How To Use A Haakaa Breast Pump - BabyCenter

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Nursing & Feeding

How to use the Haakaa: my honest review of the popular manual breast pump Michelle Stein

Written by Michelle Stein | Aug 23, 2024BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links. A woman uses a Haakaa pump in this photo

A woman uses a Haakaa pump in this photo

Photo credit: HaakaaEverything we recommend

Nursing moms love the Haakaa: Better than electric?
How to use the Haakaa: It's a multipurpose pump.
I tried the Haakaa: And here's what happened
How does the Haakaa work?: It's all about suction.
The easy-to-use original: Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
A time-saving improvement: Haakaa Generation 3 Manual Breast Pump & Bottle
Neck strap keeps things together : Lansinoh Breast-Milk Collector
Bottle included : Dr. Brown's Silicone One-Piece Breast Pump
Suctions to your table : Nuby Comfort Portable & Lightweight All-Silicone Breast Pump
Great manual flattens the learning curve: NatureBond Manual Breast Pump
Looking for more information on breast pumps?: Links and helpful information

Have you ever heard of the Haakaa breast pump? If you haven't, allow me to introduce you to the breast-milk-extracting wonder that has mothers raving. Some moms even claim they can pump more breast milkOpens a new window using this simple manual tool than they can with their electric pumpsOpens a new window.

No wonder the Haakaa, an affordable soft silicone breast pump that's about the size of a water bottle, has made such waves in the pump market. It requires no power, is totally silent, and works remarkably well. I break down how to use this manual breast pumpOpens a new window based on my own personal experience.

Why trust us?

BabyCenter's reviews are created based on parents' real-life experiences using products - experiences of editors and writers who are parents themselves, and also of the millions of parents and pregnant women who make up the BabyCenter Community. Our editorial team uses these insights, as well as feedback from the doctors and other experts on our Medical Advisory Board, to give you accurate and fact-based information, including the pros and cons of different products. That way, you can decide what's best for you and your family. Learn more

Nursing moms love the Haakaa

Better than electric?

Photo credit: Thinkstock

Moms in the BabyCenter Community have been buzzing about the Haakaa for a while. The first woman to post on a thread about the HaakaaOpens a new window shared a photo of a completely full pump, writing:

"I don't know if this existed when I had my other babies, but I only discovered it this year. It's freaking awesome! It's a soft silicone pump (sort of?) that you squeeze and put on your boob. The suction pumps milk out. Here's what I just got from using it while my little one nursed on the other side."

Another user replied, saying:

"That looks so awesome!!! And no fiddly parts to replace...I've always just used a manual pump since I'm a SAHM and only pump for date nights, appts etc...but then I practically buy a new manual pump for every baby because I'm missing something or can't be bothered to replace parts."

How to use the Haakaa

It's a multipurpose pump.

Photo credit: Haakaa

It seems there are a number of ways the Haakaa pump can be useful to breastfeeding moms.

Many prefer to use it while they're nursing, to collect milk from the other breast that would have otherwise leaked and been absorbed into a breast padOpens a new window.
Others use it mainly to relieve engorgementOpens a new window. "It helped so much with my engorgement and usually gives me enough milk throughout the day to fill a 6-oz freezer bag and a 4-oz bottle for my husband to do a feed so I can nap," one mom wrote. "No extra time and super easy to clean. P.S., we are 6 days postpartum."
Still others squeeze the base, using suction like they would with any manual pump to build a milk stash. "I'm at 15 days postpartum and I already have about 70 oz in my freezer, and that's just from using it a couple of times per day," another mom wrote.

I tried the Haakaa

And here's what happened

Photo credit: Michelle Stein

After seeing the Haakaa pop up again and again on breastfeeding support groups that I follow, I knew I had to test it out.

It's made from 100 percent medical-grade silicone. And the best part? It's all one piece, making it super easy to set up (just grab it and pop it on your breast!) and clean (it's dishwasher safe, or can be sterilized with boiling water).

Because it has zero parts to assemble, the Haakaa is incredibly portable and therefore great for vacations, taking to work, or just tossing in your purse when you're on the go. It would be perfect, too, for discreet pumping on an airplane or handy during a long-distance car drive, if you don't have access to an outlet. As a marathon runner, I would even consider carrying one with me during a race, if I had a younger baby and my breasts were filling more quickly.

How does the Haakaa work?

