Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby’s health & development. Pumping milk is one method by which you provide breast milk to your baby. However, the remaining residue on pump parts and germs can grow rapidly in breast milk or breast milk. It is important to wash & Sterilize Your Breast Pump feeding equipment when you are bottle feeding. You will need to clean & sterilize each bottle, teat & screw cap after every feed. It would be best if you continued cleaning everything until your little one is 12 months old.  

Learn everything you need to know about sterilization bottles & breast pump parts here.

 

What is Sterilization?

 

Sterilization is a process that removes germs & bacteria from an item. It is impossible to sterilize an item using at-home methods completely; however, sterilizing an item at home will remove most of the germs & bacteria from an item.

 

Clean and sterilize baby’s bottles: why is it so essential

 

Babies cannot fight off a range of infections because they have immature immune systems. So one of the best ways to help them in staying healthy is to reduce the possibility of their getting sick in the first place. 

Milk is the best medium in which bacteria can grow. This is why it is important to sterilize all feeding equipment. 

 

When should bottles and breast pump parts be sterilized?

 

It is only required to cleanse bottles before they are first used. However, if your little one was born untimely or had a weakened immune system, your doctor may suggest sterilization every time you use a breast pump or feed your baby a bottle. 

Remember that only the items that come into contact with your breast or breast milk must be sterilized. For example, tubing for closed-system pumps doesn’t typically come into contact with breast or milk, so cleaning the tubing is unnecessary and you can easily sterilize and wash Prelax breast pump.

 

How to Sterilize and Clean Bottles and Breast Pump Parts

There are various methods to sterilize bottles & breast pump parts; let’s discuss them one by one:

Electric Sterilizing Method

 

Counter-top electric sterilizers use hot air & water to create steam, which sterilizes the bottle & breast pump components. Many models will also purify & dry the different parts using hot air. 

When using an electric sterilizer, ensure that it is FDA-Approved for sterilizing & it is important that all parts that come into contact with your breast or milk are facing down while being sterilized. 

For instance, Microwave steamers are not approved by the FDA for sterilizing. However, after cleaning, a microwave steamer can be used to cleanse the bottles & breast pump components.

 

Boiling Method

 

Most germs are diminished at a temperature of 100°C(boiling point of water) for ten minutes. You don’t need specialized equipment, so this method is beneficial if you only occasionally sterilize. 

For instance, if you must hand express some colostrum to feed your little one using a small cup or teaspoon you’ve sterilized.

Carefully remove the bottles & breast pump parts from the water, making sure you don’t touch any part that comes into contact with your breast or milk with your hands or tongs. Allow to air dry. 

 

UV Sterilizing Method

 

Ultra-violet light has been used for several years to remove the germs, bacteria & viruses in water. But, you know, this technology has crossed over into baby products. 

Currently, UV sterilizers are generally only big enough to sterilize the nipple of bottles and pacifiers, so they aren’t ideal for sterilizing whole breast pumps or bottles.

 

Cold Water Sterilizing Method

 

Even if you can’t use a steam sanitizer or boil water to sanitize the parts of your breast pump while traveling, it’s still possible to sterilize the bottles for your baby with cold water.

Sterilizing tablets are accessible that can be placed in a food-safe container with water that will cleanse your little one’s items. 

Once you dissolve the tablets in the water, submerge your bottles or breast pump parts completely. Follow the directions on the tablet container for instructions on how long to leave the components in the water. Once the correct amount of time has elapsed, rinse the components & allow them to air dry.

 

Conclusion

From the above information, we hope you understand why cleaning & sterilize baby bottles is so essential. But for regular cleaning, you can submerge the bottles & breast pump parts in hot, soapy water. Then, rinse with hot water & allow the parts to air dry. Most bottle components & breast pump parts can also be regularly cleaned using the top rack of a dishwasher.

Sterilizing is a simple step to help keep your baby healthy as its immune system develops. However, always check with your child’s doctor before discontinuing sterilization & always check for any cracks in your baby’s bottle nipples before use. For more updates Follow us on Facebook & instagram.