Do I need to sterilise my breast pump?

The answer is yes, you do need to sterilise your breast pump.

Just like sterilising your baby bottles and other accessories and equipment, your breast pump needs to be sterilised too. Although it sounds like a lot of cleaning, it’s extremely important that your pump is nice and clean the safety of your baby.

Whether you’re using an electric breast pump or a manual one, the guidelines are the same for both. Here’s why you need to sterilise your pump, how often and the method you need to follow.

Why do I need to sterilise my breast pump?

When you use your breast pump, breast milk will be travelling through the device multiple times a day, every day. This means that there is a risk of bacteria growth and therefore milk residue needs to be removed, so it doesn’t contaminate the milk.

Due to their underdeveloped immune system, if babies drink contaminated milk, they can become unwell and susceptible to bacteria. Sterilising your breast pump removes this risk and helps keep your baby happy and healthy. 

How often do I need to sterilise my breast pump?

In order to make sure your breast milk and equipment is clean and harmful bacteria is removed, it’s recommended to clean your breast pump after every use and sterilise at least once a day. It’s also recommended to sterilise your breast pump before its first use.

How to sterilise my breast pump

There are many different ways to sterilise a breast pump and it’s always important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that the method you choose is safe. However, here is a general step-by-step guide to help you.

Step 1 – Wash yourself & the surfaces

First thing’s first, you need to make sure that your hands, breasts and surfaces you will be sterilising on are clean. Wash your hands thoroughly in warm, soapy water and wipe down your surfaces with Milton Antibacterial Surface Wipes or Spray before sterilising, in order to minimise unwanted bacteria during this process.

Step 2 – Disassemble the breast pump

Read the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to properly disassemble the breast pump. You should be able to remove all the detachable parts including the bottles, valves, flanges and membranes.

Step 3 – Wash and rinse the components

Only wash the components that come into contact with breast milk. Rinse first with warm water to remove residual breast milk or debris and then use mild soap or Milton’s Baby Bottle Cleaner and bottle brush to thoroughly clean these parts. Make sure to scrub in the crevices where milk residue may accumulate and then remove the soap suds by rinsing again.

Step 4 – Choose your sterilisation method

There are 5 different sterilisation methods you can choose from and our blog article can help you decide which one is best for you. Click here to read it.

1. The Milton Method (cold water sterilising) – Uses Milton’s Anti-Bacterial Tablets or Anti-Bacterial Solution to sterilise in cold tap water for 15 minutes.
2. Microwave steam sterilising – Uses tap water and takes between 2 – 6 minutes. You must make sure that this method is safe for your breast pump model.
3. Electric steam sterilising – Follow instructions in the manufacturer’s guidelines for the steriliser as well as your breast pump model to make sure it’s safe to use.
4. Sterilising by boiling – Submerge the components in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Again, make sure all parts are suitable for this. Only ideal when you need to sterilise occasionally rather than regularly.
5. UV sterilising – Doesn’t use heat or water and cycles differ from model to model.

Step 5 – Air dry completely

Once sterilised, air dry all the components on a clean towel, clean cloth or drying rack until they are completely dry. Do not use anything to physically dry the components yourself as this could introduce new bacteria.

Step 6 – Put back together & store safely

After the components have completely dried, reassemble the breast pump. It’s important to store your equipment in a clean, covered container with an airtight lid to remove the risk of exposure to germs.

By following this process and cleaning and sterilising routine, you can ensure that your breast milk is safe for your baby. For more advice on sterilising, cleaning or other parenting guidance, visit our Parent Advice section on our website.

Shop the Milton range at Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, BIG W, Baby Bunting, IGA and other major supermarkets.