Breastpump hygiene

[AngelDog]

I ought to know this - but is it enough to put your pump in the dishwasher once a day (if stored in the fridge between times)? I've not been sterilising it.

Would it matter much if it was a bit longer between washing it? It goes in the dishwasher every time it goes on, which is most days, but not always every 24 hours.

DS is nearly 11 m.o.

That would be fine IMO. Mine was washed and sterilised yesterday morning & I am about to use it again.

Thanks, Bumper.

I was paranoid and washed the washable bits after every use in hot soapy water and then sterilised them too!! But then I was pumping only when my baby was between 0 and 4 months.

I was paranoid and washed the washable bits after every use in hot soapy water and then sterilised them too!! But then I was pumping only when my baby was between 0 and 4 months.

so are you saying you don't need to sterilise after every use? I have been doing this and it is a pain as I am pumping a few times a day to increase supply in left breast which DD2 doesn't seem to like as much....

Sterilisation isn't needed with breastmilk alone as it has antibacterial and antiviral properties (formula doesn't plus contains bacteria from the start).

Hot soapy water and air drying or using a dishwasher should be fine.

That's what I thought.

tanmu82, as I understand it, there's now a focus on washing with hot water rather than sterilising, which is apparently what at least some SCBUs in hospitals do. There have been a number of threads on here about it IIRC.

When we were pumping up to 8 times a day, the BF clinic told us that pumps don't need sterilised after every use, which made things easier for us. We were told to wash out in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly and air dry after each use, and sterilising once a day was fine.

wow, that makes such a difference time-wise!