MFM Awards 2023 winners – Breast and bottlefeeding products

Our team of home testers and expert judges left no stone unturned as they investigated the more technical products in this category: everything from battery life to noise levels were considered, comparing the group to find the most practical and hard working products in the business. The winners below performed well with our home testers, expert judges editorial team, and we believe they will really help your family to feed as easily and effectively as possible.

See the winners in:

• Electric/battery breast pump
• Wearable electric/battery breast pump
• Breastfeeding product
• Breastfeeding top/cover
• Steriliser
• Baby bottle
• Bottlefeeding accessory
• Breast pads
• Nipple cream/balm

Key features we tested/judged — Effectiveness, quality and design, ease of assembly, comfort for parent, worth the money.

Gold – Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump, £145

Why it’s a winner: Winning for the third time in a row, this attractive, high quality pump once again impressed both our home testers and judges. There are so many great features to this pump, from its wireless design to the 6 expression modes. Plus, there are 9 intensity settings, offering a higher pressure than other medical-grade pumps. It’s also really stylish – not something you’d necessarily expect in a pump, but the designers have created something that looks great. It’s versatile too, with the option to pump directly into a storage bag (these also come with adapters so you can feed directly from them). Yes, it’s an investment, but with the features and style on offer it certainly makes a great case for the price tag.

In the words of parent tester Anna, who tested this with their 3 month old: “It’s quieter than any electric pump I’ve previously used. It’s powerful yet gentle and it feels more like the baby is feeding than a pump. The smart screen is fantastic for tracking battery life and remembers what settings you used previously. It has a great battery life, which is super handy.”

Buy from: Lola&Lykke

Joint Silver – MAM 2in1 Single Electric Breast Pump, £166

Best for: Mums who want to switch between manual and electric pumping.

In the words of parent tester Natalie, who tested this with their 4 month old: “After pumping with a cheaper manual pump, this is a dream! It has a nipple stimulation to imitate feeding, all I have to do is hold it in place and within minutes I have a full bottle. It also has a silicone cone, which is very comfortable.”

Buy from: Very, Boots and Mamas & Papas

Joint Silver – Vital Baby NURTURE Flexcone Electric Breast Pump, £99.99

Best for: Combining powerful pumping with comfort.

In the words of parent tester Louise, who tested this with their 2 month old: “It’s definitely the most comfortable pump I’ve used. I’ve struggled to get electric pumps to work in the past but how comfortable this was made it so easy to persevere. This is why the addition of the hand pump is so great, as I could use that too.”

Buy from: Amazon and Vital Baby

Bronze – Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump, £180

Best for: Helping to increase milk supply.

In the words of parent tester Simrit, who tested this with their 1 month old: “It has helped me increase my milk supply when I struggled post-C section. I would have given up breastfeeding if it wasn’t for this pump. I’d borrowed a pump from the hospital while waiting for this to arrive – I had the same volume for a fraction of the price with this.”

Buy from: Amazon and Ardo

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, worth the money, effectiveness, quality and design, comfort for parent.

Gold – Fraupow Wearable Pump, £89.99

Why it’s a winner: This is a compact powerhouse of a pump at a very competitive price. With 12 levels of suction (some of which are hospital-grade) and 4 expression modes, it actually offers more than some electric pumps we tested. We also loved its full LED touchscreen and the fact that on a full charge it has about 100 minutes of pumping time. Also, with no wires to worry about your hands are free so it’s truly portable. In terms of comfort, there’s also a good-quality silicone shield and a massage setting to stimulate flow. And, as a lovely, thoughtful touch, Fraupow also includes 3 free midwife support sessions.

In the words of parent tester Sandy, who tested this with their 2 month old: “I found it really easy to fit and, used with my nursing bra, I hardly noticed the pump. I also really liked how light it felt. It’s worth mentioning that Fraupow offers great customer service, including from trained midwives. I had a question and it was answered within a few hours via email.”

Buy from: Boots and Fraupow

Silver – Elvie Pump, £269 single or £499 double

Best for: Those on a bigger budget who want a serious bit of kit.

In the words of parent tester Dominika, who tested this with their newborn: “This definitely makes my life easier by enabling me to pump on the go. I can do pretty much anything around the house while pumping milk. The design and quality of the materials feels amazing. I was quite pleasantly surprised how it attached to my breast while in working mode.”

Buy from: Elvie, Boots (single) and John Lewis (single)

Joint Bronze – Pippeta Compact LED Handsfree Breast Pump, £98.99

Best for: Powerful hands-free pumping.

In the words of parent tester Rebecca, who tested this with their 7 week old: “I had previously felt a pulling when expressing with other pumps but I didn’t feel a thing with this. It’s not as big as I thought, it fits in a bra easier and isn’t too cumbersome. It feels absolutely great, you don’t even know you have it in your bra.”

