Why you should trust this review
I have used the Haakaa across two babies (now and 4 years ago), with approximately 11 months of cumulative use between them. I bought our current Haakaa at retail in May 2025 for $19. The blue silicone version, with the stopper accessory ($5 separate). Haakaa did not provide a sample.
The Haakaa is one of those rare baby products that is genuinely simple, genuinely cheap, and genuinely useful. It is not a substitute for an electric pump. It is a complement. Used together, they can build a freezer stash significantly faster than electric pumping alone.
How we tested the Haakaa
- Used 6 to 8 times per day during nursing sessions across 11 months.
- Tracked daily milk capture across two 30-day periods (months 3 and month 8 of nursing).
- Compared suction technique with and without the stopper accessory.
- Sterilized by boiling water once weekly across 11 months.
- Tested travel use across 4 trips (airplane, road trip, day excursions).
For more on how we test products, see our methodology page.
Who should buy the Haakaa?
Buy the Haakaa if you:
- Are nursing or planning to nurse.
- Want to build a freezer milk stash with minimal effort.
- Travel and want a no-electricity backup option.
- Have ever lost milk into nursing pads and wished you could catch it.
Skip it if you:
- You exclusively pump (you need an active electric pump like the Spectra S2).
- Your milk supply is low and you do not have noticeable letdown on the opposite breast.
- You have already finished nursing and are bottle-feeding only.
How the Haakaa works (and what it is not)
The Haakaa is a single piece of silicone shaped like a hollow flower vase. The narrow neck is sized to fit over your nipple area. The wider base sits below for milk collection. Volume markings are embossed on the silicone at 1, 2, 3, and 4 oz.
To use: squeeze the silicone base to expel air, place the neck over your nipple area on the breast that is not currently nursing, and release. The vacuum created by the released silicone gently suctions onto the breast. As baby nurses on the other breast, your natural letdown reflex causes both breasts to release milk. The Haakaa catches the letdown from the opposite breast.
This is passive collection. The Haakaa does not actively pump milk out. It catches milk that your body is already releasing.
Daily milk capture: real numbers
Across two 30-day tracking periods (months 3 and month 8), I averaged:
- Month 3 (early nursing, abundant supply): 6 to 8 oz captured per day across 6 to 8 nursing sessions.
- Month 8 (established supply): 4 to 6 oz captured per day across 5 to 6 nursing sessions.
Total estimated capture across 11 months: approximately 1,500 to 1,800 oz of milk that would have ended up in nursing pads.
For context: a single 4 oz bottle is one feeding for many babies. The Haakaa effectively delivered one extra bottle’s worth of milk per day, every day, for free.
Suction technique and the learning curve
The first 5 uses are awkward. The vacuum technique requires the right amount of squeeze and the right placement angle. By use 8 to 10, I had the muscle memory.
The Haakaa stopper accessory ($5 separate) is the upgrade that makes the system reliable. The stopper is a small silicone cap that prevents milk spillage if the cup tips. Without the stopper, a sudden movement (baby kicking, you reaching for something) can spill collected milk. With the stopper, milk stays in the cup until you intentionally pour it out.
I would buy the stopper before buying the cup. They should sell as a bundle.
Cleaning: simplest in the category
The Haakaa is a single piece of silicone with no nooks, crevices, or parts. Cleaning is hand-wash with hot water and dish soap (90 seconds), or top-rack dishwasher cycle. Once a week we sterilize by boiling for 3 minutes.
Compared to the Spectra S2 (8 parts to wash per session) or the Medela MaxFlow (8 parts), the Haakaa is the easiest pump-related item to clean.
Travel and the no-battery advantage
The Haakaa requires no electricity. It fits in any diaper bag. We have used it on a 4-hour flight (in the airplane bathroom and at the gate), in the car on road trips, and at the playground. The stopper accessory makes it leak-proof in a bag.
For travel days specifically, the Haakaa is the most useful nursing tool we own.
Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Type | Active pumping | Travel | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haakaa Silicone Manual | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Silicone suction | Limited | Excellent | $19 | Best Letdown Catcher |
| Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Lever pump | Yes | Good | $25 | Best Manual Active Pump |
| Medela Harmony Manual | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | Lever pump | Yes | Good | $27 | Runner-up Manual |
| Spectra S1 Plus | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Electric | Yes | Limited (battery) | $215 | Top Pick Hospital-Grade |
Full specifications
| Material | 100 percent FDA food-grade silicone |
| Capacity | 4 oz / 100 ml |
| BPA-free | Yes |
| Phthalate-free | Yes |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, top rack |
| Sterilizer safe | Yes (boiling water, microwave, UV) |
| Number of parts | 1 (single piece) |
| Color options | Clear, Pink, Blue, Green |
| Stopper accessory | Available separately ($5) |
| Country of manufacture | New Zealand design, Chinese manufacture |
| Volume markings | Embossed at 1, 2, 3, and 4 oz |
| Weight | 0.18 lb |
Should you buy the Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump?
The Haakaa is not really a pump. It is a one-piece silicone suction cup that catches the natural letdown from your other breast while baby nurses. Across 11 months and two babies, it has captured approximately 6 oz of milk per day, all milk that would otherwise have ended up in nursing pads. At $19 it is the highest-value piece of nursing gear we have used. The trade-off: it is not a replacement for an electric pump if you need to actively express milk for bottle feeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Haakaa worth $19 in 2026?+
Yes. The Haakaa is the highest-value piece of nursing gear we own. For $19 you capture milk that would otherwise be lost into nursing pads, and the daily catch (4 to 8 oz in our case) builds up a meaningful freezer stash without any active pumping effort. Every nursing mom should own one.
Haakaa vs electric pump: are they comparable?+
No. The Haakaa is passive (catches natural letdown) and the electric pump is active (creates suction to empty the breast). They serve different purposes. The Haakaa is for nursing moms who want to capture free milk during feeds. An electric pump like the [Spectra S2](/reviews/spectra-s2-plus) is for moms who need to actively express milk for bottle feeding or supply maintenance.
How much milk does the Haakaa actually catch?+
Varies by mom and by day. Across 11 months we averaged 4 to 8 oz per day total, captured during 6 to 8 nursing sessions on the opposite breast. Some moms capture 1 to 2 oz per day. Heavy producers can capture 12+ oz per day. The Haakaa cannot create more milk than your body produces; it just captures what the natural letdown reflex would otherwise lose.
How do I prevent it from tipping over?+
The Haakaa stopper accessory ($5 separate) is the most reliable solution. Without the stopper, you need to keep your torso angled forward slightly so the cup stays vertical. Some moms use a wide-mouth jar to set the Haakaa in for additional stability. Tipping is the most common new-user complaint.
📅 Update log
- May 10, 2026Added 11-month long-term notes across two babies.
- May 15, 2025Initial review published.
Priya Sharma
Priya Sharma writes for The Tested Hub.