A Haakaa is a one-piece silicone breast pump that uses suction to collect breast milk without any cords, batteries, or manual pumping. Originally designed in New Zealand in 2016, it became a global favorite among breastfeeding parents for its simplicity: you squeeze it, attach it to your breast, and let it passively draw out milk while you nurse your baby on the other side or go about your day.
How a Haakaa Works
The Haakaa creates a gentle vacuum seal against your breast. You squeeze the rounded base of the pump, position the flange over your nipple, and release your grip. As the silicone expands back to its original shape, it creates continuous suction that draws milk out and collects it in the body of the pump. There are no moving parts, no valves, and nothing to assemble.
There are two common techniques for attaching it. The first involves folding the flange back while squeezing the base, placing it over your nipple, then releasing the flange so it creates a seal against your skin. The second is simpler: just squeeze the base, place it over your nipple, and let go. Either way, once attached, it stays put hands-free.
Passive Pump vs. Electric Pump
A Haakaa falls into the category of “passive pumps,” which is an important distinction. Unlike an electric or manual breast pump that actively cycles suction to pull milk from the breast, a Haakaa uses gentle, constant suction. It collects milk that your body is already letting down, plus draws out a bit more than would naturally drip. Think of it as something between a simple milk catcher (which just catches drips with no suction at all) and a full-powered pump.
This means a Haakaa won’t fully empty your breast the way an electric pump can. It’s not strong enough to maintain your milk supply on its own, so it’s not a replacement if you need to pump regularly for work or exclusive pumping. Where it excels is catching milk from the opposite breast while you nurse, milk that would otherwise soak into a nursing pad and go to waste. Many parents are surprised by how much they can collect this way, gradually building up a freezer stash without any extra pumping sessions.
What You Can Collect
Most parents who use a Haakaa during nursing attach it for the first one to three minutes of a feed, while the initial let-down is strongest. Others leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes per side, or until milk stops flowing. The amount varies widely depending on your supply and how full your breasts are, but even small amounts add up quickly when you’re collecting at every feed.
The Haakaa collects both the thinner foremilk that comes first and the fattier hindmilk that follows, so the milk you collect is nutritionally complete.
Sizes and Generations
The original Haakaa (Generation 1) is the simplest version: a single piece of silicone shaped like a small bottle with a flared opening. The Generation 2 added a suction base on the bottom, so you can set it down on a flat surface without worrying about it tipping over. It comes in two capacities: 100 ml (about 3.4 oz) and 150 ml (about 5.4 oz).
A silicone flower stopper is a popular accessory that fits snugly into the neck of the pump. It seals the opening to prevent spills when you remove the pump from your breast and need to set it aside or transfer the milk.
Material and Safety
Haakaa products are made from 100% food-grade silicone that is FDA approved and LFGB certified (a European safety standard for materials that contact food). The silicone is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates. Because it’s a single piece with no crevices, tubes, or membranes, there are far fewer places for mold or bacteria to hide compared to traditional pumps with multiple parts.
Cleaning and Sterilizing
After each use, wash the pump in hot, soapy water. For the first three months of your baby’s life, sterilize it after every use by boiling it in water for two to three minutes or using a steam sterilizer. After those first three months, many parents switch to sterilizing every few uses rather than every time.
A few things to avoid: don’t use bleach-based cleaners or sterilizing tablets, and skip UV sterilizers, which can shorten the silicone’s lifespan. The pump is technically dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended to keep it in good condition longer. Silicone handles temperature changes well, so boiling won’t damage it.
Who Benefits Most From a Haakaa
The Haakaa is especially useful for parents who are breastfeeding directly and want to save extra milk without the hassle of setting up an electric pump. It’s small enough to toss in a diaper bag, quiet (completely silent, actually), and requires no power source. Many parents use it during nighttime feeds when the last thing they want is to set up pumping equipment.
It’s less ideal as your sole pumping tool if you need to be away from your baby regularly or if you’re working to increase a low supply. In those situations, an electric pump that fully empties the breast is more effective at signaling your body to produce more milk. But as a companion tool for everyday milk collection, the Haakaa fills a gap that traditional pumps don’t, turning milk that would otherwise be lost into a growing stash in your freezer.