In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Nurse Purse is a great breast pump bag for moms who are planning to use the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, as it seems they made it with this product specifically in mind. The attractive pattern and simplistic design make it easy to utilize the pump and carry along a wealth of additional accessories and personal items. However, it falls short regarding versatility with the kinds of breast pumps it can carry comfortably. And while it is a lovely and fun purse, it does not look very professional, which can be a deterrent for moms who work in a professional setting and desire a bag that will blend in. However, its competitive price, attractive patterns, and its pump specific design make it a good option, especially for those looking to replace the Medela On the Go Tote.
REASONS TO BUY
Large
Fits most pump models easily
Durable fabric with cute patterns
REASONS TO AVOID
Few interior pockets
Lower quality zippers and nylon handles
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nurse Purse is made with the award-winning Medela Pump In Style Advanced in mind and it fits the pump along with its necessary accessories with ease. It can also accommodate two other pumps, the Medela Harmony Manual and the Spectra S1, both of which were included in our Best Breast Pump Review. However, to fit these pumps, the removable velcro pump casing must be taken out, which then makes it no more convenient than your average bag. It is the cute exterior fabric, durability and larger size that brings this a step above the included tote that comes with the Medela Pump In Style Advanced.
The Nurse Purse fits the Medela Pump In Style Advanced like a glove.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Performance Comparison
We love the stain resistant fabric and cute patterns that the Nurse purse offers. These things, along with the budget-friendly price and pump specific design make it one of our top competitors.
Ease of Use
The Nurse Purse with the Spectra S1 Hospital Grade Pump crammed in the pump opening.
The Nurse Purse filled with our personal supplies and the Spectra USA S1 Hospital Grade Pump. We were able to fit our laptop in the interior pocket and ipad in the exterior one (not shown).
This bag is super convenient when used in conjunction with either the Medela Pump in Style Advanced or the Medela Harmony manual. Unfortunately, the size and shape of the Spectra S1 does not lend itself well to the built-in pump compartment of this bag. The lack of pockets in the interior of the bag also makes it difficult to keep pump accessories separate from purse contents, which can lead to a messy and unorganized bag.
The single zippered pocket on the inside was just large enough to put small items such as lip balm, gum, and keys.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The Purse is a fairly durable bag made with water and stain resistant fabrics and nylon fabric handles. When faced with spills, this bag was one of the least likely to soak up the mess, with liquids just beading up on the surface instead. However, the 100% cotton canvas fabric on the exterior feels cheap and scuffs easily.
Although the hardware on this bag was all metal, the zippers themselves were plastic, and tended to catch frequently.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
During our testing, we also noticed the plastic zippers on this bag tended to catch or get stuck more often than the metal ones featured on the other bags we tested. We took note that other online reviewers did not run into this problem, so it might only be the case with the bag we had on hand. We appreciate that the bottom is lined, but it does not feel like high-quality, sturdy material. We did not open it to reveal the internal workings, but it feels like the only thing separating the contents of the purse from the exterior of the bag is a thin piece of cardboard, and we feel the structure of the bag will be less supported the more it is used.
We found the fabric had a few spots where the weave was not consistent.
Close up of the Nurse Purse's nylon handle, in our opinion, too flimsy to give good support.
Weight/Bulk
Of the bags we tested, this one fell in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. Although it is definitely larger than some others, we like that the thinner fabrics used on the exterior and lack of thick padding on the bottom of the bag offer a less bulky profile. Because of the larger size of this bag, we appreciated that it didn't add too much extra weight to the already heavy contents we were lugging around and found its slim profile to be a nice asset. While in previous reviews, the Nurse Purse was one of the top performers in this area, it is now just average compared to many of the newer options. Breast pump bags have come a long way in recent years and are now highly competitive when it comes to weight and size.
Features
This bag has multiple features that enhance its overall utility. We liked the gold metal feet, the zippered side access to the pump, the mesh pocket to hold tubing, and a spot to stash a photo. We found the three exterior pockets were large enough to easily accommodate two water bottles and a larger sized laptop. Having a zippered closure at the top is an important feature for keeping everything in the bag and keeping the contents discreet.
The feet help keep the bottom of the bag from getting as dirty and beat up.
When full, the Nurse Purse has a clean, structured look.
Style
The different patterns of this bag are cute, but definitely not professional. The exterior patterns are fun and quirky, and we definitely appreciated how easy to clean it was. However, we were less than thrilled with the nylon webbing handles and would appreciate if this cute bag would offer some nicer, more comfortable handles as well as metal zippers that would get stopped up less often. It is so close to being the perfect replacement for the Medela On the Go Tote, it just needs a little more refinement.
Best Applications
We think this would be an excellent choice for moms who are searching for a breast pump bag alone. This is a perfect option to carry a breast pump and purse contents during the pumping years, but it is not necessarily ideal for use beyond that. In theory, you could continue to use it as a diaper bag, but the front zipper poses a bit of an awkward dilemma should you choose to remove the interior pump compartment, and the lack of multiple inner pockets would make it difficult to keep things organized. Some working moms will be attracted to the bold, fun patterns featured on this bag and we say kudos to you if you work in a relaxed, fun environment, however, others may find the patterns a little too "loud" for a more professional workspace or even their own personal style.
Exposure to water did not have any lasting effects on the Nurse Purse.
Credit: Natalie Hale
Value
This bag if on the less expensive end of the spectrum, and can often be found on sale for even less. It still manages to offer more features and keep its level of quality above some others in this price range. It is a good value for moms seeking a simple and straightforward answer to their breast pump carrying needs. We think it is truly a good choice for anyone who wants a bag to fit their Medela Pump In Style Advanced breast pump, and we highly recommend it in place of the included On the Go Tote.
Conclusion
We liked this bag overall, and its features and price earned it a Best Value award, however, we were still left wanting in a few areas. We felt some corners were cut, such as the lack of support in the base of the bag and the plastic zipper closures. Despite this, it is excellent regarding its carrying capacity and how light the bag itself is. We love the fun pattern on the bag we had in-house and think the other options online are great as well.
