Willow Pump 3.0 and 360 vs Willow Go Pump

Willow 3.0 and 360 vs Willow Go… which is better?

Choices are good, and sometimes paralyzing… but mostly good.

Choosing between the Willow 3.0 and 360 and the Willow Go can feel overwhelming since both are great options.

Learn the differences between the Willow 3.0 and 360 here.

What are the factors you need to consider when deciding between these two pumps?

You need to consider what breastfeeding looks like for YOU and what YOU NEED a pump to do, which makes reading reviews challenging because rarely does a review look at what they needed in comparison to what they opted to purchase when evaluating if the pump was a good pump.

So, I’m going to give you a run down on the questions to consider, but these questions are only as good as the level of honesty you can have with yourself. Needs and wants are not the same thing. Budgets are real. No pump is going to be perfect - it doesn’t exist. BUT, these pumps do get pretty close when they are the right fit for you.

What problem with breastfeeding do you think this pump will solve for YOU?

I can’t give you an answer here, but I can tell you that if you make a post in the Facebook group that says what your issue with pumping is, and how you think one of the Willows could help you, we can give feedback, and we give honest feedback because we want you to be successful - even if it’s not with a Willow Pump.

How often do you pump?

Wearable pumps make it easier to pump when you need to for sure, but Willow 3.0 does require an adjustment period for most (typically 2-3 weeks) and regular use to maintain response to the pump. The willow go is a bit more flexible in that it may be better suited for infrequent or irregular pumping.

What type of flexibility and portability do you need?

Both pumps are wearable and fully contained in your bra. Willow Go only allows pumping into containers, and you do need to limit bending and rapid movements while pumping to prevent milk spilling from the top of the pump. Willow 3.0 offers the option of pumping with disposable bags or reusable containers. With reusable containers, range of motion is the same between the Willow Go and the Willow 3.0. Pumping with the disposable bags with the Willow 3.0, though, gives you the only leak-free pumping option currently on the market.

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Leak-Free. All positions. You can lay down and rest while pumping. Leak. Free.

This Willow 3.0 leak-free function is also a fan favorite for pumping parents who work jobs where they may be required to have unrestricted movement during pumping. Nurses report being able to perform their job without issue when pumping leak-free including performing CPR.

Do you need leak-free 360° pumping?

So, leak-free 360° pumping is clearly desirable. But, what you need to ask yourself is, “Do you NEED this feature? If you do, the decision is all but made for you as this is the only option. However, if you don’t NEED it, both pumps remain viable options.

What is your pump budget?

There is a cost difference between these pumps in terms of both initial investment and ongoing investment. Wearable pumps are not an inexpensive investment, and your choice of pump will heavily influence your overall costs. There is not actually a basic amount the pump costs outside of initial investment as your choices and practices change the cost dramatically. We do have breast pump part replacement calculators available to help you double check if a pump fits in your budget so you can plan ahead for expenses.

There is genuinely little sadder than a mom who realizes the pump she spent her insurance benefits on is too expensive to use the way she needs. It’s a lose-lose situation all around, and we don’t want that for you.

What is your tolerance for a pump’s learning curve?

All wearable pumps have a basic learning curve - some steeper than others. You have to dial in sizing, bra fit, and alignment. You have to master assembly. You have to learn to operate the pump. You have to figure out how to incorporate the pump into your breastfeeding routine. You have to learn the settings to use for your body. In some cases, you have to teach your body to even respond to it at all.

Wearable pumps are not an instant fix. They are an intentional choice you make to gain future benefits.

If you are in a position where a steep learning curve could be too much for you, Willow Go is your safest bet. It’s a decent pump with some challenges in learning assembly and settings, but it’s one of the easiest wearables to use successfully.

And real talk…

Willow 3.0 is not the pump you buy when you are all out of fucks to give. You can buy it when you are on your last fuck to give, but you need at least that one last fuck to survive learning to use this pump. We see moms every week who have spent hundreds of dollars on this pump to save their journey but lacked the bandwidth to commit to the learning curve. Willow 3.0 breaks their wallet and their spirit. And at that point, it may be too late to help them stabilize the situation. If someone had been real with them, their journey could have turned out differently.

If you are at your breaking point, reach out before you throw hundreds of dollars at the problem. I can help you re-center and calm the storm so that choices can be made while not in active desperation.

What does your milk supply look like?

If you have low supply, you may struggle with the 3.0 if you are unable to access the higher suction (if you need it) because of the programming. If you pump into bags, you may feel this is wasteful as the bags are expensive, and you would not fill them.

If you have an oversupply, the 3.0 may annoy you when it stops at 4.2 ounces. The need for multiple bags may be problematic. And, stopping to dump containers and swap bags may defeat the freedom you were hoping to achieve.

