What are the best breast pumps to take on family vacations?

Breast pump innovators are making it easier for moms who pump to pump on the go.

If there’s anybody who deserves a vacation, it’s moms. However, moms often find it impossible to really get away from it all, especially if they’re on a pumping schedule. A lot of traditional breast pump models have a lot of parts and pieces that are likely to go missing during a family vacation, and many are bulky and not very convenient if you’re trying to enjoy a little R&R by the pool. A couple of modern breast pump brands have made it their mission to make traveling and relaxing easier for moms who pump. We’re going to take a peek at what those innovators are doing to make it easier for moms to pump and go.

Elvie Double Electric Breast Pump

Elvie founder and CEO Tania Boler, an internationally recognized women’s health expert, is passionate about improving women’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Her mission to create world-class tech for women led to the silent, discreet Elvie Pump, which slips right into a nursing bra – pump, bottle, and all. The pump’s sleek design makes it practically invisible, making it perfect for poolside pumping. Totally hands free, the Elvie Pump comes with a free app to personalize and control settings from your phone. The app also gathers pumping data and provides custom pumping insights.

Advantages

  • No cords or tubes
  • Hands free design
  • In-bra milk collection
  • Ultra-silent motor
  • 2 modes and 14 intensity settings for customizable intensity
  • Free app for controlling and monitoring pumping
  • Rechargeable via micro-USB
  • Comfortable breast shields in two sizes provided
  • Safe, hygienic, and easy to clean

Disadvantages

  • The Elvie is a premium pump that is not 100% covered by all insurance providers.

Elvie Stride Double Electric Breast Pump

The Elvie Stride provides many of the same benefits as the Pump, but at a much lower price point. In fact, most insurance providers, including Tricare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna, cover the Stride 100%. Use that extra cash to dine out at your favorite beachside restaurant while you’re on vacation. Like the Pump, the Stride collects breastmilk in-bra and can be connected to the free Elvie app for easy control and monitoring. The Stride is a little slimmer in design than the Pump as the motor is housed in a palm-sized pump remote, and it has two modes and 20 intensity settings for even more refined customization.

Advantages

  • All benefits of Stride, plus 100% coverage by most insurance providers
  • 2 modes and 20 intensity settings for customizable intensity

Disadvantages

  • While the Stride does offer a tidy silhouette and in-bra pumping, its repositioned pump requires a tube to connect the in-bra bottles and palm-sized motor.

BabyBuddha

The BabyBuddha is our most popular portable, battery-powered pump. The pump’s motor hangs around your neck by a lanyard, freeing up your hands for a good book in bed or family game night. Like the Elvie models, the BabyBuddha motor is impressively quiet, allowing more discreet pumping, and an easy-to-use trackball to navigate through intensity modes for hassle-free operation. The pump’s extra-soft cushion prevents soreness, and its closed system and 100% BPA-free construction keep milk fresh and free of toxins and contaminants.

Advantages

  • 100% coverage by most insurance providers
  • 14 different suction modes
  • Stimulation mode to stimulate breast milk production
  • Hands free design
  • Ultra-silent motor
  • Trackball to easily navigate suction modes
  • Rechargeable via USB cable
  • Comfortable breast shields in two sizes provided
  • Safe, hygienic, and easy to clean

Disadvantages

  • Tube to connect the bottles and palm-sized motor
  • Bottles are not in-bra, so are not as discreet

Get pumped for vacation season.

Modern, portable breast pump models make me excited about vacation season because I know more moms are going to be able to enjoy the freedom and relaxation you’ve definitely earned. You don’t have to be hooked up to a pump that’s hooked up to the wall socket; you are free to roam while still sticking to your pumping schedule. Get in touch today to order your portable breast pump.