Wearable cups turn portable and traditional pump motors into a discrete pumping option which makes pumping in situations that are uncomfortable with traditional flanges possible. Wearable cups started as an aftermarket option and performance with various pumps was unpredictable because they weren’t paired with a motor they are designed for.

What we are seeing now is more brands custom designing cups that are made to optimally perform with their motors. BabyBuddha pump is a long time fan favorite and can be paired with almost every cup on the market. But there wasn’t a cup designed to match the suction pattern of pump that people loved with flanges- we always had to compromise by reducing suction, raising suction, or plain old changing the pattern enough to make an impact for some people.

BabyBuddha Express Cups+ change that for pumping parents! These cups combine a similar body shape and style of the Youha cup or Zomee Cup with silicone internal parts that are custom matched to the BabyBuddha pump. They pair a proven functional design with the ability to increase the optimal performance of the cups. These are not an identical or updated version of another cup- these are the only cup designed to match the power of the BabyBuddha pump in cup form.

BabyBuddha Express Cups+ pull suction that is slightly higher than the BabyBuddha Flanges but with the same overall suction patterns

This means that the reduced suction we see with cups at the breast is going to produce as close of a pumping experience to the BabyBuddha flanges as possible for your optimal pumping success

Now- let’s get into the nitty gritty of what you need to know about these cups.

There is going to be a learning curve with these cups. All wearable pumps and cups come with a learning curve. To successfully use a wearable cup and get optimal results you have to balance flange sizing, bra fit and alignment. These can take time to dial in to perfect, and you may need help. That’s okay! We can help you with these things- we’ve taught thousands of moms how to make wearables work for them. And BabyBuddha provides no-cost lactation support for users of their products to assure their optimal chances at success meeting their goals- all you have to do is email customer support.

Pros and Perks:

Designed to work with the unique suction pattern of the BabyBuddha pump so we see more predictable suction in line with how the pump is intended to work
Silicone flanges make for a comfortable secure fit against the breast
Sizing options from 10 mm to 28 mm will cover most pumping parents needs (BabyBuddha brand inserts or flange in size 17 mm, 19 mm, 21 mm, 22 mm, 24 mm, 26 mm and 28 mm)
Secure tubing connector for easier assembly and disassembly with no tube disconnections during pumping
Extremely leak resistant- you can move about your day with very little restriction in movement. The only hole is at the very top next to the breast which means you have to go past 90 degrees to get a leak unless you overflow or slosh milk around.
The redesigned silicone backflow protectors provide a more noticeable massage and compression effect than with comparable cups- the backflows ability to handle the sustained suction in a controlled manner allows this to be quite noticeable.

Cons and Considerations:

Larger profile due to 8 capacity
Silicone flanges aren’t for everyone
Silicone flanges exacerbate sizing issues in regards to tissue trauma but not always as painful so moms will need to assure they are sized properly.
Bra fit needs to be right or suction may be lost and there is a risk of poor output (And no- just wearing a tight bra isn’t the same as properly fitted).
Even an optimized cup can’t beat the effectiveness of a traditional flange and hands on pumping.

Quirks of These Cups to Be Aware Of:

The backflow protecters absolutely must be boiled to prep them to achieve suction adequately
Flanges have more compression around the nipple due to the suction patten which may aid in better milk flow compared to similar designs without the modified backflow protector.
Suction loss is more noticeable with overly large sizing than with other cups
Exact sizing/smaller than exact sizing risks extreme damage to the milk supply and nipple tissue over time because of the high suction with this combination and slight compression of the flange. Given this trend in sizing advice you will want to double check that the right way before you chew up your nipples.
Zomee Cups and Legendairy cups have parts that look almost identical to the silicone parts of the Baby Buddha cups- but the BabyBuddha Express Cups+ silicone has been modified and adapted to perform optimally with the BabyBuddha pump. Interchanging parts will alter your cups performance.

Similarities to Other Brands of Wearable Cups

BabyBuddha Express Cups+ and Zomee Cups look very similar- as they should! These are rebranded and modified cups of the same style- Youha works with companies to modify their base model of cup to match the performance an individual company wants their product to have. This does not make one model of these cups identical to another however- they have been specially designed to perform optimally with the motors each brand has on the market. One of the first questions asked when these cups were announced was how do they compare to Zomee Cups as the appearance is similar- so I tested them head to head. Zomee Cups and BabyBuddha Express Cups+ are both solid options- but they don’t perform the same when paired with either the BabyBuddha motor or the Zomee Z2 motor. Those slight differences in silicone can have a surprising impact on performance. This is why it’s often most successful to stick with the brand your motor is designed to work with unless you are opting for an alternate brand to alter performance to be stronger or lower based on your needs.

Durability of the Cups and Parts

I put these cups through their paces when I got them- durability of parts is a huge concern with pumps and accessories these days. After running these parts through 150 pump cycles and testing with a suction gauge there was minimal loss of suction meaning you can trust these parts will last at least 75 hours. That means a working mom pumping with these three times a day, five days a week, for 20-30 minutes per session can expect the duckbills to last roughly 4-6 weeks. The backflow protectors are still going strong at this point in testing suggesting we should see 6-12 weeks with this usage no problem. This is not an expected result- this is right in line with the high quality I would expect with comparable cups and is in step with the reputation of BabyBuddha. Your replacement schedule will be determined by your personal usage, washing routine, and sensitivity to suction changes. Replacement parts should be available within a month of launch!

Compatible Inserts

Download The Full PDF Of Flange Sizing Options Here

These cups are compatible with most inserts on the market and sizing can be adjusted between 10 mm and 28 mm depending on your needs. Different inserts come with different textures though and this does change the way the cups feel at the breast. Here is the quick rundown on which inserts have the best performance and effects you might like:

BabyBuddha inserts are thin and do not alter the feel of the pump’s suction
Legendairy’s inserts are great for elastic nipples and provide the most noticeable massage effect
Lactation Hub inserts come in the widest range of sizing options allowing more tailored fits
Freemie Traditional inserts are firm and long with a wide rim that reduces the pressure on the areola and nipple
Maymom long inserts (especially in the thicker smaller sizes) reduce the massage/squeeze effect at the nipple
Lozaeve, Mompmuir and short inserts like this may be problematic for elastiticty.
Maymom short inserts fit snuggly and reduce the massage/squeeze effect
Nenesupply inserts may feel hard and firm in the tunnel- may mimic hard flanges
Begical inserts allow for sizing adjustment in a 28 mm flange
Pumping Pretty Inserts flatten the flange opening which may be helpful with flat nipples, broad breasts, or for those who want to reduce that massage effect.

Having such a wide array of inserts is fantastic- we should be able to find almost every mom the perfect fit. It can be overwhelming though. If you are struggling and just need a safe choice I recommend BabyBuddha inserts, Legendairy Inserts, Maymom Inserts (Short or Long) and Lactation Hub inserts. These should be relatively easy and reliable options. If you aren’t loving the fit just email customer service to connect with lactation and this can be fine tuned!

Overall Thoughts

These are a great option and I am super excited to have this option hit the market! Wearable cups are a secret weapon in the pumping game to make a more durable and reliable portable motor discrete and truly hands free. It has been a challenge as all of the wearable cup options have hit the market to pick the best cup to pair with the Baby Buddha but this cups answers that ever popular questions of “which cup is going to get me as close to what I see with flanges as possible” beautifully.

BabyBuddha Express Cups+ Review