Breastfeeding moms and professionals have been debating the manual vs electric breast pump saga for ages. The two types of breast pumps fall into two totally different categories and price range. While a manual breast pump is usually quite cheap, there are also some very nice affordable electric breast pumps.
There are a few factors that you will need to consider before making a choice. If you are going to be pumping at least once a day, then an electric pump will suit you better. Why not settle for both, an electric pump to do all the hard pumping and a manual pump to control and collect the letdown from the other breast.
Silicone Manual Breast Pump Review
These silicone manual breast pumps are inexpensive, simple and easy to keep clean and sterilized. They are ideal for use when traveling on long trips as they are portable and can be used discreetly. They also serve well as backup pumps for when your electric breast pump cannot be charged.
Who is this product for?
This pump is best for breastfeeding moms that won’t be pumping every day and will most likely only use it while traveling or to collect letdown from the spare breast while the baby is drinking. These breast pumps are the perfect back up choice in case of an emergency such as running out of battery life on the electric breast pump.
If you take a lot of short trips, lugging an electric breast pump around could become frustrating so it is easier to take a manual breast pump with you.
What’s included?
These are very basic breast pumps and they come in a pack of two, so your package should contain 2x Breast Suction Collection bottles and 2x Lids.
Overview of features
Because these manual breast pumps are so simple it makes it very easy to keep them clean and sterilize. They are made of PVC, BPA and Phthalate free materials, and there are no harmful chemicals to contaminate the milk. You will collect and store the milk in the same bottle lowering the risk of harmful bacteria getting into the milk.
The lid seals tightly and is an anti-dust lid that ensures that no dust gets into the collected milk. The manual breast pumps are compact and lightweight making them the best breast pump to use when traveling. The bottles are highly flexible so they will not break easily and the flexibility allows you to squeeze the bottles easily to get the suction going.
The manual breast pumps aren’t as powerful as the electric breast pumps, so it is less painful to use a manual pump. The manual pumps don’t require any batteries or power, so you can use them whenever and wherever you are. This is why it is a good idea to have both a manual and an electric breast pump.
How to get the most out of it
Before you get started pumping you need to ensure that your pumps are sterilized and clean. Once you have sterilized you can attach the pump to the nipple and squeeze the pump.
You will need to squeeze the pump quickly in succession about five times and then keep it still for about three seconds; this is necessary to get the sucking action going.
Once you have successfully started the suction the milk will start flowing into the bottle. You can repeat this until you have the desired amount of milk. Sterilizing and cleaning the bottles after each use will prolong the lifespan of the pumps and also prevent unwanted harmful bacteria from contaminating the milk.
What We Like
- Very simple design
- Easy to clean
- 100% food-grade silicone construction
What We Don’t Like
- Too simple for frequent use
- Not very ergonomic
Alternatives
If the manual breast pump is not for you and you are looking for a breast pump that is affordable but also more technologically advanced, then the Somek single electric breast pump may just be the best breast pump for you.
It is more expensive than these manual pumps, but it would be unreasonable to compare the two. Even though it a more expensive option it is still affordable and great value for money. The Somek breast pump has nine settings and a massage mode.
Conclusion
The manual pumps are inexpensive and are a good option for moms that will only be pumping occasionally or that want to use it to collect letdown from the other breast while the child is still feeding. The manual breast pumps will serve as a portable traveling pump to go everywhere; they will also be great as a back up when there are prolonged power outages and you are not able to recharge the battery. This is a practical, simple and cheap manual breast pump that is highly recommended as a backup breast pump.