It's all about suction.

Photo credit: BabyCenter

According to Haakaa's website, you "simply suction to your breast and let the pump do the work for you as it draws your milk using suction ... Once the pump is secure and comfortable, you can squeeze the base of the pump (not interfering with the top/suction) to create some movement."

For me, it seemed to work best when my daughter was nursing out of one breast and the Haakaa was suctioned to the other. After a couple of minutes – and with a little bit of squeezing the pump base – I was able to get a nice flow going. (I didn't try to pump too much because I don't actually need to build a stash for my 17-month-old.)

It's silent, too. So you can pump even if your little one happens to fall asleep on the boob without having to worry about the whirring of an electric pump awakening your snoozing cherub.

Here's the icing on the cake: You can snag one of these nifty pumps on Amazon for less than $13Opens a new window. For that price, it seems silly not to try one out, especially if other pumps haven't been working well for you. (Note: There is also a selection of lids, stoppers, and bases for the pump to suit your needs.)

Whether you are trying to save every last ounce of precious milk during regular nursing sessions, need a pump for travelingOpens a new window, or are desperate to find a pump that actually works for you, the Haakaa could be a good option. All in all, this breastfeeding mama gives it two thumbs up.

The Haakaa's success has meant that competitors have sprung up. Here's what we've seen and our honest thoughts for each.

The easy-to-use original

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$13	AmazonOpens a new window
$13	WalmartOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Only one piece, so it's easy to use and clean
Made from premium food grade silicone
Helps relieve engorgement
Very quiet

Heads up

Some moms say suction could be stronger (and can easily be kicked off by baby when simultaneously breastfeeding)
Can be a bit uncomfortable at first, especially if you're new to pumping

For under $13, the original Haakaa is a wonderful, portable, low-stress helper that's great to have around. It's comprised of just one piece, so it's not only easy to use and bring with you, it's also easy to clean — which is important for busy moms. It's designed to help relieve engorgement. However, some moms say the suction could be stronger compared to other pumps they have used and can easily be kicked off by baby if you're breastfeeding on the other side at the same time.

What parents sayCommunity reviews

yYay4JulyI really liked the haakaa, I believe I had the original one/the one with the flower stopper. It really helped when I was engorged and with clogged ducts. I also built up a really big freezer supply. It was a must-have for me and I took it with me everywhere I went and used it on the opposite side almost every feeding.
mMaosLostSox
When you put the haakaa on, you pull the flange back, squeeze the base, and place it over the nipple you aren't feeding from. Releasing the flange over the nipple provides a light suction on that nipple while your baby feeds. It encourages let-down and catches about 2 to 3 ounces if you're a solid producer. If you start off with lower production, pulling a little extra milk can help address that but an additional pumping session is better. The one thing to watch for is to try to combine what you catch with the haakaa with other pumped milk from that day or ensuring that your baby doesn't just drink milk pumped with the haakaa in a 24 hour period. The haakaa doesn't do a great job getting to hind milk, which is higher in fat and important for baby's nutrition.
ttarabyte
As for pumping, if you're already dealing with a strong letdown and oversupply, I'd get a Haakaa. Super cheap and won't stimulate a ton more milk. I've collected several gallons of milk already with mine, because my little won't nurse on my left side at all, lol. With oversupply and OALD, you could probably really easily collect enough for the occasional bottle without having to pump.

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A time-saving improvement

Haakaa Generation 3 Manual Breast Pump & Bottle

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$43	AmazonOpens a new window
$43	WalmartOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Pumps directly into a detachable bottle to avoid spilling precious milk
Comes in 5- and 8-oz. sizes

Heads up

More expensive than the original version

If you're willing to pay a bit more (about $40), Haakaa now offers a Generation 3 silicone breast pump that allows moms to pump directly into a detachable silicone bottle. No need to transfer milk (and potentially spill some of your precious hard-earned stash). Just screw the pump part off the bottle, screw on the (included) top with nipple, and feed. You can buy the Gen 3 in 5- or 8-ounce sizes.

Neck strap keeps things together

Lansinoh Breast-Milk Collector

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$12	AmazonOpens a new window
$15	WalmartOpens a new window
$12	TargetOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Includes neck strap to ensure no milk is spilled
Also super affordable, like the Haakaa
Made from food-grade silicone that's dishwasher-safe

Heads up

Doesn't pump directly into a bottle (but it does include a cap to use before transferring)

This model from Lansinoh is very similar to the Haakaa, but adds a little twist with a neck strap that makes sure the pump won't fall off and spill if you should move the wrong way, and a cap that fits on the top if you need to walk away before you can empty your milk from the pump into a bottle or storage container.

