drawing out your breast milk.
It’ll take a few pumps for anything to happen, but gradually, the milk will start to come.
Some breast pumps have a handle for pumping instead, which is trickier to manage but causes less accidental spillage in some cases.
Keep going for five minutes, 10 minutes maximum, and switch breasts. Do this one for the same amount of time as the other.
Making sure you pump both equally is vital for your milk supply. If you show favouritism, your supply might dry up. Keep this in mind when nursing your baby directly on the breast, too.
Step Four: Store Your Breast Milk
You may need to store your milk for later, so the rule of six is generally one to follow.
- At room temperature: 6 hours.
- In the fridge: 6 days.
- Placed in the freezer: 6 months.
Some breast pumps come with stoppers so you can store the milk directly after pumping. But if yours doesn’t, transfer it to a bottle for storage or feeding.
Step Five: Sterilise The Device
When feeding time is over, or you stowed the milk away, clean and sterilise everything and let it air dry. You may be able to run the pump through the dishwasher first, but not all models are safe for this.
Our Favourite Manual Breast Pump
Our top pick is the NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump due to its add ons. Right out of the box, it’s got a wide, comfortable area to work with and a stopper for once you’re done. There’s also a strap to carry it wherever you go, making it an incredible and convenient buy.