Pippeta Breast Pump review: we put the hands-free pumping powerhouse to the test
One of the most powerful wearable breast pumps on our radar, the Pippeta LED wearable breast pump promises to combine hands-free convenience with hospital-grade efficiency. We put it to the test with new mum Kayla to find out whether it delivers.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Jun 7, 2024
Price on writing: From £70 (single), £125 (double) | Buy now from Amazon | Buy now from Pippeta | Buy now from Boots
Suction power is one of the most powerful of all the best wearable breast pumps
Also one of the more quiet wearable pumps (max 45dB) - our tester Kayla said the noise was only noticeable to people right next to her
Lots of spare parts included, which Kayla found particularly impressive
Comfortable to use, even in the early days of breastfeeding
Although hands-free, the pump can slide out of your bra if you bend forward, Kayla said she found she needed to be aware of this when picking up her baby
Kayla pointed out it would have been useful to have a cover to protect the flange while transporting so it remains sterile, and would have liked a travel bag to keep all the parts in while on the go
Single or double pump: Both, but we tested the single | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of settings: 4 modes and 12 intensity settings | Suction levels: 30 - 280mmhg | Capacity: Up to 180ml bottle capacity | Noise level: Up to 45 dB | Closed system: Yes
Read next: See how the Pippeta compares with more of the best breast pumps and manual pumps in our guides packed with real-mum reviews.
How we tested the Pippeta LED Wearable Hands-free Breast Pump
New mum Kayla put the Pippeta through its paces with her newborn over a period of several weeks. During this time she expressed around eight times a day, taking extensive notes on the pump's durability, comfort, discretion, practicality, value for money and ease of cleaning. Taking all these things into account, she provided an overall verdict on the Pippeta Breast Pump.
What is included with the Pippeta LED Wearable Breast Pump?
The Pippeta comes with an impressive number of features and extras, including:
1 x LED Breast Pump motor, 1 x Collection Cup, 1 x Breast Shield (24mm), 2 x Flanges (19mm and 21mm), 2 x Bra Strap Adjusters, 2 x Sealing Rings, 1 x Charging Cable, 1 x Valve, 2 x Diaphragms and a set of instructions for use.
I am very impressed with all the spare parts included with this pump as inevitably they are bound to wear down with constant use.
-parent-tester Kayla
How easy is the Pippeta Pump to use for the first time?
It took a minute to initially figure out how to put the parts back together after sterilising the pump before first use, but the guide was very useful. After doing it a few times, it becomes second nature. It is always a good idea to test the pump before placing it on the breast to make sure you have put the parts together securely before use.
Pippeta Original LED Hands-free
Breast Pump
£70
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Is the Pippeta pump comfortable to use?
'Yes,' said Kayla, adding: 'Once you have chosen the correct flange size - which is the part that comes into contact with your areola - the pump is comfortable after a few seconds of pumping.'
How ‘hands-free�� is the Pippeta pump?
'The pump is relatively hands-free. It sits in your bra but you do need to be careful when bending over, ie picking up baby, as the pump can slide out.'
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How size-inclusive is the Pippeta LED Breast Pump?
According to Pippeta, the pump is very popular with users with large as well as smaller breast sizes. The pump comes with different sized flanges, which is a useful feature. However, only one of each size is included, which, as Kayla points out, could become an issue with frequent use.
I am not sure of the likelihood of the flange wearing down as I express up to eight times a day. It may be useful to provide an extra of each size.
-parent-tester Kayla
How is the battery life on the Pippeta pump?
The Pippeta pump has a rechargeable battery which takes around 2.5 hours to fully charge which a run time of 100 hours. Kayla found this to be fairly accurate in practice.
I can get about 3-4 expressions before having to recharge the battery (40-60 minutes total per expression). I appreciate to get more expressions before the battery is drained, the device would need to be larger for a longer lasting battery.
Pippeta Original LED Hands-free
Breast Pump
£70
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How sturdy is the Pippeta Breast Pump?
'It seems quite sturdy,' says Kayla. 'Having the additional parts included adds the reassurance that if anything fails, it is a quick fix.'
How transportable is the Pippeta Pump?
While small and easy enough to slot into a changing bag, Kayla pointed out that the pump would benefit from coming with a storage bag as it has several components, as well as a cover to keep the flange clean after it has gone through the steriliser.
How easy is the Pippeta to clean?
'This is really easy to do,' explains Kayla, 'I just wash the parts in hot water and washing up liquid, rinse them and pop in the steriliser between expressions.'
Related: Find more baby essentials with our guides to the best baby bath, highchairs and changing mats.
Pippeta Breast Pump: Overall verdict
As wearable breast pumps go, the Pippeta scores points for affordability (£70 for a single unit versus the Elvie Stride's £125 at the time of writing) and matches the premium brands for power with its impressive suction levels. However, its design isn't quite as compact or discreet as the likes of Elvie or Medela, which makes it slightly less suitable if you're looking for a wearable pump you can use without anyone noticing.
Kayla said that, overall, she thought the pump represented good value for money at £70 and would be happy to use it out and about and at work.
The pump is quiet with a small noise only noticeable to those directly next to you. It's comfortable to use, good value for money and easy to clean. I was impressed with all the extra parts included too.
We asked Kayla to rate the Pippeta breast pump for the following:
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About the author
Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy, baby care and general parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features buyers' guides.
She regularly reviews a wide range of parenting and lifestyle products for Mumsnet, from breast pumps to kettles, board games and cribs. Jenny is also a sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and experienced journalist.
About Mumsnet Reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.
All prices correct at time of publication