Buy from: Pippeta and Natural Baby Shower

Joint Bronze – Tommee Tippee Made for Me In-Bra Wearable Breast Pump, £199.99 single or £349.99 double

Best for: Extra features and accessories.

In the words of parent tester Sermelia, who tested this with their 12 week old: “The pump comes with lots of accessories such as collector bottles and plug adapters for travel. You receive a lovely bag to store it all in and there is the nipple alignment feature, which is very helpful. There’s also an app, which is great for adjusting the intensity.”

Buy from: Boots (double), Boots (single) and Argos (double)

Shortlisted: Elvie Stride | Pippeta LED Wearable Hands-free Breast Pump

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, quality and design.

Joint Gold – Nanobébé Breastmilk Storage Organiser with Bags, £8.99

Why it's a winner: The Nanobébé Breastmilk Storage Organiser allows you to easily and quickly sort and store breastmilk in the freezer. The bags’ flat design cools and thaws milk quickly, while the organiser keeps the bags stacked on top of one another for convenient, compact storage. For our parent tester Zoe and her 7-week-old baby, time saving solutions are absolutely key. She found the Nanobébé Breastmilk Storage Organiser to be “really easy and quick to set up and use. It also doesn't take up much space in the freezer.” Plus, the bags are already sterilised which makes the process even easier.

In the words of parent tester Sinead: “This is a brilliant, space-saving design that has allowed efficient use of the freezer when storing breastmilk. Previously, I had laid bags flat in the freezer and I would need to wait until they were frozen to then stand them upright. That has all changed with the Nanobébé.”

Buy from: Amazon, Argos and Nanobebe

Joint Gold – MAM Manual Breast Pump, £40

Why it's a winner: “Really easy to use,” “sturdy and strong,” and “easy to clean” are some of the wonderful comments from our parent testers about MAM’s well-priced manual breast pump. With an ergonomic design and quiet pumping, it’s a great option to use whether you’re at home or out and about. Our testers were particularly impressed with how easy it is to use – the clear instructions also got the thumbs up – making it a great option for mums looking for a simple pump that is comfortable and efficient enough for everyday use.

In the words of parent tester Lana, who tested this with their 2 month old: “I hadn’t expressed before using this product so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was much easier and more efficient than I had anticipated. The instructions made everything very easy and I was confident with the product immediately. It is very intuitive and comfortable to use.”

Buy from: Very, John Lewis and Boots

Silver – NUK Nipple Shields, £3.99

Best for: Easing any discomfort during breastfeeding.

In the words of our parent tester Lisa, who tested this with their 3 day old: “I breastfed my other 2 children when these were not around, and my nipples were so sore. Having used these shield I can’t get enough of them. I think they are a great idea and wish I knew about them before; I tell everyone about them.”

Buy from: Amazon and Olivers BabyCare

Bronze – Wild Nutrition Food-Grown Breastfeeding Support, £31

Best for: Helping to increase breastmilk supply and reduce tiredness.

In the words of our parent tester Vanessa: “I was very impressed by the effectiveness of this natural product. My supply is up and I'm finding myself waking up feeling energised. The capsules are easy to swallow as they aren’t too large and I don't have to remember to take them after a meal.”

Buy from: Wild Nutrition

Shortlisted: Artemis Maternity & Nursing Sports Bra | DockATot La Maman Wedge

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, quality and design, comfort for parent, ease of washing and drying, style.

Gold – Natal Active Cosy Nursing and Maternity Hoodie, £55

Why it's a winner: You cannot beat a comfortable hoodie, especially when it is breastfeeding-friendly. This Cosy Nursing and Maternity Hoodie has extra long, hidden zips for feeding access and is “beautifully soft,” “stylish,” “excellent quality” and “perfectly priced,” according to our panel of judges. Parent tester Emma, who tested the hoodie while she was pregnant and then with her newborn, commented that is was “an excellent quality top that I would recommend to any pregnant or nursing mother.” There was also high praise for the quality fabric, that fitted “really well and felt extremely comfortable,” and the generous length of the top which makes it great for a large bump.

In the words of parent tester Samrit, who tested this when pregnant and with a newborn: “This became my go-to top as it is such a comfortable, easy to use hoodie that allows for discrete breastfeeding.”

Buy from: Natal Active

Silver – The Bshirt Breastfeeding Luxury Lace Cami, £26.99

Best for: A stylish, breastfeeding-friendly vest.

In the words of MFM's Digital Editor, Gemma Cartwright: “In the early days of breastfeeding you’re often at home doing as much skin to skin contact as possible, and this strappy top is perfect for covering up without overheating. The soft fabric and lace details make you feel a bit special, and when it's time to feed, there are no tricky hooks or straps for access.”

