We get the question all the time, "Why should I get a dedicated breast pump bag instead of a regular tote?" We asked a couple of our pumping mama Brand Ambassadors for their thoughts on the topic. Read on to see what they had to say!
Q: For mamas who are wondering if they really need a dedicated breast pump bag versus just using a regular handbag or tote bag for their pump - What do you see as the benefits of having a breast pump bag?
A: Sierra, Meagan and Mayra answer below.
Sierra -
If you’re wondering if you need a specific bag, my short answer is YES!
I use a lot of bags, and even have a side hobby of selling a popular brand of totes and bags. I would still recommend a Sarah Wells Bag for pumping.
These bags are specifically designed for the job, with the right amount of pockets for your pump and accessories, and the thermal pockets are a must, especially if you’re a commuter.
If you were to use a regular handbag or tote, chances are you would need more than one… a bag for your pump, a bag for used parts, a bag for clean parts, a thermal for the milk, etc.
You get the idea! As a bonus, many Breast Pump Bags are not only beautiful, but also well made and can be reused in the future.
Meagan -
I was previously using a tote bag for my pumping accessories and it was a black hole of a mess. Absolutely nothing was organized. I couldn't find any one specific thing I was looking for without unloading half of the bag - it was just a messy disaster.
Since receiving my Sarah Wells bag, I have actually been able to combine my purse, pump tote, and diaper bag all into one incrediblely organized and attractive package! Sarah Wells Bags are clearly designed with mom in mind.
In my opinion, the Breast Pump Bags are designed to help keep things organized, visible, and easy to access. It makes all the difference when it comes to a time crunch as well.
Most moms who return to work find themselves pumping on an extremely tight schedule with no time to waste fumbling around searching for the supplies they need. And personally, I have delayed let downs when I am feeling stressed and pressed for time.
These pump bags make it possible to quickly get what you need set up with just a few zips of the bag; allowing more time to pump and focus on what's important - like breathing, haha!
Mayra -
When going to work and pumping, you deal with carrying extra things and you find yourself having to pause your workload in order to pump.
Now with my Claire, I no longer have to carry all these extra things such as the cooler for the milk I pump, storage for the actual pump, zip lock bags for the dirty parts, bottles and/or storage bags, and not to mention the pumping parts.
The Claire is definitely a game changer for me. I can store everything in just one bag. It has also saved me time, so I don't worry about taking out the pump from the other bag or taking out the cooler.
Carrying my pump and all the accessories has become a part of my every day life and the Claire has made things a lot easier.
This video shows a glimpse of everything I can fit into my Claire Breast Pump Bag.
We want to hear from YOU!
Why do you (or would you) find a dedicated breast pump bag helpful in your pumping journey?
Comment on this blog and we'll automatically enter you to win your color choice of a Claire breast pump bag! Contest closes 12/25/17 at 11:59pm ET. Open to all countries.
167 comments
It’s very helpful to have a pump bag just for everything to stay together and things don’t get misplaced. That way when it’s time to pump everything is together. Easy to access and pumping goes so much smoother. Not having the scramble to find whatever may have grown feet and walked away.
I’m a teacher and would LOVE a bag for when I return to work!
Do you need a pumping bag? Maybe not. But does it make things easier by leaps and bounds? YES! I bought my first Sarah Well’s bag a couple of months ago and let me tell you, it is a major quality of life improvement. I like that my pump never has to leave the bag and that I can access is easily any time. Makes pumping at work or on the go so much easier and less stressful. I love that I can grab one bag and have all of my pumping supplies at the ready.
I had a very basic pump bag until my daughter was about 8 months old. I had been back to work for 6 months by then and it was such a hassle lugging everything back and forth and carrying so. many. bags. I loaded so much up in those bags my shoulder would ache at the end of the day. I was always at risk of forgetting something.
Then I got the Kelly bag from Sarah Wells. It’s amazing how something as simple as a new pump bag could make my life so much easier. So do you NEED a breast pump bag? I suppose the real answer to that is no. But you don’t NEED a cell phone either and I don’t think anyone would be willing to give that up. The quality of Sarah Wells bags cannot be beat. So much thought has clearly been put into each and every design. And I love that I can carry my bag and it’s not glaringly obvious that I’m toting around my breast pump. It also functions really well as a diaper bag! I recommend Sarah Wells to all of the moms in every breastfeeding support group I belong to, because the question regarding which bag is best comes up a lot. No one has ever been disappointed.
With my first, I started off using a diaper bag but got tired of the comments when people would see me with the bag headed to the pump room. I quickly switched to smaller bag but it could never hold everything and I would end up switching my wallet around from pump bag to purse. On more than one occasion my wallet would be forgotten in the transfer. Do you absolutely need a dedicated pump bag? No, you can make it work. BUT having a dedicated pump bag can make your life so, so much easier. The Abby has been my companion back to work since day 1 and 8 months later people still do not know that it’s a pump bag and I am still amazed at how I can get so much into one bag. It really is a game changer and makes pumping at work much more enjoyable.