If you’re looking for an effective way to express milk, a manual breast pump is your best bet. While electric breast pumps are a quicker method of expressing, generally speaking, like many things – they aren’t for everyone.
Although a lot of the electric breast pumps have adjustable suction speeds, some women still find them uncomfortable (understandably) and would rather control the speed themselves; if you said a resounding hell yeah to that, a manual is the way to go for you.
Not only do you have more control with a manual pump, they are often much more affordable, smaller in size and most importantly; don’t sound like the office printer with a paper jam.
We’ve rounded up the best manual breast pumps you can buy right now.
Best manual breast pumps 2019
1. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
For mums who mostly breastfeed and are constantly on the go, the Medela Harmoney manual breast pump is a great and inexpensive option for expressing milk for your baby.
The Medela Harmony uses a two phase expression technology, which emulates the natural behaviour of a feeding baby – offering mum maximum comfort.
This lightweight breast pump is perfect for travelling with, as it’s manual it’s also super silent so you can discreetly and comfortably express.
Price: £19.99, John Lewis – buy here now
2. Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
The Haakaa manual breast pump is 100% food grade silicone, eco-friendly and extremely compact.
It isn’t entirely a ‘pump’ but serves well as an alternative to breast pads – so you won’t be left a leaky mess or waste any of your babies precious milk.
As you are feeding baby on one side, you simply hold the Haakaa to the other breast. Because your feeding baby has already stimulated the milk flow, you can sit back, relax and collect the (let down) milk as it flows from the other side.
Pretty nifty and for under £13 this is a gadget well worth the investment.
Price: £12.99, Amazon – buy here now
3. Ardo Double Pumpset
If you have multiple babies or one very hungry baby, a double pump will allow you to collect more milk – quicker and more efficiently.
The pumps have a closed collection system that is impermeable in both directions, which is just a fancy way of saying the technology prevents contamination of both the milk and the breast pump.
Collect more milk in almost half the time, the pumps are also small enough to take with you in a bag in you’re on the go or away travelling.
Price: £25.99, Argos – buy here now
4. Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump
The Lansinoh manual breast pump is easy to assemble, easy to use and even simpler to clean when you’re finished expressing.
The pump has two modes, the expression mode allows you to easily express milk and let down mode allows you to efficiently collect let down milk – so you never have to worry about wasting milk.
Included in the pack is a natural wave bottle teat, which has been designed to encourage your baby to use the instinctive feeding motions learned at the breast.
Price: £22.47, Ebay – buy here now
5. Tommee Tippee Manual Breast Pump
Tommee Tippee is one of the nations top brands for mums and hungry babies alike, at £12 this manual breast pump is a complete steal you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
The three part manual pump is ideal to quickly assemble and to take apart for easy cleaning. It has a soft silicone cup, that makes expressing as comfortable as babies natural suckling motion.
The pack also includes an easi-vent 150 ml bottle, a milk storage pot, six disposable breast pads and a sterilising box.
Price: £12, Amazon – buy here now
6. Philips Avent Comfort Manual Breast Pump
This manual breast pump from brand Philips Avent has a unique design which enables you to comfortably express milk even when sitting up right – no need to worry about spilling milk anymore.
The ergonomically designed shape allows you to comfortably hold and press the expression handle with ease.
If you already have products from Philips Avent, the pump is fully compatible with other accessories from the ranges.
Price: £39.99, Argos – buy here now
7. Nuby Manual Breast Pump
The Nuby breast pump is an affordable, lightweight design that will help you get the most from your expressing journey.
The pump is small enough to carry with you wherever you go, and it’s super silent so you won’t have to worry about not being discreet.
Included in the pack is an anti-colic bottle, an Uber dummy and six disposable breast pads.
For under £10, you won’t find a cheaper deal – this is one to snap up whilst you can.
Price: £9.99, Boots – buy here now
8. MAM Manual Breast Pump
The MAM manual breast pump is a perfect blend of design and functionality.
A suction controller on the device allows you to adjust the speed in which the suction operates, offering you maximum comfort to your personal preference.
The breast pump also has an adjustable funnel that you can set the position of according to where it sits comfortably on you, soft feeling breast pads within the funnel allow a secure fit and a soothing sensation on the skin whilst expressing.
Price: £30, Amazon – buy here now
9. Mothercare Manual Breast Pump
Mothercare’s manual breast pump comes with an 150ml bottle and has been designed with a soft silicone shell to soothe sore and sensitive nipples.
If you’d like a simple and silent solution for expressing milk, this is a great contender.
Along with the pump, included in the pack is an anti-colic bottle and a soft flow teat – to help baby transition easily from breast to bottle.
Price: £18, Mothercare – buy here now
10. NUK Jolie Manual Breast Pump
The NUK Jolie breast pump has a sweet design and was made with function and purpose in mind.
The ergonomic design ensures that the expressing movement is easier – with a simple to operate handle that will allow you to manually express using just one hand.
The soft silicone cushion inside of the pump moulds to fit the shape of your breast, making expressing comfortable and natural for you.
The pump is easy to assemble and take apart, for super convenient cleaning it’s also dishwasher safe.
Price: £29.99, Argos – buy here now