With the Willow Go, there is no sensor, so you could find containers overflowing if you don’t pay attention while pumping.

Both pumps can work for all milk supplies, but you do need to consider the annoyance you are most comfortable with.

Is the fridge hack super important for you to be able to do?

The fridge hack can be a valuable way to save time when pumping, but not all wearable pumps fare well with it. Willow bag flanges are the best for the fridge hack! Willow 3.0 containers are prone to errors if the valve gets stuck from milk fat with the fridge hack. Willow Go containers struggle with slipping duckbill valves and loss of suction with the fridge hack. Both require disassembly as motors in the fridge are a surefire way to be left with expensive dead pump paperweights.

This one is a toss up as neither pump is great with refrigeration.

And, yes, I know the fridge hack isn’t an officially endorsed practice, but adults get to make informed choices.

Where will you be pumping?

Environment matters with choosing a pump.
-Both of these pumps are contained in the bra, so we have the discretion factor.
-Willow 3.0 with bags is self contained for dirtier environments in a way no other pump can be.
-Both are audible, but not so loud as to interfere with your ability to wear them in an average noise environment.

So essentially these are relatively equal for most people, but if contamination is a concern the 3.0 with bags wins.

But what if you need them to wear while chasing kids?

Pumping happens with multiple kiddos at home, and chaos doesn’t stop for lactation. It’s been my experience that my preschoolers could sense just how far I could lean with a non leak-free wearable and what that restricted range of motion meant they could get away with. Willow 2.0 was worn as I laid down the law and kept the chaos in check flawlessly more times than I can count. Willow 3.0, with bags, can far outpace its competitors if you are trying to run your own 3-ring circus act during pump times.

How careful are you with cleaning?

This is a hard question to think about because I haven’t met many moms who happily admit they take short-cuts when cleaning and are going to struggle with pumps that are finicky to wash, but it’s a real thing.

These pumps use expensive and sensitive parts that require some careful attention to keep them clean. The Willow 3.0 container’s valve is honestly a pain in the butt. It’s hard to clean, and when it gets the slightest bit of residue, it brings pumping to a screeching halt faster than a toddler who is asked to find their shoes. Willow Go needs a deep clean of the duckbill valve and seat or the duckbill pops off causing suction to stop.

In general, neither fare overly well in the dishwasher. Some of that is the dishwasher in your house problem versus a pump issue. My dishwasher is hell bent on burning all pump parts to a fiery death, so my fancy pump parts are all hand-washed. If you are a diehard dishwasher kind of person, you may want to opt for the Willow 3.0 with bags as those flanges are much more durable and less finicky than other options. They are also the easiest to clean by hand, so it’s hard to say what you should do here.

Both pumps can be kept clean fairly easily once you have a good wash routine, and we have tips and tricks galore in the Facebook group for this.

But, if you are a “throw-it-in-the-dishwasher-and-do-nothing-else” kind of person, maybe Willow pumps are a less than ideal fit for you.

Do you need to sterilize parts regularly?

Sterilizing Willow parts is tricky. You can’t microwave the Willow 3.0 parts because they have magnets. The Willow Go parts would warp. Boiling them is a pain, and you have to watch the pot the whole time as melting these parts is easy. I actually use a UV sterilizer and dryer that has been great for all of my wearable pumps, but those aren’t cheap.

If you need to sterilize often, I would recommend the Willow 3.0 with bags as the safest and easiest route for keeping things squeaky clean.

How careful with attention to detail are you when putting things together?

This is an area where Willow 3.0 outshines the Willow Go by far. If the 3.0 isn’t assembled right, you know because it fails to operate. Willow Go can be a struggle to learn to assemble correctly and has made it difficult for many people to find joy in using it. The Willow 3.0 will give you 99 others things to worry about, but assembly isn’t high up on that list.

Do you find you despise doing research or troubleshooting?

With the Willow 3.0, if a problem comes up, we may have a 9-12 point checklist to run through to identify and correct the issue. Sometimes, getting it to operate can be downright tricky.

The checklist for Willow Go? Much much shorter. If it’s sized right, bra fits, it’s aligned, you are using settings correctly, it’s not damaged, it’s clean, and you put it together right, it’s going to work.

Both require far more attention to detail and the need to research and troubleshoot compared to say a Spectra.

So which pump should you choose?

That is up to you! Both are great, but they have their issues and their advantages. Both can revolutionize your pumping experience. Both can make you cry when they are frustrating. You have to make an informed choice and follow through with learning the pump you have picked. You have to commit to buying replacement parts regularly and cleaning them perfectly.

It’s just a matter of which problems you are looking to solve and what price you are willing to pay in time and energy to make the solutions work.

Also, I can help you figure that out. Book a consultation! Sometimes you just need someone who knows to help you sort out your needs versus the marketing hype.