QUESTION: I have basic questions about storing breast milk. Do plastic bottles need to be sterilized before pumping milk into them & how do I do that? Is it better to use milk storage bags, rather than pump straight into a bottle? And what about sterilizing nipples? What are the best nipples to use?
 

Dear Jodi,

Well I certainly do love the name you have chosen for your baby! Annie is my mother's name. To answer your question, neither bottles nor nipples have to be sterilized for healthy breastfed babies at home. Hot soapy water or a dishwasher is sufficient. If you are pumping for a baby in the hospital, then I would recommend it. It's interesting that different hospitals have different storage guidelines, so it is important to check with the hospital on that. If you should ever need to sterilize, wash first with soapy water, rinse, put in a pan of water (items should be covered with water,) and boil for 15-20 minutes. Remember to set a timer--you can't imagine how many call I get from people who go off and forget. I, myself, melted two breast pumps this way 15 years ago when we didn't know that we didn't have to sterilize!!

Glass, hard plastic or milk storage bags? It's personal preference. If space is a concern, milk storage bags don't take up as much space in a freezer. If you use plastic bottle liner bags, then you need to put those bags into a large freezer bag or some other container. Odors can penetrate the thickness of those bags, so you need some form of double-bagging. (By the way, simply use a twist-tye to close the bags.)

You may be interested in the "Mother's Milk Mate" storage system. The best nipples to use are any that your baby likes! However , if you haven't bought any yet, it's a good idea to buy nipples that say "Orthodontic" because they are better for the development of your baby's facial muscles. Some babies have very strong preferences for one nipple over another. If one doesn't work well, try another. Don't buy more than one of any kind until you know. The Avent (made in England) nipple and bottle costs more than most of the others, but many mothers have reported to me that they worked when nothing else would!

Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC, LLLL

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