Washing feeding equipment¹

Fill the sink with warm soapy water:

• use the bottle brush to clean the bottles inside and out
• use the teat brush to clean the teats inside and out
• wash any other items used (eg, bottle caps, kitchen tongs, measuring jug)
• make sure you remove all traces of milk when cleaning the bottles and teats

Rinse everything well in hot water and leave them to air dry.

Sterilising by boiling or steaming or with chemicals

• If sterilising by boiling:
  • fill a large pot with water
  • place all the washed items in the water, ensuring no air is trapped and everything is covered with water
  • put the lid on and heat the water until it comes to a rolling boil
  • turn the stove off and keep the pot covered until you need the items

When you need to make up a feed, wash and dry your hands thoroughly and use the sterilised tongs to lift items out of the pot. If you remove items before you need them, cover and store them in a clean place – assemble bottles with a teat inside and a lid on.

• If sterilising by steam or with chemicals
  • follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using steam (in an electric or microwave steam steriliser) or chemicals (sterilising tablets or solution)

The CDC recommends sanitizing pump parts at least once daily for extra germ removal.² Sanitizing is especially important if your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer). Daily sanitizing of pump parts may not be necessary for older, healthy babies if the parts are cleaned carefully after each use. Sanitize all items (even the bottle brush and wash basin!) by using one of the following options.
Note: If you use a dishwasher with hot water and a heating drying cycle (or sanitizing setting) to clean infant feeding items, a separate sanitizing step is not necessary.³

We encourage recipients to discuss their needs and their baby’s needs with potential donors.

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When using #5 French feeding tubes for at-the-breast feeding or finger feeding, rinse the tubes with hot, soapy water and use a syringe to force soapy water through the tubes, followed by clear water after each feeding. Dry the tubes by pushing air through the tubes. The longevity of these tubes is not known. The tubes should be replaced when they become gummy, discolored, brittle, etcetera.⁴

Next: How do I protect my breastmilk during a power outage?

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1. KidsHealth – How To Wash & Sterilise Feeding Equipment ↩︎
2. Canadian Institue of Food Safety – Understanding the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing & Sterilizing ↩︎
3. CDC – How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean: The Essentials ↩︎
4. Breastfeeding Committee for Saskatchewan – Breastfeeding with a Feeding Tube ↩︎