Multitasking mothers will adore these wearable breast pumps that make life just a little bit easier.
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Every second is worth its weight in gold when you're a new parent, and products that make it easy to multitask will be your new best friend. Those that choose to breastfeed will likely be spending hours a day breastfeeding and pumping, which means having the right breast pump for you can make that experience a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.
Hands-free breast pumps can give breastfeeding parents the opportunity to go untethered while pumping, giving you more freedom to use your pumping time however you see fit. While you can't exactly run laps since you'll have to be careful that they don't leak, parents can fold some laundry or engage in some gentle chores while doing double duty.
Most of our top picks are wearable or wireless, and while they may not be completely hidden or totally silent, they're definitely more discreet than the average pump and can be used while on the go. These recommendations have been extensively researched and tested by parents and nursing experts based on their ease of use, comfort and effectiveness. In fact, one of our lead testers spent over 1,000 hours pumping for her three children over a five-year period.
Hands-free breast pumps consist of many of the same parts as regular pumps (motor, flanges, collection containers). The difference is they don't require you to hold the containers or pump in place while using. With the addition of a special pumping bra, most regular pumps can be turned hands-free, but the benefit of using a hands-free specific pump is that you'll be able to use the pump without any additional pumping bra, and you'll be able to multitask when using it. Wearable hands-free pumps can be inserted into your typical bra or shirt and worn around the house, and wireless hands-free pumps allow you to collect milk without having to be tethered to the wall or an external power source, like a battery pack, so you can move around without worrying about getting tangled or pulled.
The parenting experts at Good Housekeeping Institute work with real breastfeeding parents and parenting experts to test all types of pumps, from manual breast pumps to electric options, as well as hands-free pumping bras, to help you pick out what's right for you and your lifestyle. "In general, if you are concerned a bit less with output, hands-free pumps could be a good back-up or travel option," explains Rachel Rothman, GH's former chief technologist and executive technical director. You'll likely produce less in the same amount of time and because not all hands-free pumps are equipped to hold as many ounces, they're a great alternative for those that are looking for a compact pump to take on the road.
Check out our reviews, then head to the end of this guide to read more about how we test and what to consider when shopping for a hands-free pump. After, read our experts' advice on how to design a nutrition-backed breastfeeding diet.
There's something about the Elvie that moms simply adore. Aside from being wearable, hands-free, dishwasher-safe and electric, it's also comfortable and discreet. Our testers report that they could do three pumping sessions on a single charge and love how easy it is to use the Elvie app to adjust pumping intensity and monitor how much milk they've expressed. Thanks to its sleek design that's neither bulky nor heavy, you can easily wear this pump while walking around your house.
One thing to keep in mind is that if the pump isn't properly aligned, it won't work at all. You may end up wearing it for a few minutes before you notice that nothing is coming out because there is no notification in the app to alert you of misalignment. But the Elvie's motor is quieter than other options, which makes it fairly inconspicuous. One of our testers said, "Sometimes when I'm wearing it under my shirt I feel like it's obvious, but no one else can notice which is pretty cool."
This budget-friendly, all-in-one pump from Momcozy uses two modes and nine levels to help you express milk. The pump doesn't require any additional tech or an app to get it working, so there's no need to download anything, free up storage on your phone, or lug around. The automatic shutdown feature turns the pump off every 20 minutes, which means you'll never have to worry about turning it off if you fall asleep or get distracted.
Since the motor sits directly on top of the cup, it will likely peek out of the top of your shirt or be visible beneath clothes, making it a better choice for those who are pumping at home or in a private location. While the brand states that the pump can hold up to six ounces of milk, reviewers suggest that it's best to sit down and refrain from moving after you've pumped about four ounces to avoid spillage. Note: The Momcozy pump doesn't stop pumping when full, so keep an eye on it to avoid overflow.
Pump in style with the HSA- and FSA-eligible Willow Go wearable pump that's as easy to clean as it is to use. Its dishwasher-safe parts make it a breeze to wash once finished, and we found it to be a valuable addition to any multitasking mom's arsenal. Our testers love how much the Go can hold making it great for high producers: up to 7 ounces per side if you choose to purchase the larger containers separately. We particularly like the sleek design of the pump which features a clear front section so you can see how much milk you've accumulated.
The biggest draw for this pump are the nine exceptional pumping levels. "It's really nice to have the ability to adjust, and level nine is very high powered for a cordless pump," says mom Stefani Sassos, Good Housekeeping's Director of the Nutrition Lab. While the higher pumping levels can get a bit loud and the app doesn't do quite as much as some of the others (it only really tells you how long you've been pumping and the suction level you're using), this is a good option for the on-the-go mom since it's one of the least obvious under your clothes and it can be used with any USB charger.
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This pump packs a big punch, and uses an external motor to keep it going (no phone access required). The external pump can easily be clipped onto your waistband and features a programmable sleep timer for automatic shutoff. It also uses some handy noise reduction tech, so it's as quiet and discreet as possible. The Freemie may look small, but each cup can hold up to eight ounces of milk.
