Do I need to sterilize breast pump EVERY time?

[m0mmyCool]

My son is a week old. I started expressing milk today. Do I need to sterilize my pump each time I use it? Or would it be enough to rinse it in hot water?

 

[storm84]

Its safer to do it every night when LO is asleep .. after 3 months you can stop if you choose as your baby has a better immune system

 

[AP]

Funnily enough in NICU none of us were offered sterilisers when we pumped. Nit sure why, but we had to use a touch of washing up liquid and hot water. We sterilised at home but even then that almost lost it's point because it wouldn't be sterile once I took it out and back up to NICU.

None of the 'how to's' in NICU said to sterilise either?

If I was at home and easily able to, yes I would sterilise

 

[DarlingMe]

It really isnt necessary to sterilze anything anymore! The older bottles and nipples made of glass and rubber grew more bacteria. The plastic and silicone used for everything anymore doesnt have the risk anymore. I usually clean mine with soap and water but I throw it in the dishwasher which sterilizes if I happen to be running it that day.

I also just had someone tell me a couple weeks ago that if you are doing multiple pumping sessions in a day you can leave the pump parts either out for up to 4-8 hours (different opinons on how long to leave BM out) or leave the parts in the fridge.

 

[My_First]

From my understanding about sterilising pumps and the advice I was given at the breastfeeding clinic, it was that breast milk is already sterile and so just sterilising once a day will surffice. Then wash and rinse with hot water and soap between times, and store it in a sandwich box.

 

[Louise N]

With my LO I sterilised the pump parts everytime but i've since heard that once a day is sufficient. I wish i'd known that then because it was very time consuming.

 

[ashley2pink]

I dont. I sterilized it before first using it, then just every once in a while after that. I have a manual one, I just wash it in hot soapy water