The Best Manual Breast Pumps and Milk Catchers

The Harmony is a classic manual pump and a go-to for many new parents because it’s affordable, easy to use and super portable. In fact, 69 percent of Babylist parents who responded to our annual best baby products survey said the Harmony was their favorite manual pump. 

“It’s so convenient to bring along with me and is now pretty much a part of my body!” one Babylist parent shared. It isn’t just helpful for those who are breastfeeding, either—both exclusively nursing parents and those who pump rave about it. “For 13 months I almost exclusively pumped, so I was always looking for anything to help make that easier. The Medela Harmony fit the bill,” another Babylist parent wrote in their review.

When using a manual pump, you control the rhythm. Just like electric pumps, there is a stimulation mode (to trigger your letdown) and expression mode (when milk is flowing). With the Harmony, it’s easy to switch modes—all you have to do is change where you’re compressing the handle. The shorter side mimics the short, quick rhythm babies use to trigger a letdown while the longer handle encourages expression with longer, stronger pulls. 

The flanges on this pump feature a soft outer rim, which many parents agree is comfortable. The pump attaches directly to collection bottles, which have secure lids, so you don’t have to transfer it into anything to store the expressed milk in your fridge or freezer. 

There are a few things parents don’t love about the pump. There are a bunch of parts to disassemble when it’s time to clean the pump, and two parts in particular are very delicate: the O-ring and the valve membrane. Many parents (including myself) have noticed the O-ring pops off easily during washing if you’re not careful, and since it’s pretty small, it’s easy to lose. “If that is missing or cracked or compromised in any way, that'll greatly affect your suction,” says Varisano. “It's such a small piece, you would not think that it has any impact on the pump but it does.” (Medela doesn’t make replacement parts but a third party brand does. I purchased this set when I needed replacement parts.) 

Also, the pump’s suction strength can weaken if the pieces aren’t properly reassembled. The valve membrane is a very thin silicone flap that creates the vacuum suction needed to draw milk out. If it’s not attached just so, you may notice a decrease in suction strength. While inconvenient, you’ll get the hang of putting it together correctly pretty quickly. And despite these factors, the overall ease of use and convenience make this pump worth it for many parents. 

Lansinoh's manual breast pump is our runner up because it’s another great manual option that’s effective and relatively easy to use and assemble. We also love that it comes with two different flange sizes, standard 25mm and a large, 30mm (check out our flange guide if you’re not sure what size is right for you). The collection bottles can be used to feed baby with the nipple and ring attachments (which have one of the most ideal nipple shapes for correct latch, something that's important if you're switching between breast and bottle). You can even pump directly into the popular Lansinoh milk storage bags with this pump, making it super convenient. One Babylist parent wrote in their review, “This hand pump is the only hand pump I have been successful using.”

There are a couple of things that could be better when it comes to this pump, and ultimately they’re the reason it isn’t our best overall pick. The first being, it’s not as easy to use as the Harmony. In order to go from stimulation to expression mode, you have to adjust the white piece on the top of the handle.

Parents’ biggest gripe is the loss of suction after a few weeks or months of use. "It's been about two weeks and the pump has stopped suctioning as well as it did in the beginning. I’ve replaced the valve as recommended on [the] website and there’s still a hissing sound,” one Babylist parent said in their review. Another parent said, “I loved this pump at first. I felt like it emptied me out faster and with a higher output than my electric pump. I pump all the time. Little one was a NICU baby and never took to latching. Anyway, I am now very disappointed, it doesn't work right anymore. I even changed the valve but all it does is make a loud squeaking noise and barely any suction and dropping my supply.” (Note: I reached out to Lansinoh for advice to remedy this issue and will update this guide when I hear back from them.)

The Haakaa is a brilliantly simple tool for saving breast milk that would otherwise go to waste. It’s a one piece silicone pump though, it functions better as a milk catcher than a pump like the picks above (more on that in a bit).

Here's how it works: While you're feeding your baby on one breast, milk often leaks from your other breast—the Haakaa catches this milk instead of letting it soak into your nursing pad. Just suction the soft silicone cup onto the side you’re not pumping or feeding baby with, and it’ll gently draw out or catch the leaking milk. Many parents find it super helpful in building up a freezer stash without adding any extra pumping sessions. It's made from BPA-free silicone and is just one piece, meaning no complicated parts to clean or assemble (it’s also top-rack dishwasher safe).

