Talk to me about boiling your pump parts/bottles...

robyn183718 · September 2011

Ok, I know I am suppose to boil them before they are used and to sanitize every so often, but I HATE doing it, because I feel like they come out dirtier than when I put them in. I always wash them with soap and water before, but I feel like I have to do it after boiling them also because they get that cloudy dusty stuff on them. Am I missing something? Is there a trick that makes them come out clean when I boil them? I spent the WHOLE evening yesterday boiling. So frustrating!

TPINK6283 · September 2011

How long do you boil them for? What do you do to let them dry? I use Dr Browns and it specifies no longer then 5 minutes. I have never had them come out cloudy. I would actually prefer to boil more frequently but I heard its not good for them. Hopefully you figure it out!

rimjob · September 2011

I used the microwave bags. It says right on there that the tubes will look cloudy after boiling them. I don't remember the parts ever looking cloudy though.

Hopeful1! · September 2011

I EP with DS # 1 and now with the twins. With DS#1 I used the Advent bottle sterilizer until about 3/4 months. It is a plastic box that goes in the microwave for 2 minutes with a little water in the bottom. After 3/4 months he was putting everything in his mouth so I figured I didn't need to sterilize the bottles, I just washed them with hot soapy water.

With the twins I didn't even bother to use the sterilizer, everything has been hand washed or goes in the dishwasher and they have never had any problem. My pump parts (Medela) came with a bag that you could put parts in and put in the microwave to steralize. I don't think boiling is necessary.

robyn183718 · September 2011

Maybe I am boiling them too long... I have never boiled the tubing, just the bottles, nipples and other pump parts. After, I usually fish them out of the water with a fork and let them dry on a towel, or the bottles on a bottle rack. When they are dry I can literally wipe a white powder off with my finger!

rimjob · September 2011

robyn183718:
Maybe I am boiling them too long... I have never boiled the tubing, just the bottles, nipples and other pump parts. After, I usually fish them out of the water with a fork and let them dry on a towel, or the bottles on a bottle rack. When they are dry I can literally wipe a white powder off with my finger!

I don't think you are supposed to boil the nipples often. They break down pretty quickly if you do. I think it says on the pack to do them the first time and they shouldn't need it again.

robyn183718 · September 2011

Hopeful1!:

I EP with DS # 1 and now with the twins. With DS#1 I used the Advent bottle sterilizer until about 3/4 months. It is a plastic box that goes in the microwave for 2 minutes with a little water in the bottom. After 3/4 months he was putting everything in his mouth so I figured I didn't need to sterilize the bottles, I just washed them with hot soapy water.

With the twins I didn't even bother to use the sterilizer, everything has been hand washed or goes in the dishwasher and they have never had any problem. My pump parts (Medela) came with a bag that you could put parts in and put in the microwave to steralize. I don't think boiling is necessary.

I have the medela bags too. I bought them to use at work, but I always end up washing them at work anyways, so I never use them there either.

I always wash with soap and water, and they seem clean enough to me, but then I picture the lysol commercial LOL...

amahrey · September 2011

i only boiled stuff when i first got it. other than that, hot, soapy water did the job. i pumped with ds for a year and a half with no problems.

sweetteaBV · September 2011

rimjob:
I used the microwave bags. It says right on there that the tubes will look cloudy after boiling them. I don't remember the parts ever looking cloudy though.

This, except mine look cloudy after running them through the dishwasher. The steam bags are the way to go. For sure.

Mrs07 · September 2011

It sounds like you have hard water leaving the powder residue, but I have hard water to and I don't get that. I just get the little white circles (like on silverware) you can't remove them like you are describing though.

melandjudd · September 2011

We love the microwave bags, I started using them when we got thrush and have continued since. If not for the bags I would probably just wash with hot soapy water.