Mamas who pump...

DahliaFlower · March 2014

I am a working mama and my LO gets bottles on a daily basis.

I am wondering if you sterilize your bottles / pump parts, and if so, for how long did you do so (or do you plan to do so)?

I always envisioned stopping sterilizing everything at some point when LO's digestive system was mature enough, maybe 6 months or so? I don't want to shield him too much from all antigens, because I am concerned he will be hypersensitive if he has no exposures. But I also realize that sterilizing parts helps prevent pumped milk from spoiling, so I am wondering if I should keep it up for longer.

What did you do or what are you planning to do?

jesuisfatiguee · March 2014

I started pumping regularly at 8 months, and only sterilized once, before first use. I run everything through the dishwasher, sometimes with a super hot water rinse first. I think that's plant, personally.

scruggsa · March 2014

I sterilized everything before using. I have not resterilized bottles. I use to sterilize my pump parts daily in the medela steam bags. Now I may use the steam bags one a month.

vvvvvfee · March 2014

ditto, i sterilized everything the first time, then just ran it through the dishwasher after each use.

musicalsilver · March 2014

I'm with many of the PPs. After an initial sterilization, I haven't done anything since. I wash my pump parts and bottles in warm soapy water after use, and that's it!

melaport · March 2014

LO is almost 3 months...I sterilize weekly and hand wash daily.

BootsOrHearts · March 2014

I only ever washed pump parts and bottles with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher, but since we've been battling thrush, I sterilize (via the medela microwave steam bags) before ever use. Womp womp.

Myaflowers · March 2014

I didn't even sterilize pump parts before the first time because I was in the hospital and baby was in the NICU. Sterilizing didn't cross my mind a few hours after a c-section. I just took the pump and parts the nurse brought me and started pumping. I did sterilize bottles and pump parts one time once we were home. After that, I just hand washed daily in very hot water.

Unknown · March 2014

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RootBeer29 · March 2014

I sterilized before first use. I use the microwave steam bags once a week and hand wash daily.

nblondheim · March 2014

I sterilized before using. I wash in hot soapy water after every use. I sterilize once a week. I do have preemie twins!

C12H22O11 · March 2014

I sterilized before first use with boiling water. I'd sterilize using a Medela steam bag when I got home from work each day (it would take about an hour for me to get home in the afternoons and my car would get super hot - was worried about bacterial growth on flanges; milk was in a cooler).

Would store everything in the fridge during the work day.

CNYBride05 · March 2014

Bottles always go in the dishwasher after use. Pump parts are stored in the fridge and get washed every few days and go in the microwave sterilizer bag after washing.

peitri · March 2014

I wash pump parts & bottles in warm soapy water. That's it.

fusionbride · March 2014

I only sterilized everything regularly until baby was 8weeks, when I asked pedi if it was necessary anymore, and he said no. After that, things were hand-washed or run through the dishwasher. I would sterilize if something sat out on the counter for like a whole day or two, but that wasn't very often.

if you have a preemie or imuno -compromised kid, ask your pedi, but for typical kids, I don't think it is necessary past the very beginning.

DahliaFlower · March 2014

Thanks, everyone. I was ready to break the sterilizing habit, lol! Now I feel more confident in doing so.

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