You may be wondering if the Willow pump is worth its $500 price tag. It is a steep price to pay, but the convenience definitely outweighs the cost of this pump.
The freedom to pump anywhere and anytime is life changing if you are used to pumping with a traditional pump. Many moms (myself included) feel like they would have given up on their breastfeeding and pumping journey without this pump.
Using the Willow to help provide breast milk to your baby is priceless. There are so many good things about breast milk that cannot be replaced with formula.
Some that come to mind easily are the antibodies in breastmilk and the bonding time with your baby. Another big bonus is when you pump breastmilk, you do not have to spend money on expensive formula.
To help with the cost of the pump, Willow will sometimes run promotions. For the best deal on the Willow, check out the current promotions by clicking here.
Pros Of The Willow Pump
There are so many benefits to the Willow, here are a few of the top ones.
- Willow Allows You To Pump Anywhere
Willow has a convenient cordless design. You can slip the pump into your bra and pump almost anywhere.
You can easily pump while at work, doing housework, doing yoga, or while playing with your other children.
When you use the milk bags, the Willow is leak-proof. This is a huge benefit if you have an active job, like if you are a nurse. This can also be a big benefit if you have small children because you are moving around all the time.
- You May Breastfeed or Pump Longer, Saving Money on Formula
Another big benefit is that this freedom while pumping can help you to continue breastfeeding or pumping for a longer period of time.
When you use a cordless pump like the Willow, you can pretty much go about your normal day. You just need a few short breaks to latch the pumps and to un-latch and store the milk.
Breastfeeding or pumping for a longer time period can also save you money. If you continue breastfeeding and pumping for a year, then you will not have to spend money on formula which can be very pricey.
- You Can Pump While Laying Back or Sleeping With Willow
One of the unique features of the Willow is that you can lay back or even shut your eyes while pumping. It is so nice to be able to rest and take a quick 20 minute nap while pumping.
If you are pumping during the night to increase your milk supply, you can even latch the pumps and lay back in bed. You don’t need to worry about leaking if you are using the milk bags.
This is a big contrast to a traditional pump where you have bottles and flanges and you worry about spilling. I had back pain from pumping when I used a traditional pump because I tended to hunch over.
Here are the step by step instructions on how to pump with Willow while laying down or sleeping.
- Willow Offers Reusable Containers To Save Money
Another pro to the Willow is they have the option of reusable containers with the 3rd generation pump.
If you do not want to use milk bags for each pumping session, you can pump into reusable containers. These containers can then be washed and dried for your next pumping session.
This will help you to save money because you will not need to buy milk bags for every pumping session.
You can check out the reusable containers by clicking this link to the Willow site.
Cons Of The Willow Pump
There are also a few drawbacks to the Willow pump. The biggest one is the price tag.
On the other hand, providing breast milk to your little one is like giving them liquid gold. It is priceless. This pump is a big reason why I was able to provide milk for my daughter for a year.
- The Price Tag
The biggest drawback to the Willow is the expensive price tag of the pump plus accessories.
However, they do run promotions frequently to help with the price of the pump or accessories like containers, milk bags, or chargers. You can check out the current deals on the Willow site here.
- Learning Curve To Align The Pump Properly
Another con is the Willow can require a bit of a learning curve to align yourself properly in the cup. This is because the cups are not clear, so you can latch the pump but you will not be able to see how the pump is working.
You can try a few different things to get the best output from the Willow. You may need to use inserts like these (on Amazon). You may also need to go down a size from your normal pumping flange size in order to get the best output.
One tip I can offer to help with alignment is to try using the pump with the buttons towards your armpits. Sometimes this can work to get a better alignment than facing the buttons to the top.
Willow also offers great customer support. They have a team who can help you with any troubleshooting you may need with the pump.
- Need to Re-Charge the Pump Daily
The next drawback to the Willow is that you need to remember to re-charge the pump. The box only includes one charger, so only one pump can be charging at a time.
My best tip to resolve this is to either purchase a second charger or get in the habit of charging one pump at noon and the other pump in the evening.
The charge should last for about 5 pumping sessions of 20 minutes each. This should be enough for most moms who are breastfeeding and pumping to only need to charge each pump once per day.
At the end of the day, none of these cons are really a huge deal. To me, the benefits of the Willow more than outweighed these few drawbacks.
Summary of Pros and Cons Of The Willow Pump
Here are the top pros and cons of the Willow pump.
| Pros | Cons |
| Freedom to pump anywhere | Expensive price tag |
| Pump while laying down or sleeping | Learning curve to learn alignment |
| Convenient cordless design | Only one charging device included |
| Milk bags offer leak-proof option | Need to continually purchase milk bags |
| Option for containers | Containers are sold separately |
| Provide breastmilk to child longer | |
| Save money by not buying formula |
So, Is The Willow Pump Worth It?
In my experience, yes, the Willow pump is worth it. The convenience of being able to pump anywhere at any time is life changing.
It can also extend your breastfeeding journey if you have grown tired of pumping and need to feel like you are getting your life back. Keeping your journey going for a year will save you money because you will not need to buy formula.
Plus, being able to provide breastmilk to your little one is priceless. It is so beneficial that even the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until the age of 2.
To see everything that is included when you buy the Willow, click here to check it out.
Another way you can save money is to fill out this quick form to see if your health insurance plan will cover a portion of the cost of the Willow pump.
Must-Have Pumping Gear
Hear are a few of my favorite pumping items that made my life so much easier.
- This is the best pumping bra that is actually comfortable to wear all day long (the Sublime version). Use this link and code Lisa15 for a special discount on your purchase!
- Try the Chocolate Fudge flavor of this yummy milk-boosting protein powder.
- Click here for the best deal on the WillowGo pump!
- These are the best baby bottle labels that will not wash off or wear off. The pineapple design and the whale design are two of my favorites.
- My favorite pumping bag that is roomy enough for my pump, a laptop, a cooler, and a lunch bag. They have so many cute colors and prints but I really love the Floral print.
- These custom baby name onesies I found on Etsy are so adorable I ended up buying them in two different colors. The shop even has a really cute matching mommy and me set.
- I used this tiny mini fridge (link to Amazon) near my pumping station at home so I didn’t have to trek to the kitchen after a middle of the night pumping session.
- This postpartum care box has a couple of my must-have items for the first few months after baby arrives. The tubes that help with engorgement provide so much relief.
- If you enjoyed this article, you can help support this blog by buying me a coffee here. Your support is very much appreciated!
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