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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

travel steriliser advice please

19 replies

bluemoo · 06/10/2006 09:56

I'm after recommendations for a travel steriliser for when my ds goes into hospital in a few weeks.
I need one that will take my breast pump as well, and won't have access to a microwave.
Any ideas?

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 06/10/2006 10:01

you need those bag ones that you fill with water and put tablets in
I think they sell them in boots and mothercare

LucyJones · 06/10/2006 10:02

You can just submere it all in milton solution - you don't need an actual steriliser

LucyJones · 06/10/2006 10:03

oops, submerge

Tommy · 06/10/2006 10:25

I took an old ice cream tub away with us once - one of the big gallon size ones. Put all stuff in there with a milton tablet and water. Or you could just use a big tuperware type box. I found that more useful cos I could transport all the bottles etc in it as well.

Original poster
bluemoo · 06/10/2006 15:09

Plastic bag ones sound good.
Trouble is I need something small, as i have to get me, ds and his buggy and enough clothes etc for both of us for 3 days to central london on the train. So anything I get has to either fit into a rucksack or under the buggy...
The wonders of the NHS. They don't make it easy do they?!

OP posts:
2pumpkin2pumpkin1 · 07/10/2006 22:05

When DTDs were in NICU I was given an empty ice cream tub which I put milton in to sterilise pump to keep at hosp. You could leave the lid off tub for travelling & pack it with clothes & stuff to optimise use of space.

I have seen the bags in Tesco - don't know how much they hold. I suspect you will get your pump in there. If need be you could use two.

2pumpkin2pumpkin1 · 07/10/2006 22:07

Oh if using a houshold container you need to make sure that all parts are submerged with no air bubbles. Commercial sterilisers have a weighty that goes on top thing to keep everything submerged - which you won't have - but you won't need it TBH. You just need to ensure everything is submerged.

LaDiDaDi · 07/10/2006 22:26

i used the bags on my hols recently. I got them from John Lewis although I can't remember how much they were exactly it was a sensible price. They were handy but you do have to have somewhere to hang them for at least 30min.

Kaykoo · 08/10/2006 03:16

I have used LINDAM microwave steriliser bags on holiday ,£4.99 from Mothercare for three, and I was able to fit my Isis breast pump in and VIA cup and lid.
They are reusable, need to add 70mls of water and only three mins in microwave.

Kaykoo · 08/10/2006 03:20

sory, just realised you have not got access to microwave.

izzybiz · 08/10/2006 09:59

Cant you contact the ward you will be on and ask if they have any to lend?

Or something you can use instead, would save carrying another bulky item.

dizzymeg · 08/10/2006 12:01

Presumably it's a childrens ward that you will be going onto, in which case I'm sure they will be able to help you if you just give them a call. They might even lend you a hospital pump as well (even less to pack ! ).
Good luck by the way....

Original poster
bluemoo · 08/10/2006 14:41

Thanks for all the advice. They might well have something I can use on the ward. Trouble is we have to stay in a hotel the night before as we have to be on the ward at 7am the morning of the op (in central London) and I don't fancy the 5.15am train option with a baby who's not allowed to feed! Was planning to express that morning to avoid agonising boobs from screaming baby...
Has anyone used the travel electric steam sterilisers you can get? I don't think they'll fit a pump, though.

OP posts:
LadyPenelope · 08/10/2006 14:48

We used a tupperware box - measure the appropriate amount of liquid and then mark the side with tape/pen so you know how much to put in next time. The box can be packed with tablets, spare, bottles, or just clothes when you are travelling. We used this whenever we travelled and it's really easy.
Good luck with the hospital stay - sounds hard.

determination · 08/10/2006 16:46

The plastic bag ones are good, they are a bit pricey tho. I also found that the tablets you get in them dont properly desolve so i replaced them with milton ones and also reused the bags!

Original poster
bluemoo · 08/10/2006 18:18

Might try the plastic bag ones with milton then. Was a bit put off by the boots ones that say you have to rinse everything with cooled, boiled water after sterilising. I suppose a big freezer bag would also do if I could find a way of keeping it upright. Or a tupperware box if I can get one the right size...

OP posts:
pupuce · 08/10/2006 18:23

If it is all to be breastmilk - you do not need to sterilize !!! There are no bad bacteria in EBM!
Wash your equipment with hot soapy water and rinse well... that's all

dizzymeg · 09/10/2006 12:02

My baby spent some time on NICU, so I was expressing at the hospital. The staff there also said you only had to use soap and water and allow to air dry. No sterilising stuff given to you, had to take your own if you insisted on using it.

Original poster
bluemoo · 09/10/2006 17:20

Fantastic!
So presumably if I wash the bottles and pump etc at home and take them up in a clean freezer bag should be okay. That would make life a lot easier.
Thanks for the advice.

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