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Breast Pumps: Ratings of Sources
Total of 19 Sources
1. Baby Bargains
Eighth Edition, 2009
Feeding: The Best Breast Pumps
by Denise and Alan Fields
Our Assessment "Baby Bargains" reviews a wide range of baby products, including 12 breast pumps. The authors do a good job of explaining the various types of pumps and their features. Ratings are based upon the authors' own research, manufacturer reputations and parent feedback. Recommendations are provided for manual, mini-electric and heavy-duty categories.
2. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment Readers are invited to post reviews of breast pumps at Amazon.com, where some models receive more than 500 reviews. While models such as the Avent Isis Manual, the Ameda Purely Yours and the Medela Pump In Style Original (now discontinued) all get high average ratings, Amazon.com is perhaps most helpful for identifying breast pumps to avoid.
3. Cerean.net
Not Dated
Our Favorite Pumps
by Editors of Cerean.net
Our Assessment

Cerean.net editors review manual, electric and hospital-grade pumps, but only heavy-duty pumps make it into their top six ranking. Their ratings seem to be based on research, manufacturer specifications and user feedback, but nothing explicitly says that. Cerean editors only review what they consider to be the best breast pumps, and they avoid brands that also sell baby formula. In addition to reviews and opinion, there's lots of good general information, how-to's, news items and support articles on this website.

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4. About.com
Not Dated
Top 5 Double Electric Breast Pumps
by Heather Corley
Our Assessment

Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, focuses on the best pumps for working mothers in particular, and evaluates relevant issues for each pump, such as ease of use, noise, and portability. Though it's not entirely clear whether or not her conclusions are based on any product testing, this list should represent a good starting point for moms concerned with pumping at the office. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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5. About.com
As of June 2009
Manual Breast Pumps
by Stephanie Brown
Our Assessment

Stephanie Brown, About.com's guide to babies and toddlers, discusses four manual breast pumps. Unlike a similar list by Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, Brown includes some notes on comfort and ease of use for some, but not all, of the breast pumps here. The Avent Isis Manual is her top pick. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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Breast Pump Review Guide
by Editors of Breastfeeding Magazine
Our Assessment

Breastfeeding Magazine contains detailed reviews of a few recommended breast pumps. Their top picks are the Medela Pump In Style Original, now discontinued, and the Avent Isis Manual. Unfortunately, only five pumps are reviewed, we're not sure who the reviewer is and this site's tight association with a retail website gives us pause. However, we did find some good instructional articles and how-to sections here.

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7. Babies 'R' Us
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to BabiesRUs.com
Our Assessment We found a large number of reviews here for breast pumps, but the site is more difficult to navigate than other retail sites like Amazon.com, and there is no way to quickly see how many ratings each pump has accumulated without clicking on the item.
8. Target.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Target.com
Our Assessment Target sells breast pumps from Medela, Avent, Playtex, and Evenflo, and readers are invited to leave reviews. As at BabiesRUs.com, there are a large number of reviews here, but a few breast pumps receive only a handful of reviews. As at Amazon and other sites, breast pumps from Evenflo and The First Years rate much lower than pumps from Avent and Medela.
9. ConsumerReports.org
April 2007
Breast Pumps
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our Assessment While there's excellent information here on the various types of breast pumps, Consumer Reports does not test or rate models. Editors list some leading brands and models, but don't actually make specific recommendations. Editors say that renting a breast pump can be a good solution if you don't anticipate needing to express milk for more than three months or so.
10. Viewpoints.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Our Assessment Viewpoints.com is a consumer-review site that uses narrative reviews and ratings to evaluate products and services against their rivals. Although the breast pumps listed here don't always get an overwhelming number of reviews, many of the ones that are included are thoughtful and detailed. The Medela Pump In Style Advanced and Original Pump In Style (now discontinued) are the standouts.
11. Breast-pumps.org
Not Dated
Compare Ameda, Medela, and Avent Brands
by Editors of Breast-pumps.org
Our Assessment

Although this review only evaluates five breast pumps, and it's not clear whether any product testing was done by editors, this chart contains some useful information not easily obtained through other sources. Features like number of suction and speed settings, cycle times, and included accessories are listed for each pump. Editors' favorites are the Avent Isis IQ Duo, Avent Isis IQ Uno, and the Ameda Purely Yours; they note that the Medela pumps listed don't get the nod because editors prefer a closed system that prevents contamination.

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12. About.com
Not Dated
Top 6 Electric Breast Pumps
by Robin Elise Weiss
Our Assessment

Robin Elise Weiss, About.com's guide to pregnancy and childbirth, lists six electric breast pumps and provides basic information on each. There is no evidence of testing, and the short write-ups provide only basic information about each breast pump model. Mothers are apt to find links to other breast-feeding articles on this channel more helpful than this list. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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13. Mumsnet.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Mumsnet.com
Our Assessment Mumsnet.com is geared toward European consumers, but there are several user reviews for the Medela Swing, the Medela Pump In Style and the Avent Isis. While there aren't as many reviews here as at Amazon.com, one nice aspect is that Mumsnet summarizes the average rating as well as the number of reviews on one page, so you can easily tell how many mothers have posted comments for each model.
14. Diapers.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Diapers.com
Our Assessment

Retail site Diapers.com offers user reviews of the breast pumps it sells. While many of the pumps listed here receive fewer than 10 reviews each, there are a few models that have a fairly large volume of useful reviews. The individual reviews can be helpful, if a bit short, but reviews for individual breast pumps are mixed together with those for parts and accessories and can be hard to find. Among breast pumps with at least a dozen reviews, the Medela Swing, Harmony and Pump In Style Advanced are the highest-rated.

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15. Berkeley Parents Network
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to Berkeley Parents' Network
Our Assessment Berkeley Parents Network is a site where parents and experts can post questions or answers on a wide variety of parenting issues, including a section on breast pumps with general information and a few brand recommendations. While there are very few reviews here, this is a nice non-commercial community website with some helpful parent-to-parent advice.
16. HappyMothers.com
As of June 2009
Best Electric Pumps for Breastfeeding Mothers
by Contributors to Happy Mothers
Our Assessment

Retail site HappyMothers.com includes product specifications for the breast pumps they sell, as well as a handful of user reviews. Most reviewers give very high ratings, even for models that don't so well on other user-review sites. It takes a lot of clicking to get to the reviews, and even then, some models only have one or two comments. Amazon.com is a better, more organized place to find user reviews.

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17. ConsumerGuide.com
As of June 2009
Baby Care Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment Only one breast pump, the Bailey Medical Deluxe Nurture III Double Electric pump, is reviewed at ConsumerGuide.com. While the reviewer gives this pump four points out of five, it's unclear whether or not there was any hands-on testing done. Most of the discussion centers on features and accessories rather than performance.
18. ProductReview.com.au
As of June 2009
Breast Pumps
by Contributors to ProductReview.com.au
Our Assessment Product Review is a user-review site based in Australia. Several breast pumps are reviewed, including the Avent Isis and the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, but most pumps earn only a few posts and some models are not available in the United States.
19. Breast Pump Comparisons.com
As of June 2009
Breast Pump Reviews
by Contributors to BreastPumpComparisons.com
Our Assessment BreastPumpComparisons.com has a handful of user reviews for breast pumps by Medela, Ameda, Playtex, The First Years, Dr. Brown's and Avent. Reviews are grouped by pump brand rather than by individual model, but there's a good balance between negative and positive ratings.

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