What Is a Lactation Massager? Here’s Everything You Need to Know (Plus, the Best Massagers You Can Buy)

“I’m prone to clogs and I’m in love with this massager,” says one of the many nursing mothers who report that this baby resolves clogged ducts like nobody’s business. It also boasts five different vibration modes, an adjustable heat function and a smooth food-grade silicone exterior so you can empty your breast without unnecessary discomfort. That said, this one doesn’t have a long run-time, so you’d be wise to charge it when it’s not in use and make hay when the sun shines.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

Maybe you can’t take the heat, or perhaps you’re investing in a massager that you can use in conjunction with another heat source—either way, if you don’t require a warming mode, this number from LaVie should do the trick. Enthusiastic reviewers report that the multiple vibration modes on this miracle worker provide instant relief when you’re engorged and take pumping to a whole new level (i.e., less time spent awkwardly locked in the office bathroom). Best of all, it’s waterproof, which is one more reason to pencil in a long, hot shower when you’ve got a clogged duct. (Just don’t leave it on the bathroom sink for your FIL to see, lest he get the wrong impression.)

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

All the products on our list are designed to loosen up clogs, but the unique design of this massager from Frida Mom gives it an edge on the competition in the clogged duct department. This puppy has a looped end to pull out blocked milk, a targeted tip to break up stubborn clogs and a curved side ‘scoop’ to fully empty the breast. It’s also safe to bring into the shower and small enough to slip into any bag when you’re on-the-go. While this one boasts over 2,500 five-star reviews, some users say that the battery life only lasts for two or three uses.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: USB cord

This tool—an improvement on LaVie’s tremendously popular entry level lactation massager—packs a punch (in a good way) with two powerful heated massage pads. Yep, you get one for each boob, so there’s no need for turn taking and the pads slip comfortably into a nursing bra for a hands-free massage. Plus, Anderson “tends to recommend products with a wide, flat surface to rest against the breast tissue for best stimulation,” and the design of this one fits the bill. Best of all, this puppy has three heat settings and adjustable vibration intensity—another expert preference and a combo that happy customers praise for doing a bang-up job at triggering letdown and maximizing output, whilst providing maximum comfort and pain relief.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

Unlike some of the other options on the list that need to be held during use, the small size and ergonomic design of the Grownsy lactation massager makes it easy to slip in your bra while breastfeeding or pumping. Don’t be fooled by its size, though—reviewers unanimously agree that this sleek little number is “small but mighty” and that the dual heat settings and option for constant or intermittent vibration allow for a customizable massage that makes a significant difference in the amount of milk removed from the breast during pumping sessions. This option also gets high praise for how quickly it heats up (i.e., “almost instantly”) and how long the battery lasts. In other words, it checks all the boxes.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

This manual massager from LaVie features a textured, medical-grade silicone roller to stimulate milk production and flow, as well as a scooped handle to ensure every last drop is removed from the breast. Needless to say, this tool isn’t for those who are looking for a truly hands-free massage. Still, it makes the job a lot easier and the scores of glowing five-star reviews confirm that it performs just as well as any electric massager and is both comfortable and easy to use before, during or after nursing and pumping. Best of all, if you go with this budget-friendly option, you’ll never have to worry about charging it between uses.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: N/A
• Power Source: N/A

For those who spend a lot of time pumping or nursing in public places, a lactation massager you can hear from a mile away isn’t ideal. Good news: This vibration-only lactation massager from Lumama is, by all accounts, whisper-quiet. It’s worth noting, however, that this comes at a cost—namely, lower intensity vibrations—so if you’re looking for a super powerful lactation massager, this might not be the one for you. Still, customers say that it’s strong enough to effectively loosen clogged ducts (there’s a pointed end for that purpose) and speed up the process of emptying the breast. Bonus: The size and shape of this lactation massager makes it easy to slip into a bra, so it’s discreet in more ways than one.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

Fans of the AL’OFA lactation massager swoon over the silky-smooth feel of its liquid silicone surface and its soft, slightly curved shape—two features that provide for an extra comfortable massage experience. (Psst: More than one reviewer reports that it feels quite nice down below, too.) It also boasts seven different vibration settings, so users can experiment to find a pattern and intensity that suits their personal preference, and is said to be relatively quiet and completely waterproof as well. That said, this massager isn’t quite as powerful as some others on the market, which may or may not be a problem depending on your needs.

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: battery powered

You wouldn’t want to leave most lactation massagers lying around for company to see, which is unfortunate, since nursing mothers are putting them to use multiple times a day. The Haaka lactation massager, however, boasts a clever shell design that’s innocent looking enough to leave out on your coffee table or office desk. (According to one reviewer, you can even hand it to your baby as a teething toy without anyone giving you the side-eye.) Another benefit of the unique shape is that it conforms nicely to the breast for stimulating a large area (while making you feel like a pretty mermaid) and can be used on its edges for a targeted clogged duct massage. Finally, this baby boasts seven vibration modes, albeit no heated mode, so it won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy.

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: USB cord

The MomCozy lactation massager boasts two heat modes and six vibration intensities that happy customers say are “strong and effective” enough to soften engorged breasts, increase milk flow and reduce pain from clogged ducts and pumping. It’s also reportedly quite comfortable to wear in your bra, even if you’ve got a bigger bust. Indeed, this puppy is lauded across the board by pumping and nursing mamas who love the variety of vibration and heat options on offer and the overall performance of the product. Or, as one reviewer put it, “do not think twice, these are a game changer.”

Fast Facts

• Cordless: yes
• Power Source: USB cord