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Quick Summary
The best breast pump bag is the Sarah Wells Lizzy Breast Pump Bag, according to the What to Expect staff and user community. When choosing a breast pump bag, parents say the most important factors to consider are insulation, storage size and versatility.
Although not a necessity for every new parent, a designated breast pump bag can make life a lot easier for a pumping mom. Leaving the house is its own chore when you have a newborn, and a pump bag can simplify that process: It allows you to keep all your pump pieces in one place (remember to wash them in between uses!) and streamlines the process of heading out the door.
In addition to safely toting your breast pump and necessary accessories, a good breast pump bag will have helpful features: Think insulated pockets and separate bags for expressed milk, so you can safely transport that liquid gold, or laptop sleeves to make it a multipurpose bag. There are also numerous styles to choose between depending on your preferences.
How we chose the best breast pump bags
The best breast pump bag is, first and foremost, one that fits your pump and pump parts. It should also have storage space for other items in order to minimize the amount of bags you have to carry. To select the best options, we asked What to Expect staff and community members what they look for in a breast pump bag. Per their guidance, we evaluated bags on the following factors:
Insulation: Although breast milk can be safely stored at room temperature for four hours, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you never really know how long you’ll be out of the house. A bag with insulation allows you to safely store milk for longer periods of time.
Storage: Depending on how you plan to use your bag, you may have different storage needs. For instance, parents who will be using the bag at work might want one with a padded laptop sleeve, while a compact bag that is not much larger than cooler might be satisfactory for those who plan to use it periodically. We made sure to included breast pump bag options to suit a variety of needs.
Versatility: Because breast pump bags are yet another added expense, we prioritized bags that could be used for other purposes when your pumping days are over. Whether you opt for a backpack or tote, most of these bags are perfectly fine for using regularly after your baby is no longer nursing. In fact, the insulated pockets might come in handy for parents who want to use the bag to bring lunch to work or keep a water bottle cool on a day trip.
Each of the breast pump bags on our list received overwhelmingly positive reviews for this criteria among What to Expect staff and community members.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
The Sarah Wells Lizzy is a top breast pump bag because of its functional design, large storage capacity and compatibility with a wide range of pumps. Nursing parents also love that the Lizzy has a large side pocket where you can store your pump and easily access it without digging through the entire bag. It also has a few important added features, such as thermally-lined pockets that can store pumped milk in bags or bottles for up to six hours with ice packs (not included). There’s also a laptop sleeve, which makes this such a great pick for toting your work essentials and your pump to the office. Another thoughtful element? Two pouches to store your baby's photos, which can help with let-down. Parents also appreciate the range of fun colors and the fact that it looks like a regular bag. And, its multifunctionality — it can store your pump, bottles or bags, a laptop, important documents and even your own lunch — helped one mom go from lugging five separate bags to work down to two. Many parents also said they used the bag long after baby stopped nursing.
The Lizzy fits many popular breast pumps, such as the Medela Pump in Style, Medela Freestyle, Spectra S1 and S2, and more. With a handy side zip pocket, Spectra users can use the pump without even taking it out of the bag.
“I used Sarah Wells. Worked well. Has 2 storage compartments that keep milk or your lunch cool. If you will spend close to $100 anyway, it is probably worth to spend a bit more. Doesn't look at all like a pump bag, looks like a stylish laptop bag. I am still using it, so that helps too with justifying the price.”
“I treated myself to the Sarah Wells bag. I really like it and still use it even though I stopped pumping when my LO turned 15 mo. I use the side pockets for diapers/wipes and the other for snacks.”
Some reviewers complain about the durability of this bag
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It
What makes a great travel backpack is having enough room to fit your items without having an overly bulky bag. The Teamoy Breast Pump Bag is the perfect option for nursing parents on-the-go because it’s relatively compact yet has enough space for your pump, accessories and plenty of other essentials. Parents liked the front zippered pocket for easy access to their pump, but some noted that it’s hard to fit both the cooler bag and pump in it together.
