Do you need a steriliser for bottles/pump for EBM?

[AngelDog]

Or is a dishwasher on hot enough?

I'm trying to decide whether I need a steriliser amongst various stuff I'm borrowing for DC2. I'm not particularly planning to express, but I was planning to collect the excess leakage in the early days, and if I need to pump a bit to relieve engorgement, I'd rather stick the milk in the freezer than chuck it.

SIL has a steriliser I borrowed last time, but if I don't really need it, I'd rather not clutter my house with it (but I can't be doing with boiling things in saucepans either).

Don't know if this will be of any help, but when I was expressing I used a Mothercare travel steriliser-about the same size as a plastic lunch box, fill with a small amount of cold water and it's done in 8 minutes (or slightly linger depending on what strength of microwave you have).

Fantastic and didn't clutter up the kitchen and only cost about £5 I think?

• slightly LONGER.........sigh......!

Yes, I have a similar box which came with my tommee tippee manual pump. Or you could just use Milton tablets?
As far as I know you don't need to sterilise every time you use it, once a day is fine

you can also get bags for sterilising in the microwave. they are big enough for a manual pump and a bottle. or just stick in a pan of Bolling water for 10 minutes.

If you use bottles or silicone beaker teats you're supposed to sterilise up to a year, whereas the other stuff is only up to 6 months, so might be worth it.

No, you don't need to sterilise, careful washing in warm soapy water and air drying is sufficient. If you use the dishwasher remember to avoid the rinse aid, the chemicals in that are far worse than any germs your baby might encounter. Also, if you're breast feeding you'll be producing antibodies, so sterilising is pretty pointless.
This was info we were given by the hospital.

Thanks, all.

Brangelina, that's useful about the rinse aid. I did use to use the dishwasher for my pump for DS (when he was older though) and it never occurred to me to avoid rinse aid.