Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump

The Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump is a lightweight, compact option for moms who want to pump occasionally. Unlike most other manual pumps, Lansinoh offers two-phase pumping with let-down and expression modes, mimicking the patterns of breastfeeding. Since no two moms (or breasts) are the same, we really liked that this pump comes with shields in two sizes to help you find the most comfortable fit.

ASSEMBLY

While the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump comes mostly assembled, you'll need to do an initial sterilizing boil before using it. It's a good idea to pay attention to how things fit together when you're disassembling it, because it will make the first assembly that much easier. But don't worry too much about that—putting together this pump is straightforward and simple. In our lab tests, we found that the seven pieces of the pump—breast shield, body, silicone diaphragm, stem, handle, valve and collection bottle—fit together intuitively. All of our parent testers agreed, saying that the instructions were simple to follow and that the pump was easy to assemble. Our mom testers also said the bottles attached easily and securely to the rest of the pumping kit, and most were able to quickly start pumping after sterilizing the pump. One mom even noted that she was surprised by how simple everything was compared to her electric pump.

COMFORT

Most of the moms who tested the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump said that they were able to pump without discomfort, and all were able to sit comfortably while pumping. One tester even said this pump is more comfortable than her double electric breast pump.

The pump comes with a 25-mm and a 30.5-mm Lansinoh ComfortFit Flange (breast shield), which has a soft, flexible edge. All of our mom testers were able to fit one of the flanges comfortably against their breasts, and none experienced any nipple pain, cracking or bleeding while testing this pump.

PUMPING

The Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump allows you to switch between let-down and expression phases while pumping. To do this, you have to push down on the top front of the handle until it clicks into place on the lowest rung of the pump's white stem (attached to the silicone diaphragm on the Flange Body)—but this can be a little tricky while pumping. None of our parent testers reported any major difficulties getting an airtight seal between the flange and their breast, however one mom told us it was difficult to get good suction, and she didn't find her breast felt fully drained after pumping. The other moms who tested this pump didn't have the same difficulty, and most found the two-phase pumping feature to be effective.

There was no crying over spilt milk with this pump: All of our parent testers strongly agreed that removing the bottle from the pump without spilling any breastmilk was a piece of cake. And only one reported leaking when pumping, but she described it as a dribble every so often.

If you think you'll be using this pump at night—or if you're buying it as a back-up in the event of power outages—it's useful to know that the majority of our mom testers think it's easy to use in the dark or low-light environments.

NOISE

The Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump was one of the quietest manual pumps we tested. The only noise is the soft sound of the silicone diaphragm stretching with each pump compression. All of our parent testers agreed that they would describe the noise level as “not very loud,” and none felt that this pump would be loud enough to wake a sleeping baby or partner.

CLEANING

While many of the pump's parts are dishwasher-safe, Lansinoh advises parents to wash the smaller, more delicate pieces like the valve, diaphragm, stem and ComfortFit Flange by hand. You especially want to be careful with the small valve as it's a key component in creating the suction you need to pump effectively. (If your valve does get damaged, a replacement comes with the pump.) Only one of our parent testers found the pump somewhat difficult to clean by hand.

DESIGN

The Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump is compact and lightweight, and was described by our parent testers as very sleek. Many of our mom testers said it's great for pumping on the go and that it would be a good option when you're travelling (on a trip, you never know where your next power outlet might be).

FINAL WORD

Our parent testers rated the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump’s quality and ease of use as very good, and were very satisfied with it overall. They all said they would they purchase this pump and recommend it to other moms or moms-to-be. In our lab testing, we found this mid-price-range manual pump is quiet and easy to assemble and clean. All things considered, the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump offers moms a quality option for pumping when they're away from their little one or need a back-up for an electric pump.