It’s also pretty versatile: Wear it as a backpack when you need to be fully hands-free and switch it to a handbag when you’re craving a more polished look or need to give your shoulders a break. The bag also has a padded laptop sleeve and a discreet anti-theft zippered pocket placed at the back — so you can stash your wallets, valuables, and passports (or your child’s birth certificate) without stressing while traveling. And the generous side pocket is ideal for storing a water bottle, you so can stay hydrated while getting to your destination.
“I have been using this bag since I had my daughter in 2020. It fit my spectra pump and Sarah Wells cooler bag in the bottom for her, and now it fits my Willow case. The top part is roomy and the side pockets fit bigger water bottles (32oz) no problem. My only complaint is that the bottom compartment isn’t really structured, so when empty the main contents of the bag drops down into that space.”
No one will ever guess that you're carrying a breast pump when you bring the sleek mommore tote into the office. What makes this tote stand out is how comfortable parents found the straps to be, unlike many tote straps which can dig into your shoulder. There are two ways to carry it, either by holding the the two shorter handles or wearing the longer, padded strap over your shoulder. Parents appreciated the versatility here, which made it a great option for work or traveling.
Parents also loved how much storage the mommore pump bag offers. It has a total of 12 pockets, three of which are insulated, so you can keep items organized and stored in their designated places. The side zipper pocket fits most pumps, including Medela and Spectra, while the twin pocket on the other side has rooms for breast shields, bottles and more.
“i got this mommore pumping bag & it’s HUGE, which is what i wanted. i just pump directly into lansinoh storage bags by using maymom milk bag adapters that screw onto my flanges. i only have the pumping parts in a wet/dry bag (that i store in the fridge between pumps), lansinoh bags, a towel in case i spill, my pump, & that’s it! i don’t have a cooler bag because i keep everything in the wet bag in the fridge until i leave, then it goes in the big bag which is insulated.”
Includes insulated base and insulated bottle pocket
optional backpack straps
includes USB charging port
Cons
Doesn’t fit larger breast pumps
Why We Love It
If you have a smaller breast pump and like the idea of a streamlined bag to tote it around, the GoGoSo Breast Pump Bag is for you. It’s compact — under 10 inches wide and tall — and includes an insulated base and bottle pocket. The insulated bottom half of the bag is surprisingly spacious and can hold up to six breast milk bags or three breast milk bottles and freezer packs. Another hidden extra that makes this bag a great pick is its USB charging port that you can use for your pump or phone. It can also convert into a backpack, which is especially helpful if you bring another bag to work or just want to be hands-free.
Before buying this bag, note that most larger breast pumps won’t fit inside, including the Spectra S1 and S2 and a couple Medela pumps.
The much-loved Vera Bradley Ultimate Diaper Bag can also be a great pump bag, according to many parents. The bag is full of storage potential, including six interior pockets and five exterior pockets, two of which are insulated. Although there isn’t a specific spot or separate zipper for your pump, there's plenty of room to hold it and all of your pump accessories — the bag itself is over 20 inches long and a foot tall. Moms say there's even room for a robe or change of clothes (a great thing to have on hand in case your breast milk leaks through your shirt). The lightweight bag is even machine washable and comes in multiple pretty prints.
“The large Vera Bradley totes with a zipper, I can fit the pump, cooler with parts and bottles,I have extra membranes and lanolin tucked away in the side pouches. On days I wear a non pumping friendly dress I can tuck a thin robe into the bag to wear while pumping.”
“I use a Vera Bradley tote! Works great for all my stuff!”
Our Research
We canvassed What to Expect’s community boards to learn which breast pump bags parents liked best and what features they most appreciated.
FAQs
Is it necessary to have a breast pump bag?
If you’re certain that you want to pump away from home regularly, a breast pump bag is a good item to have on hand. With that being said, if you’d prefer to wait until your baby is born to see if pumping is right for you, you may choose to hold off on buying a breast pump bag until you have a better idea of your feeding routine. After all, if you end up formula-feeding, directly nursing or not regularly spending several hours outside the home after giving birth, a breast pump bag may not be worth the investment for you.
Can you use any bag for a breast pump bag?
You could likely turn a large bag you already have on hand into a makeshift breast pump bag. You could even add a small insulated pouch for safe breast milk storage to a bag you already own. With that being said, breast pumps can be awkwardly shaped, so there may be value in buying a bag that’s specially designed to accommodate them.