Pippeta Compact LED handsfree breast pump review: Tried and tested by mums

The Pippeta Compact LED breast pump is an affordable, compact and lightweight handsfree breast pump, which allows busy mums to express on the go. The LED displays four different types of pump modes; Massage, Lactation, Expression and Auto, and each mode has 12 levels of suction power.

With its silicone material, the pump is advertised as easy to clean and assemble. The hands-free breast pump comes with extra parts as standard, including bra-adjustment buckles which allow you to adjust the position of the pump for a comfortable fit. It has a good battery life, quiet pumping sound and 150ml capacity, which makes this a highly recommended breast pump.

Scroll down to find out how mum-of-two Raman and first time mum Zoe got on with testing the Pippeta Compact LED hands-free breast pump...

The Pippeta has also won a Silver 2024 Mother&Baby Award for Best Breast Pump.

Pippeta Compact LED overview

Who tested the Pippeta Compact LED handsfree breast pump?

We asked our two mum testers, Raman and Zoe, if they would like to try out the Pippeta Compact and share their thoughts and experiences with us in this review:

Second-time mum to a 3-year-old, and currently on maternity leave with a 4-month-old, Raman shares; "With my first child, I used a Medela electric pump, which meant I had to sit and hold the suction pump in place to express due to the wires and weight of the pump. With a toddler and a baby, I found it impossible to find uninterrupted time out of my day to express. I was looking for a wearable pump that I could slip into my nursing bra so I could share the feeds with my husband and give attention to both my children."

First time mum to her little girl Aubrey, Zoe shares: "After 8 months of exclusive breast feeding with limited pumping experience and bottle feeding over the time of our maternity leave, pumping when I returned to work at the end of May was something that was causing me great anxiety. I was worried about being able to keep up to demand with my milk output, (she is a bit of a milk monster!) and how this would effect our breast feeding journey."

After a month back at work and a month of using the Pippeta compact handsfree pump, Zoe said, "I can safely say, so far it is going amazing! I am managing to get an output of around 10-15 ounce a day using the pump, which is plenty to send over to my mum for Aubrey’s bottles. She is also still feeding straight from breast on a morning and evening, so we have truly got into the swing of combo feeding pumped milk and having it straight from the tap!"

Testing the Pippeta Compact LED handsfree breast pump

Design and build

Our mum testers took a close look at the design and build of the pump, and let us know what they thought about how easy it was to assemble the pump and take it apart again, as well as how easy it was to clean.

"The pump is easy to assemble as the parts slip into place effortlessly," says Raman. "It is important to ensure all the parts are assembled properly for the suction of the pump to work. The parts are easy to disassemble and clean and due to the silicone material, and can be cleaned using a steam steriliser, and in the dishwasher too."

One thing Raman notes: "The components are transparent and the smaller parts can be easy to misplace. Luckily there are extras in the box if this does happen."

Zoe found the pump to be very easy to work and assemble. However, she says, "I do find some of the parts a bit tricky to clean, which is not ideal when I am cleaning them during work hours, the suction rubber part of the pump has lots of nooks to get right in with your cleaning brush."

Ease of use and portability

Our testers took the pump and tried it out and about, sharing their thoughts on how easy the pump was to use, how portable they found it.

The key features of the pump are its lightweight and compact design, designed to fit into a nursing bra. "It really is a hands-free pump as the suction holds the pump in place", says Raman. "The LED display shows the pump mode and the suction power level selected" Raman explains, saying, "The buttons allow you to switch between modes easily and adjust the suction power for your comfort."

Raman confirms; "The size of the pump fits comfortably in your nursing bra so you don’t have to adjust it", adding, "The pump also comes with adjustable bra straps, which takes away the need to adjust your bra straps every time you want to pump." Raman also says, "The easy pour sprout reduces any spillage which is excellent and satisfactory to watch when pouring."

When using the pump at work, Zoe found the Pippeta Compact pump to be much quieter than the one she previously used from another brand. "(This) is ideal as I am often on phone calls in my job and sat with other colleagues", she says, "They have never said they can hear my pump!"

Zoe also said, "The pump is lovely and thin so it is very easy to take out and about with you, I do normally leave it at work however I took it with me to Taylor Swift’s concert in Liverpool last month and it fit perfectly in my small bag for the venue's bag restrictions, and no one could even tell I was pumping when it was in my t-shirt!"