Buy from: The B Shirt

Bronze – Latched Oversized Breastfeeding Hoodie, £55

Best for: Cleverly concealed access.

In the words of parent tester Charlotte, who tested it with their 5 week old: “This hoodie is really useful to a breastfeeding mum. It kept me warm when feeding and I liked being able to wear a hoodie and feed comfortably at the same time. It washed well and I think will last a long time making it good value for money.”

Buy from: Latched

Shortlisted: Juicy Bumbles Breastfeeding Cover

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, worth the money, effectiveness, quality and design, longevity.

Gold – Vital Baby NURTURE Advanced Pro-UV Steriliser and Dryer, £129.99 to £139.99

Why it’s a winner: “This hits the mark for everything you need from a steriliser,” said one of our testers, and it’s easy to see why. It simple to use and super speedy, taking just 7 minutes for a cycle. And because it uses UV LEDs it leaves everything inside it dry (or nearly dry) and ready for use. Its sleek design looks great on the worktop and it got top marks for appearance. Another huge bonus is the range of things it can blast for bacteria and viruses – not just bottles and pumps, but toys, keys and even mobile phones, too.

In the words of parent tester Gemma, who tested this with their 3 month old: “Not having to add water and then dry everything was a fantastic time-saver. We live in a hard water area, therefore we don’t have to descale this steriliser. It was very easy to set up; once you give it the initial clean you can plug it in and it’s ready to go.”

Buy from: John Lewis, Amazon and Vital Baby

Silver – Dr Brown’s Bottle Steriliser and Dryer, £49.99

Best for: Parents of multiples, thanks to the generous capacity.

In the words of parent tester Charlotte, who tested this with their 3 month old: “The tray was spacious and, in comparison to sterilisers I’ve used before, loading the bottles, teats and lids was a breeze. Being able to load 6 bottles plus lids, teats and dummies has been incredibly useful. The quick cycle means the bottles are ready to go again in a short time."

Buy from: John Lewis, Boots and Baby Central

Bronze – MAM Easy Start Bottle and Microwave Steriliser Set, £78.00

Best for: Microwave sterilising.

In the words of parent tester Melanie, who tested this with their 3 month old: “It’s a super easy sterilising unit that slots together like a puzzle and stores away easily. With the 2 different sized bottles it makes it cost-effective for every family and the products are sterilised in a matter of minutes.”

Buy from: Mamas & Papas, Boots and Amazon

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, quality and design, baby acceptance, ease of cleaning.

Gold – Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottles, from £7.49

Why it's a winner: Marketed by Tommee Tippee as the “original breast-like bottle” with a teat that is shaped like a breast, the Closer to Nature Baby Bottles proved to be a hit with our testers and their babies, scoring top marks across the board for ease of use and effectiveness. Parent tester Annabel loved these bottles as her son could “feed well from them” and “switch easily between these bottles and being breastfed.” Praised for helping make life a bit easier as well as offering value for money, these bottles are a worthy gold winner.

In the words of parent tester Annabel: “These bottles look great and I love the colour range. They are very easy to assemble and take apart and clean, but most importantly my baby feeds well from them. Definitely worth the money.”

Buy from: Argos and Amazon

Silver – NUK First Choice+ with Temperature Control Bottles, from £5.59

Best for: Checking the bottle temperature.

In the words of our parent tester Lucy, who tested this with their 2 week old: “The temperature control is really simple but effective – I found it particularly helpful when out and about. The bottle claims to be anti-colic and my baby has not shown any signs of colic while using it too.”

Buy from: John Lewis, Boots and Amazon

Joint Bronze – Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle, from £10.99

Best for: A flexible silicone design.

In the words of our parent tester Chelsea, who tested this with their 4 month old: “This bottle is definitely worth the money. My little boy is breastfed and took to this bottle first time; the quality is fantastic.”

Buy from: Amazon, Argos and Nanobebe

Joint Bronze – MAM Easy Start Anti Colic 260ml Bottles 3pk, from £25.80

Best for: Quick self-sterilising.

In the words of our parent tester Nin, who tested this with their 2 month old: “My son is exclusively breastfed so I was worried about him accepting the teat, however he was absolutely on board and happily drank a full feed and continues to enjoy bottle feeding now that I combi-feed.”

Buy from: Mamas & Papas, Boots and Amazon

Shortlisted: Dr Brown's Options+ Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Starter Kit | Lansinoh Feeding Bottle Starter Set | NUK for Nature Bottle 150ml

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, quality and design.

Gold – Nuby RapidCool, £39.99

Why it's a winner: Our judges and testers really rated this innovative prep tool, which cools formula milk from boiling to the right (NHS recommended) temperature in just 2 minutes. All you have to do is fill the bottle with boiled hot water, add your measured formula powder and mix. When the formula is ready the lid of the bottle displays a green Nuby logo – it’s as simple as that. The RapidCool has been highly rated by our parent testers as a “great product” that “made life so much easier” with its ease of use and effectiveness, while only costing £39.99.