Unlike other similar hands-free pumps, the Freemie Liberty II doesn't use an app to control your pumping process but instead has an external motor with an LCD screen that displays all your important pumping information. This way, you won't have to worry about depleting your phone battery. Although the brand notes this pump has a reasonable battery life of 2.5 hours, online reviewers found that the battery can drain pretty quickly. If it's not fitting right — which you'll recognize if you experience any pain, your nipple is not centered in the tube or you're unable to express all your milk — you can purchase one of the 12 different sized FitMie inserts that help adjust the flange size.
Medela's Pump in Style delivers a lot of power through a small battery pack. This double electric pump uses two-phase expression technology to mimic natural breastfeeding patterns to increase milk extraction in less time. Our testers particularly loved how easy it was to clean this pump and noted that it achieves some of the best output compared to similar Medela models. The MaxFlow micro-vibrations and strong motor help increase efficiency and testers love that it's comfortable, has strong suction and is fuss-free to position so you can get milk flow started quickly.
The pump also comes as a complete kit featuring a portable pump setup, bag, ice pack, bottles and other accessories so you don't have to worry about buying anything separately—and everything packs easily into the shoulder bag for traveling or commuting. One thing to keep in mind is that this pump is not wire-free; it uses an external battery pack to power up.
No more worrying about forgetting to charge. The battery-free Elvie Curve doesn't require any electricity, apps, battery packs or other technology to get it up and running, making it great for road trips or anywhere you may find yourself off the beaten path. This manual option can be used wherever at any time, and you'll never have to worry about a dead battery getting in the way of your pumping.
While this pump is better for milk catching than strong pumping, it provides gentle, natural suction that helps express milk. With a single press on the pouch, you can increase the natural suction, and it features a valve that controls the level of suction. It only holds up to four ounces of milk and can take a bit more time to get used to, but our testers love the flexibility of this pump. It's easy to clean since you can pop it right into the dishwasher. And unlike most other manual pumps, it can be worn directly in your bra.
Spectra has an impressive line of breast pumps, but this rechargeable, hands-free version is portable and flexible to use. Good Housekeeping's former Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman found this pump to be particularly helpful during weaning since it isn't quite as intense as Spectra's S1 (which we rated as one of our favorite overall breast pumps) or S2. Although it's not as powerful, we appreciated that its pieces are interchangeable with other Spectra pumps so if you're an S1 loyalist, you'll be able to use and adapt to this hands-free one quite easily.
The pump includes a LCD display with a timer and Natural Nursing Technology that imitates a newborn's natural sucking. It's especially great during weaning or if you're feeling sensitive since we found it to provide relief and able to get milk flowing gently. It's one of the only ones on this list that uses external tubing to connect to the motor so there may be a greater chance of getting tangled while storing and using.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab tests everything new parents need to help welcome your new baby, including bottle warmers, nursing bras and baby formula. To decide on our recommendations, we query new moms on our consumer testing panel about their experiences, do rigorous testing in our Lab and at home, and spend hours reading through dozens of five-star reviews online to help surface the best products you can buy.
For each pump, we consider comfort, ease of use and additional benefits, including how difficult it is to disassemble, wash, transport and store. We also factored in how easy it was to transfer the milk from the pump to a bottle without spillage — a few times, our reviewers did end up crying over spilled milk! Our parenting product experts have tested most of the pumps on this list — in fact, one of our lead testers has personally pumped for over 1,000 hours among her three kids over the past five years.
There are a few important things to consider when you're picking out the right hands-free pump for you:
✔️ Comfort: Ensuring that your pump fits properly, maintains a strong suction and extracts milk painlessly will make all the difference in your pumping sessions. Many pumps come with flanges, also called shields, in different sizes (24mm is usually considered standard) that allow you to find the right one to fit your nipple. If you're new to pumping, it's smart to get at least two breast flange sizes if you're uncertain which will fit best, in advance of baby's arrival. Flanges are measured in millimeters, so take the metric side of a ruler and measure the width across the base of your nipple (not counting the areola) to find your ideal size. Remember to round up a few millimeters since you don't want any discomfort or rubbing. Some pumps, like the Willow, have a nipple sizing guide to make sure you're using the right one.
✔️ Effectiveness: Aside from selecting a pump that makes multitasking more manageable, you'll want to find one that expresses all of your milk in a quick, efficient manner. Opt for one with strong suction and a variety of settings to choose from so you can experiment to determine which is the most comfortable and effective. Also look for a let-down mode, which is a lighter, quieter setting that helps get your milk ready to flow at the start of pumping.
✔️ Purpose: If you're looking for something that you can get away with wearing out and about, choose a quieter, smaller product. While some of the bulkier pumps can clearly be seen through your shirt, they're still comfortable and convenient for wearing around the house.
✔️ Ease of use: Take into account how easy it is to clean and assemble the pump before and after each use as well as how easily the milk pours into bottles for use or storage. You'll want a pump that is user-friendly and doesn't take too much of a learning curve to work accurately, especially if it comes with an app.
For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on everything a new parent needs, including hands-free breast pumps.
This article was written by Jamie Spain, a writer and product analyst who has reviewed many parenting products for Good Housekeeping, as well as BuzzFeed and People.
Jamie worked closely with lead testers and real-life moms Rachel Rothman and Stefani Sassos to conduct the research for this article. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products for the GH Institute. Stefani uses her knowledge as a nutritionist to test and evaluate content on healthy living. She has also personally tested many of the parenting products GH recommends.
Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.
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