Manual Breast Pumps

Inexpensive manual pumps are fine for occasional use

Manual breast pumps are significantly less expensive than double-sided electric pumps, and experts say they may be the right choice for moms who only want to pump occasionally or while on the go. Because manual pumps can only express one side at a time, reviewers say they take longer to express milk and can be tiring (and tedious) to use. Still, this style is small, portable and easy to set up. Several reviewers on Amazon.com talk of buying two manual pumps so they can express milk from both breasts simultaneously -- an option that is generally cheaper, if more labor-intensive, than buying a double-sided electric pump. And some working moms write that they buy both a double-sided electric pump for the office and a manual pump for briefer trips away from the baby, though this is quite an investment.

The Philips Avent Manual (*Est. $50) is well liked by expert reviewers, including Stephanie Brown, About.com's guide to toddlers, who calls it inexpensive, comfortable and easy to operate. (Note that this product was formerly sold as the Avent Isis Manual, a name that is being phased out.) The pump is also popular among moms posting reviews to Amazon.com, where it has more than 600 reviews under its previous name. Some moms say it's as efficient as a double-sided electric pump, although the Avent Manual only pumps one side at a time. But several reviewers on Amazon.com say they had problems with a valve on this pump popping out, and others complain about lack of suction. The Avent Manual Breast Pump typically comes with one or two 4-ounce bottles, depending on the online seller. One thing to keep in mind is that you must use Avent bottles with this pump, or purchase adapters to use different bottles.

The Medela Harmony (*Est. $35) is also a mom favorite, garnering slightly higher -- if fewer -- reviews on Amazon.com. About.com's Stephanie Brown considers it comparable to the Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump, and recommends it for moms who wish to use standard bottles. Reviewers on Amazon.com and Target.com consider it easier to clean than the Avent Manual, though fewer of them rave about its efficiency. As with the Avent Manual pump, some moms report problems with suction. A handful also report breaking parts, including the handle. On the whole, reviewers appear to consider the Harmony equivalent to the Avent Manual in performance and reliability, but with one key difference -- the Harmony is about $15 cheaper. For that reason we give it the title of Best Reviewed among manual breast pumps.