Varisano says there are a few things to keep in mind when using the Haakaa, though. Since the suction can be pretty strong, you want to make sure you’re not attaching it so strongly that it becomes painful. It's meant to give just enough suction to encourage milk flow and stay attached. Be sure to reach out to a lactation consultant for support if you need help figuring it out. She also recommends using it as a tool to collect milk once your supply is well established, that way you’re not telling your body to make more milk than it needs, which can lead to an oversupply.

Although the Haakaa is called a pump, we think it's better used as an "active" milk collector. The Haakaa isn't as efficient at removing milk as manual pumps with handles (like the above picks), but can work in a pinch if it's all you have. The Haakaa's suction capability is what sets it apart from other milk collectors—it encourages more milk beyond catching what would already be leaking out. One Babylist parent wrote in their review about how pleased they were: “I was [amazed] at how much this [helped] me slowly build a breast milk supply for the freezer. It’s a small product but mighty with the output! It’s really effective and so easy to use.” Another Babylist parent said it was an essential for collecting their let down and they didn’t know they needed it until multiple friends told them about it. I too had this experience, not realizing how much use I’d get out of my Haakaa and pleasantly surprised by how helpful it was.

The biggest things parents say could be better is how spill-prone Haakaa is. One Babylist parent said the Haakaa’s design is, “Awkward and you risk leaking and spilling milk every time.” Because of its bulky design, babies have also been known to kick it off while nursing on the opposite breast. If you move a certain way, it’s also easy to break the seal, causing it to fall off and spill all over (speaking from experience here).

Although the newer visions feature a suction base meant to keep it upright when you set it on your counter or table, the Haakaa is top heavy. Many parents mention in their reviews they’ve accidentally tipped it over before they’re able to transfer the milk to a storage bag or bottle. Haakaa does sell a lid and a cute flower stopper to combat this, which I recommend going for if you want to try the Haakaa out. (The Haakaa linked here comes with a lid.) 

Anything that makes breastfeeding easier is a win, which is why we love these low-maintenance, wearable milk collectors from Boon. “I love how gentle and comfortable it is, allowing me to express milk effortlessly without any discomfort,” a Babylist parent said. The TROVE is designed to be worn inside of your nursing bra and is super helpful at catching your letdown on whichever breast you’re not pumping or feeding your baby from. It offers the slightest suction, which helps keep it in place and encourages a bit more milk to flow. (Thanks to that suction capability, this one wouldn't be considered passive collection, like the next pick). Parents also love that it’s super easy to clean—you can throw it in the dishwasher and the opening is big enough to get a brush in there when handwashing. It’s also a popular choice for parents who didn’t love the bulk of the Haakaa, since it can be worn inside of your bra. It's a great option for those looking for something they can use hands-free.

A few parents also mention how convenient these are when out and about: “Its compact size makes it perfect for on-the-go use, whether I'm at home, at work, or traveling.” They come in a single or double pack. I recommend going with the two-pack so you can keep one in your diaper or pumping bag for outings and one in your nursing cart at home.  Since they fit directly in your bra, they’re not as likely to shift out of place, or completely pop off like other options. “Can’t be kicked off as easily by baby like a Haakaa,” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. They’re not the most discreet (see our next pick for that), so folks might be able to tell you’re wearing them, if that matters to you.

Unlike the Haakaa which offers a few different capacity options, these only come in one volume and can hold up to three ounces. That’s likely enough for most lactating parents, but if you tend to have a faster letdown or a more robust milk supply, you might find yourself filling them up quickly. 

If you’re looking for a truly passive milk collector that’s hands-free and perfect for wearing on the go, the Elvie Catch is for you. These collectors have a soft silicone inner surface that molds comfortably to your breast while the outside is a harder plastic material. You won't find any suction on these, which is why they're considered passive—you're only going to collect what would naturally leak out during feeding on or pumping the other side.

They’re much thinner in profile compared to the Boon TROVE, Momcozy cups and Haakaa Ladybug milk catchers. Quite a few Babylist parents mention in their reviews how well they fit in their nursing bras, even for those with larger breasts. “I can wear them out and I’m not self conscious about them being in my bras!” a Babylist parent wrote. It also makes them a nice alternative to nursing pads for those who tend to leak heavily when feeding or pumping—it’s a great tool to save milk that would otherwise go to waste.

The biggest complaint among parents—though it’s not a dealbreaker—is that these cups will leak. “I would recommend not bending over until after you have emptied them out,” one Babylist parent wrote in their review. Since these don’t have any suction, they rely on the gentle pressure of your nursing bra to keep them put. Each cup only holds about an ounce, which might not be enough for those with a fast or heavy letdown.