AIBU nursery not using bottles for breastmilk

[quesadillasaurus]

My breastfed 10-month old started nursery a couple of months ago. I have been sending her to nursery with expressed breastmilk (EBM) and bottles, which DH cleans at home and I bring back the next day. Last week the nursery staff told me that they do not want the bottles anymore because she does not drink well out the bottle, and that they have been transferring it to a lidded cup for her. When we asked more about this, they said that they run it through the dishwasher after, but it is just one of their normal cups, not specifically for my daughter, and not specifically for EBM.

My question is, is this normal practice for nursery EBM container handling in your experience? I do not consider myself a germophobe, but I did some reading before buying a breastpump and decided to buy a new breastpump based on the recommendation from the American CDC that breastpumps should not be shared between users because of the risk of infectious disease transfer. I assume that the rule would be the same with bottles used for EBM, but I can not find it listed specifically anywhere. Surely it is not best practice to use normal nursery cups for EBM which will then be used for other children? Especially if not sterilized after use.

I'm not sure if I'm being too germophobic and/or how to bring it up with them. I'm pretty new to the nursery and I don't want to make a bad impression, but I'm also a worrier and I always try to do things 'the right way'. Any advice is appreciated!

Think there's a post in classics about things you did or worried about with your PFB! If your 10 month old is anything like mine who likes nothing better than a chew on a shoe I'd not worry about a well washed cup.

I thought you had to sterilise anything with Milk -formula or Breast - up until 12 months because of the sugars in milk.

My NICU twins used bottles only washed in soap and water by the staff caring for them. It’s not necessary.

I wouldn't consider myself a germophobe but we did sterilise milk related equipment up until 12 months old as per official advice where I live. I was using formula at that stage though but I would have assumed breastmilk the same, so I get what you're saying and can see why you might question it. It's probably fine at 10 months though - there's no magic switch that goes off when they're a year old. But if you'd prefer it was sterilised, it wouldn't be unreasonable to send her a sterilised cup from home.

Baby won't have milk out of the bottle so thet use a cup that goes in the dishwasher. I can't see the problem here

I think this is a bit dramatic - I get the idea of PPs saying breast milk may be more germy than say a cup of water but surely their saliva, grubby hands bla bla carry loads of bacteria too so not sure what difference it makes.

Also if she's at nursery that's the least of your worries as germs and bacteria get passed around like candy.

At 10 months they're likely crawling putting all sorts of toys in their mouth, licking random things including the floor so it's fine.

@5zeds

I think the OP is concerned that the OTHER children are drinking from cups that have had parents breast milk in without being sterilised.

Ah after reading the OP yes I think you are right. Hmm maybe OP has a point then, but surely a run through the dishwasher would be OK. If she's worried she could provide a drinking vessel and sterilise it herself at night. I guess there is a theoretical risk of something being transferred from the mum to another baby. Was that your fear OP? Sorry I misunderstood originally.

I think the OP is worried about the cup not being sterile for other children rather than hers?

Don't worry though OP, I don't think any possible infectious disease in your breastmilk would survive the dishwasher.

In a nursery there is going to be a certain amount of bodily fluids shared - babies slobber on cups and toys, vomit on soft furnishings. Everything just gets slung in the washing machine or dishwasher.

Sounds fine OP.
Nurseries are germ pits at the best of times anyway and cups are shared (after washing)

I wouldn’t worry, no

To a PP who said "I thought you should sterilise everything because of the sugars"......

It comes out of yer tit, love. No-ones adding sugar to it in there.

Facepalm.

Hi op I work in a baby room of a nursery and this particular scenario comes up lots of times. If a child will not take from the bottle we will try from a sippy cup as we presume parents will want their child to drink the milk even if it doesn't come from the bottle.

All cups are washed thoroughly in the dishwasher and there has never been a problem with "Cross contamination", the dishwasher is perfectly safe and cleans perfectly so every is sanitary. Have never heard of a child getting sick from drinking liquid from a clean cup do I wouldn't give it a second thought

I think your having a logic lapse op.

When pumping milk, no I wouldn't be sharing the connectors etc that go onto my breasts with another woman. I can't see that there would be a serious risk if it was sterilised in between uses but you don't know what skin issues she might have re touching the bits of the pump that aren't channeling the milk.

It also isn't best practise to give other children your breast milk unless it's been screened or whatever they do when breast milk is donated in hospital.

We also sterilised the bottles that they had any milk in when they were under 6 months.

But from 6 months they don't need everything that goes into their mouth to be sterile hence they war off cutlery washed by hand and mouth anything they can like a puppy.

A clean cup won't contaminate your milk.

A clean cup won't contain any of your milk to contaminate another child's drink.

@lookingforjobinspiration

To a PP who said "I thought you should sterilise everything because of the sugars"......

It comes out of yer tit, love. No-ones adding sugar to it in there.

Facepalm.

Er...?

Milk contains sugar. Have you ever heard of lactose?

@lookingforjobinspiration

To a PP who said "I thought you should sterilise everything because of the sugars"......

It comes out of yer tit, love. No-ones adding sugar to it in there.

Facepalm.

Well aren't you a treasure. A quick google suggests breastmilk is 7% sugar. Never heard of lactose? 🤦‍♀️

@MyDcAreMarvel

My NICU twins used bottles only washed in soap and water by the staff caring for them. It’s not necessary.

From birth??

@thebabynanny I agree I think this is what she meant.

Haha cross post

What's your ideal solution OP? DC won't drink from the bottles so...

Dishwasher temperatures get hot enough that things are sterilised, although they won’t be sterile by the time they’re used obviously. It’s good that they’re making the effort to get your baby on to using a sippy cup, 10 months is the a great age to start using them if the baby can, especially if they’re drinking more of your milk that way! My only worry would be rinsing the lids of the cups out properly afterwards. I always used to be paranoid that there could be residue from the dishwasher tablet stuck in them.

I think the OP is concerned that another mother's milk had been in the cup her daughter is drinking from, and that her daughter will catch something from the cup. I'm no microbiologist, but I think if the cup has been cleaned or dishwashed this risk would be negligible to non existent. Why not send her own cup if it puts your mind at rest.

The thing about the pump is that with most pumps you can't clean all the inner tubing thoroughly so that's why they recommend you don't share. So while you can clean the bottles and the outer tubing and parts, there is tubing on the inside that isn't completely separated from the tubes the milk passes through. That's where the risk of spreading infectious diseases comes from (and this doesn't apply to all pumps, just many of those used at home). However a cup in a dishwasher gets cleaned really thoroughly so it really isn't the same thing as sharing a breast pump.
So yes I'm afraid YABU and there really isn't anything to worry about your baby having milk in a cup that has previously been used by someone else, if it's cleaned properly in between.

The cup’s been through the dishwasher. It’s fine. YABU.

She’s 10 months! It’s fine for her to drink from nursery cups. She’ll be picking up all sorts of germs crawling around with other kids, and that’s a good thing - encountering germs is how kids build their immune systems.

@lookingforjobinspiration

To a PP who said "I thought you should sterilise everything because of the sugars"......

It comes out of yer tit, love. No-ones adding sugar to it in there.

Facepalm.

Breastmilk does contain sugar (lactose) Formula may contain bacteria that can cause tummy issues so if using formula you should still sterilise equipment

Let it go OP. When you find her eating mud and licking shoes you'll it care so much. As long as she's drinking it, it doesn't matter. Get your own lidded cups if it's a problem.