Best Breast Pump Reviews 2018

The price of a breast pump depends on various factors. For example, if the pump is electrical instead of manual, it will be more sophisticated, have more functions and obviously cost a little bit more. Similarly, some manufacturers include the full arsenal of accessories and not only will you get a breast pump, but the kit might contain a tote bag, baby bottles, battery packs and more. Such kits are more expensive, but they include everything you need in one package.

To give you numbers, expect to pay between around $25 and $250 for a high-quality breast pump. The market also offers you cheap breast pumps, usually priced below 20 dollars, but they are not worthy of your money. Such pumps might be made from poor-quality materials which weren’t approved by the FDA, so you definitely don’t want something like that on your skin and contaminating your baby’s sole source of nourishment.

Let's go ahead now and look at more details when it comes to breast pumps, to learn how to differentiate them and pick the one you really need.

• Type - Lots of breast pumps are manual, meaning that once you place the cup over your breast, you manually pump the bottle to extract the milk. Other pumps are electrical and come with multiple suction modes. Lastly, some pumps are designed as bras and they are preferred by many mothers.
• Number of Pumps - You can opt for a single breast pump in the package that extracts milk from one breast at a time or you can go for double pumps which extract simultaneously.
• Accessories - As mentioned earlier, some kits include baby bottles, bags and other accessories in the package, allowing you to have everything handy when you need it the most.
• Warranty - Manufacturers usually back up their products with a warranty period of 1 year, but you might also find warranties with periods of 2 or 3 years.

If this is the first time you are buying a breast pump, ask yourself if you need a manual or electric one. For example, if you are usually at home with plenty of time to relax, a manual pump might do the job just fine for you. On the other hand, if you are a busy mother, an electric pump will allow you to have your hands free to do something else. It is up to you what you choose.

We are happy to mention that pretty much all breast pumps include a soft silicone cushion which basically "embraces" your breast, so that no milk drops are spilled on the floor. This cushion takes the shape of your breast and it can even gently massage it, facilitating milk flow.

Prestigious manufacturers use only BPA-free and FDA-approved materials when creating their breast pumps, and this is something you should be on the lookout for. You don’t want a pump which contains lead or chemicals that might alter the quality of the milk. Manual pumps also include a small handle you press regularly to extract the milk. If you go for an electric one, this pump will do it automatically and you can select from multiple vacuuming options, depending on your preferences.

Some sophisticated electrical pumps even allow you to select independent suction levels for each pump and they usually incorporate an anti-backflow feature. If you go for a breast pump kit, these might include removable cooler bags which basically keep the milk at the correct temperature for a prolonged period of time. The cooler bag itself works with batteries or it can be connected to a power outlet while you're indoors.

We also want to give special mention to breast pump bras which are very similar to regular bras, just that they allow you to extract milk pretty much everywhere, even in public places. Breast pump bras are available in multiple sizes and colors and have special openings where the cushion of the pump goes. You can connect the bra to an electric pump, so that it extracts automatically while you are working on the computer, eating or doing something else with your hands. Clever, huh?

At the end of the day, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out that breast pumps give you more peace of mind, make the extraction process easier and allow you to always have a spare milk bottle whenever your little ones need it. These products are seriously tested and approved by FDA (especially if you buy from a prestigious manufacturer) and they usually come with warranty periods of 1 year. Before wrapping it up, we want to mention that all these products, including the breast pump bras are easily washable (breast pump bras are even machine washable) and they are usually compact and lightweight, so you can take them with you wherever you go.