not sure how often I should be doing this. I have the medela sterilization bags--should I do it after every time I pump and wash them? Once a week? I probably pump once a day, so is every day necessary?
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I EP and uhhhh... Never ? I did when I first got them and when I got them out of storage, but other than that I throw everything in the dishwasher each night. I do use the microwaveable bags when I'm staying in a hotel or something and don't have access to a dishwasher
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@Charm54: same
Never
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I never did after the first time. I did run them through the dishwasher occasionally (predominately hand washed).
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Another vote for (almost) never- I did when I first got them and then before baby 2 was born. That's all. And I hand wash in hot soapy water.
I don't pump often though- maybe once a week (or rather two days in a row with the parts in the fridge in between so I can get two pumps with one wash, then not again for two weeks).
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Also never (I EP'ed as well). Both my doctor and lactation consultant said it's only really necessary for preemies or NICU babies. I just washed with soap and hot water and kept in the fridge between pumps (washed 1-2x per day).
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I had a NICU baby and was told it wasn't necessary (for his particular needs, I know some need it!). So I never did. Kept them in the fridge and washed once a day with hot water and dish soap.
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I either boiled the parts or used the microwaveable bags every week or two.
I washed the parts as soon as I used them.
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Oh ha!! I thought it was totally necessary. Ok good to know I don't have to do it every time--those bags will last a lot longer this way !
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I rinse and sterilize everyday in a microwave sterilizer and then wash them with a brush and soap at the end of the work week.
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We don't run a dish washer daily, so every night we just dump pump parts, bottles, paci, etc and boil.
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Yep, same as others...never...I just run them all through dishwasher ever night.
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Almost never! I don't even wash every day because sometimes i just rinse and totally forget to. I will sanitize when I notice the fat building up in there--then i'll wash them, sanitize them (because they get SUPER hot), then scrub out the fat with q -tip. That affects the suck power, mostly.
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I primarily just used a dishwasher. I never separately sterilized. I would also like to point out that the heat, steam, and water in a dishwasher is super hot and more than likely sterilizes and cleans at the same time. I ran them through the dishwasher about every other day.
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I did it everyday haha. Maybe I'll be more lax next time
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I sterilized them when I got them and when I got thrush, but other than that, never.
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I do it when I handwash but usually I wash parts in the dishwasher.
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We hand washed every day and I sterilized every week or so.
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I don't have the bags or anything. I have used a microwave bottle steamer a couple of times - like when I got it and the. After an extended stay out of town. But usually I just throw it in the dishwasher every couple of days since I only pump once a day. Hand wash after every time.
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Echoing another poster that putting them in the dishwasher is definitely a way to sterilize them.
I actually am usually pretty lax about germs and the like so I'm finding it funny that I guess I've been pretty hardcore about sterilizing my parts! But we don't have a dishwasher. Sometimes I don't sterilize them if I know i've washed them in super hot water but I usually do it at least once a day. Though if I have to pump in the am before work I don't sterilize them again even though I wash them and I put them in the fridge between pumps at work.
Washing parts & bottles/sterilizing them is THE WORST part of pumping in my book. Can't wait to be done, put unfortunately my almost one year old is still a total BM fiend.
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@petitenoisette: I totally agree-- for some reason washing pump parts is way worse than washing regular dishes!
I never reallt thoght about putting them in the dishwasher--duh! That will be helpful.
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I did for maybe a month and then quit.
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I put them in the dishwasher sometimes...
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I ep'd for nearly 6 months and I never did. Once when I opened them and maybe once when I got a new set I just threw them all in
They went in the dishwasher top rack in a basket. I replaced the membranes every 8 weeks or so.
Always just popped the pump parts in a ziplock in the fridge. -
While my babies were in the nicu, I did it after every pump. It was suggested while they were in the nicu. The hospital gave us bags and they are used to sterilizing everything in the nicu.
When I went home, I sterilized once a day. I kept my pump parts in a large tupperware container and in the fridge between pump sessions and I sterilized once a day. I ended up having 3 sets of pump parts (thanks to the nicu), so it made it easy to have a new set clean and dry.
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When I first got them. I may have run them Through a sterilize cycle in the dishwasher every now and again.
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I sterilize mine every day. I never understood why it would be okay to not sterilize pump parts but not bottles. But maybe you don't need to sterilize any of it!
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Not sure what the right answer is, but I sterilized mine every night.
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I do the microwave sterilization bag daily, but that's just because I'm too lazy to give them a proper washing. I find it easier to give them a super-quick wash and then toss them in the microwave for 90 seconds.
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I sterilise them every night - I'm already washing a bottle that needs sterilising so might as well do them together at the same time. I have an electric steam steriliser so its no effort on my part.
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Once a day at night. I have a reusable microwave sterilizer and I'm on my second baby so I would say the cost was worth it. I use the bags for travel.
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I did when we first got them, but I don't think I have done it since. Definitely have never sterilized them for LO2. We don't sterilize bottles either.
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@PawPrints: that is also part of it--I don't stress whether my wash job is great since I know i'm sterilizing them
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Never. But we used the dishwasher.
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No steralizing. Washed in super hot water every 2 days. Kept them in the fridge inbetween.
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I have the Freestyle and was sterilizing all the time and then the parts started warping! So I bought a new set and just sterilized the tubing every once in a while and hand washed the parts every night.
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I was feeling guilty about only sterilizing every third night or so, but you all have made me feel much better! I wash after every use (hot water, no soap), run everything through the dishwasher about once a week (that's as often as we run it), and boil in between dishwasher runs.
Do y'all put the tubing in the D/W? I know it shouldn't go in the microwave bags, but I don't know if it is dishwasher safe.
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I use the steamer bags to sterilize my pump parts once a week otherwise I just wash them in warm water every night.
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I should do it soon!
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As an EPer, I do if every time I pump. I rinse them well and toss them in the bag. It's easier than washing them! And they dry immediately since they're so hot, so I don't have to worry about water getting in the tubing. I have a few sets so I usually toss the current one in the dishwasher when we run it, which is every couple of days. In the NICU they said to sterilize with the bags every day.
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40 comments