What parents sayCommunity reviews

aAMR2024
I decided to try using a Lansinoh manual hand pump to see what would happen, and voilà! I have gotten 3 ml each session over 3 days, for a total of 9 ml so far! The pump feels more gentle than using my hands, albeit, I am not squeezing the handle all the way either. I use the let-down feature for a minute after massaging my breast, then I switch it to pump mode and just gently squeeze the handle until I see droplets appear.
dDreamymizI use the Lansinoh manual pump, and I love it! I’m a little bit of an over producer, but when I manual pump, I feel like I get a lot more milk out than hands-free, pumping or standard pumping. I haven’t touched my plug-in pump in over a month because I have been using my manual pump. I get anywhere between one and 4 ounces from each breast, while pumping.
aanh01 I also use a hand pump for most of my pumping now. It’s a Lansinoh pump, and their bottle nipples are also great for breastfeeding (gently sloped).
00413ECWI actually ended up with a lansinoh hand pump which was fantastic to have extra parts that worked for both pumps and to have the same options of being able to pump into milk bags or my preferred bottles. With my first baby I found the hand pump easier simply because even with the wrong sized flange I could better control the pump and could use my other hand to massage the breast for slightly better output. Hand pumps are a good option to have for emergencies, travel, back up if your regular pump dies suddenly, etc. You can probably get away without getting the hand pump until you actually need it especially since they are pretty readily available in stores.

Bottle included

Dr. Brown's Silicone One-Piece Breast Pump

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$16	AmazonOpens a new window
$13	WalmartOpens a new window
$13	TargetOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Can use with or without air-venting tubes
Also includes a travel bag for added portability
Top-rack dishwasher safe
Some moms say it feels more lightweight than the Haakaa

Heads up

Some moms say this version lost suction at times (but it worked great for others)

Dr. Brown's, the maker of the famous colic-soothing baby bottlesOpens a new window, sweetens the deal for its one-piece manual pump by including an Options+ Anti-Colic Baby Bottle and a travel bag to keep everything handy. The Options+ bottle comes with one of Dr. Brown's air-venting tubes, but you can use the bottle with or without the tube (thus, options). It's made from BPA-free silicone that's top-rack dishwasher safe and some moms say it feels more lightweight than the Haakaa.

Suctions to your table

Nuby Comfort Portable & Lightweight All-Silicone Breast Pump

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$10	AmazonOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Stays secure on a surface until you can empty the milk into a bottle or bag
Cheapest option we recommend

Heads up

Not as widely available as other brands on this list

It's not as widely available as some of the other competitors on this list, but the Nuby pump is an even greater bargain – under $10! – and comes with a stopper to keep the milk inside. The bottom is a suction cup, too, to keep it secure on a table until you can empty out the milk.

Great manual flattens the learning curve

NatureBond Manual Breast Pump

Photo credit: AmazonBuying options:

$13	AmazonOpens a new window

Registry options:Add to Amazon registryOpens a new window

Highlights

Includes how-to manual, which is great for beginners
Includes everything you need: neck strap, pump, stopper, strap-on cap, and travel bag

Heads up

Not as widely available as other brands

NatureBond pulls together everything a silicone-pump user could ask for, with a stopper, snap-on cap, and neck strap, with a velvety bag to keep it all together — and all for $13. It also includes a nice clear manual with lots of pictures, which new users may find particularly useful.

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Looking for more information on breast pumps?

Links and helpful information

Photo credit: iStock.com / Aliseenko

Best breast pumps of 2024, according to BabyCenter momsOpens a new window
Best pumping bras, tested and reviewed by momsOpens a new window
Best breast pump bagsOpens a new window
Best electric breast pumpsOpens a new window
Best manual breast pumps for efficient and convenient pumpingOpens a new window

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Michelle SteinMichelle Stein is a journalist who lives in the Midwest with her husband, four kids, and two obnoxious, but sweet kitties. This Millennial mom tries, fails and sometimes succeeds at this whole career/motherhood balancing act. Opens a new window Opens a new window Opens a new windowAdvertisement | page continues below