Are You Following the New CDC Guidelines on Cleaning Breast Pumps?

This summer, the CDC released more detailed guidelines on how to most effectively clean your breast pump.  Read on to make sure you are doing all of the right things to keep your baby safe and healthy.

Before Using Your Breast Pump

1. Wash hands. Use soap and water and lather for 20 seconds.
2. Assemble. Assemble your clean pump kit. Inspect whether the pump kit or tubing has become moldy or soiled during storage. If your tubing is moldy, discard and replace immediately. 
3. Clean if using a shared pump. Clean pump dials, power switch, and countertop with disinfectant wipe.

After You Finish Pumping

1. Store milk safely.  Place cap on milk collection bottle or seal milk collection bag, label with date and time, and immediately place in a refrigerator, freezer, or cooler bag with ice packs.
2. Clean pumping area. Especially if using a shared pump, clean the dials, power switch, and countertop with disinfectant wipes.
3. Take apart and inspect pump kit. Take apart breast pump tubing and separate all parts that come in contact with breast/breast milk (for example, flanges, valves, membranes, connectors, and milk collection bottles).
4. Rinse pump kit. Rinse breast pump parts that come into contact with breast/breast milk under running water to remove remaining milk
5. Clean pump kit. As soon as possible after pumping, clean pump parts that come into contact with breast/breast milk in one of the following ways:

Additional Sanitation

For extra germ removal, sanitize pump parts at least once daily. 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.

1. Clean first. Pump parts, bottle brushes, and wash basins should be sanitized only after they have been cleaned.
2. Sanitize. Sanitize the pump kit, bottle brushes, and wash basins using one of the following options. Check manufacturer’s instructions about whether items may be steamed or boiled.

• Place disassembled items that are safe to boil into a pot and cover with water.
• Put the pot over heat and bring to a boil.
• Boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove items with clean tongs.

• Use a microwave or plug-in steam system according to the manufacturer’s directions.    

     3.  Air-dry thoroughly. Place sanitized pump parts, wash basin, and bottle brush on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. Do not use a dish towel to rub or pat items dry because doing so may transfer germs to the items.

Safe Storage

Allow the clean pump parts, bottle brushes, and wash basins to air-dry thoroughly before storing to help prevent germs and mold from growing. Once completely dry, the items should be stored in a clean, protected area to prevent contamination during storage.

• Wash hands. Wash hands well with soap and water.
• Reassemble. Put together the clean, dry pump parts.
• Store safely. Place reassembled pump kit in a clean, protected area such as inside an unused, sealable food storage bag. Store wash basins and bottle brushes in a clean area.

By following these rules, we hope that you and your baby have a happy and healthy breast pumping experience!  --The aLoo Team

Image from onetinysuitcase.com