Wearabililty and comfort

Our testers were also keen to share their experience of wearing the breast pump and how comfortable they found it.

Zoe liked how wearable the pump was, saying, "It is discreet when in my clothing and even as a larger breasted lady you can hardly tell it is in my bra. The attachments that come with the pump to extend your nurseling bra to fit the pump in are so helpful!"

When it came to comfort during use, Zoe shares, "I found (when) using my other pump from a different brand, that my nipples were in some pain after a few days of continuous using. When I switched to my Pippeta the pain disappeared almost instantly. It is incredibly comfortable to wear."

Raman, on the other hand, though agreeing that the pump is relatively quiet and compact, admits; "It does stick out quite a bit under the contour of the clothes. Because of this, I personally only felt comfortable using the pump at home rather than out and about."

She also shares, "The Pippeta Compact LED comes with a standard 19mm and 21mm flange with a smaller(17mm) and larger size(27mm) to purchase at an additional cost, for comfort. I personally needed a larger flange size and at £5.99, I think it is a reasonable price."

Performance and battery life

When it came to performance, we asked our mum testers to share what they thought of the battery life and how well they found the pump to perform in general.

"The battery life is good as I use the pump a few times a week at the moment, and from one full charge I was able to able to get 5 - 6 pump sessions", says Raman, "The only thing missing from the LED screen is the battery level, as one time I was using the pump it cut out mid-pump due to the battery being dead."

She adds, "Another thing that would be useful would be to see how long you have pumped off in case you have to stop mid-pump and would like to keep track of how long you pumped."

Zoe agrees that the battery life on the Pippeta is great, saying "It lasts my 3-4 pumps I do during work each day, and the battery symbol pops up in plenty of time for you to charge it after you have completed the current pumping session." However, she does mention, "I have noticed the suction is not as strong when the battery life is draining, but I suppose this is to be expected. It does not take long to charge back to full battery and it comes with a USB to USB-C charger."

Raman found it hard to explain the different pump modes, but said, "I would recommend trying them all, so you can see what feels comfortable", and explains, "The different suction modes and levels allow you to tailor your expressing experience to fit your needs. I preferred using the massage mode as it allowed me to express the milk I required. The pump comes with an automatic switch-off after 20 minutes."

Zoe agrees, saying, "I have found good output from all of the settings, but the ordinary setting which massages and sucks is the best one for my output. This will be different for all ladies using the pump, so just get a feel for what works for yourself!

Final verdict

Lastly, we asked our mum testers to share their final thoughts and whether they would recommend the Pippeta Compact LED handsfree breast pump.

Raman thought this breast pump was an affordable option for busy mums who need to pump on the go, saying, "The compact and lightweight design has a range of suction modes, making it comfortable to pump while carrying on with your everyday tasks." She says, "The price point makes it affordable, yet despite the great price, it holds its own in comparison to more well-known brands such as the Elvie pump."

"The pump and the features are simple and easy to use", says Raman. "As mentioned, the only changes I would make is for the LED screen to show the battery level, as one time I was using the pump and it cut out mid-pump. It would also be useful to see how long you have pumped just in case you have to stop mid-pump and would like to keep track. Regardless, I would 100 per cent recommend this to my family and friends due to the ease of use and cleaning, the different modes to tailor the pumping experience and the affordable price tag."

Zoe said, "At the price that the Pippeta is sold for, although a pricier pump compared to some, I do think it is good value for money. I bought a cheaper pump beforehand that does not have as many functions, or as good battery life as this pump." Zoe also likes the fact that the pump comes with all of the spare parts you need, saying "It's amazing, as it can add up to be expensive when you're buying extra flanges etc."

"The pump has taken some hammering being used 3-5 times a day, 4 days a week", says Zoe, "and it is showing no signs of deteriorating! Overall I would definitely recommend this pump to other mums, especially those returning to work who need something efficient, quiet, hands free and with good battery life."

Proud aunt to her teen niece, Zara Mohammed){href='http://zara Mohammed (M&B)' } is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. She has 10 years freelance writing experience creating lifestyle content for various platforms, including pregnancy, women’s health, parenting, child development and child mental health, plus lots of fun seasonal family articles and celebrity news.