Calm the Registry Overwhelm: Your Guide to Pumps & Bottles

Sabrina Barber, a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), registered nurse, and mom of two, breaks down everything you need to know about choosing breast pumps and bottles—without the overwhelm.

What You’ll Learn:

Pump Types & Recommendations:

• Silicone milk collectors (Haakaa, Boontro) – when to use them and when to avoid
• Manual pumps – why every parent needs one in their baby bag
• Double electric pumps – the workhorses for establishing supply (Spectra S1/S2, Motif Luna, Medela)
• Portable pumps – best options for parents on the move (Baby Buddha, Pumpables Genie Advanced)
• Wearable pumps – top contenders and what makes them different (Eufy S1, Mom Cozy M9, Ameda Glow)
• Hospital grade pumps – when you actually need one (spoiler: probably not)

Maximizing Insurance Benefits:

• What questions to ask your insurance company (with a ready-to-use script)
• How to navigate DME companies and prescription requirements
• Using third-party services like Babylist and Aeroflow to simplify the process
• What to know about replacement parts coverage
• Using HSA benefits for pumps and lactation visits

Flange Sizing Basics:

• Why most flanges are too large (and how that affects milk supply)
• How to measure your nipple diameter (including the coin trick!)
• The impact of proper fit on comfort and output
• When to consider custom flanges

Bottles for Breastfeeding:

• Best shapes: Pigeon (Super Slow SS), Evenflo, Dr. Brown’s – tapered nipples that allow proper tongue placement
• Avoid: Como Tomo, MAM, Nanobébé, Phillips Avent – wide-base nipples that cause flow preference and gassiness
• Why the slowest flow is best and how to test it
• The truth about “breastfeeding-friendly” marketing

Pacifiers Decoded:

• Optimal for breastfed babies: Happy Passy, Ninico, Soothie – shapes that require proper tongue cupping
• Less ideal: Nuk, MAM, BIBS – shapes that can interfere with latch
• When pacifier refusal signals the need for lactation support
• AAP guidelines on pacifiers and SIDS prevention

Myth-Busting:

• Nipple confusion isn’t real—flow preference is
• Pacifiers don’t sabotage breastfeeding when used appropriately
• “Hospital grade” is a marketing term with no FDA backing
• Not all pumps with good reviews will work for YOUR body

Key Takeaways:

• Start with three essentials: silicone collector, manual pump, and double electric
• Get wearables as secondary pumps once feeding is established
• Insurance typically covers one pump per pregnancy (but you can get another with your next baby)
• Proper flange sizing matters more than pump brand
• Choose bottles and pacifiers by shape, not marketing claims

Sabrina’s Approach: All products shown were purchased independently—no affiliate links, no brand partnerships, no bias. Just honest guidance from someone who’s supported hundreds of families and struggled with her own pumping journey.