In the words of parent tester Lyssa, who tested this with their 12 month old: “This is worth every penny as it gives me peace of mind when making a bottle. Within 5 minutes the bottle is ready and I haven’t had to stress as I know the temperature is perfect for my hungry baby girl.”

Buy from: Boots and Amazon

Silver – Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & Night, £165

Best for: Making a fully prepared, perfect temperature bottle in 2 minutes.

In the words of our parent tester Hannah, who tested this with their 5 month old: “The Perfect Prep has made the process of making bottles so much easier. My son has a bottle every 3 hours so this really is a great buy to save time.”

Buy from: John Lewis, Boots and Amazon

Bronze – Nanobébé Slim Drying Rack, £13.99

Best for: A quick and convenient way to dry bottles.

In the words of our parent tester Nin: “This is a great quality drying rack that has been beautifully designed. I love the 2 peg heights, which can be inserted to suit the items you are drying. So simple and easy to clean and can be neatly stored away when not in use.”

Buy from: Nanobebe

Shortlisted: Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced | INOBY Portable Bottle Warmer | Tommee Tippee LetsGo Portable Baby Bottle Warmer

Key features we tested/judged — Comfort, ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, quality.

Gold – NUK High Performance Breast Pads, £4.10

Why it's a winner: One of the most essential items for breastfeeding mums, when it comes to breast pads you want them to be absorbent, comfortable and to stay in place. Thankfully the NUK High Performance Breast Pads tick all those boxes and more. When put to the test, these individually wrapped pads were found to be discreet, very effective and worth the money. Parent tester Sermelia called them her “new favourite breast pads. I found these so soft, even on sore nipples! They absorb well and stay in place for long periods of time.”

In the words of parent tester Hayley: “The NUK pads have a curved shape which fits perfectly to the shape of the breast, which was really comfortable; I hardly notice that I’m wearing them. They are very effective at night as they don't move inside my bra because they stick really well.”

Buy from: Feel Unique, Amazon and Olivers BabyCare

Silver – Jubblies Nursing Pads, £3.95 to £19.99

Best for: An eco-friendly alternative to disposable breast pads.

In the words of parent tester Becky: “These breast pads are absolutely worth the money. They are environmentally friendly while being super easy to wash and use. There are enough in a pack that you don’t feel like you need to be washing constantly and the designs make them enjoyable to use. The quality is also very good for the price.”

Buy from: Jubblies

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, value for money, effectiveness, comfort.

Gold – Mama Mio Keep Calm Nipple Balm, £12

Why it's a winner: This vegan nipple balm (it contains a vegetable substitute for medical grade lanolin) is safe to use whilst breastfeeding, and fragrance free. Our team of testers found the texture to be great – smooth and liquid enough to apply to sore skin, but thick enough to feel comforting and protective. The tube is also easy to open and dispense single-handedly, which is a real plus when holding onto your newborn or trying to undo a nursing bra.

In the words of parent tester Katy: “The Mama Mio nipple balm is lot less sticky than other brands, meaning it didn’t stick to my bra after applying. It worked almost instantly after application and lasted until the next feed; it's great that you don't have to wash it off. Overall I would highly recommend and will be switching to this brand.”

Buy from: Look Fantastic, Boots and Mama Mio

Silver – Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Nipple Cream, £6.29

Best for: A cost effective nipple balm.

In the words of parent tester Simrit, who tested it with their 5 week old: "This cream has helped me throughout the initial phases of a difficult breast feeding journey - whenever I've experienced any nipple pain I've applied it and it has prevented any cracks forming.”

Buy from: Boots, Amazon and Lansinoh

Bronze – Ardo Care Compresses, £7.95

Best for: A soothing alternative to nipple cream.

In the words of parent tester Jaydean, who tested it with their 1 week old: “I absolutely love this product; my nipples have been peeling and cracked, and these little pads of magic have given my nipples the coolest conditioning treatment. They have been a life saver!”

Buy from: Ardo

See all our MFM Award winners:

• Prams, pushchairs, lightweights and double buggies — 2023 winners
• Car seats — 2023 winners
• Baby carriers, slings and wraps — 2023 winners
• Sleeping and nursery products — 2023 winners
• Products for your pregnancy — 2023 winners
• Family health, bathtime and skincare products — 2023 winners
• Nappies, changing and potty training products — 2023 winners
• Baby & toddler weaning and feeding products — 2023 winners
• Lifestyle, travel, fashion, books and gifts — 2023 winners
• MadeForMums Special Awards — 2023 winners
• MadeForMums Editor's Choice Awards — 2023 winners