The Refrigerator Flange Hack - Is it Safe?
A common hack for pumping moms to help make pumping a little easier is to stick the pump flanges and bottles in the refrigerator in between pump sessions. For a lot of parents, this hack helps cut down on the time spent washing pump parts, reduces the need for additional parts, and helps reduce the time spent dealing with pumping.
But is it safe?
The official answer is, unfortunately, no. When it comes to this practice, it is directly against the CDC recommendations of washing pump parts in-between uses with hot soapy water.
The reality, though, is that a lot of parents are doing this, and we have little, if any, evidence of harm from this practice. There are way to mitigate risks and practices with this hack that are higher risk than others.
Things to consider:
The biggest thing to consider is the health of your baby. Is your baby a fragile newborn or a hearty 6 month old? Does your baby have underlying health issues? Are there concerns where your baby may be more susceptible to infection than other babies?
If this is the case for your baby, this hack is not a good idea.
So, what if your baby is healthy and strong?
This, like so many things in parenting, comes down to parental choice. There are going to be times in which you choose to utilize practices that go against the official guidelines, and you should be provided the necessary guidance to help you make an informed choice.
So, if you want to use the refrigerator hack, what are the risks?
The breastmilk in the flanges and bottles cools and is reheated potentially multiple times with refrigeration in-between uses. This creates an increased risk for bacterial growth on these surfaces that could lead to contamination.
Placing the flanges and bottles in the refrigerator carries some risk of contamination from other foods stored near the milk.
If the flanges and bottles are rinsed, but not washed, there is an increased risk of contamination from the water that could allow for contamination of your milk.
Are there ways to mitigate these risks? Yes!
If you do choose to use the refrigerator hack, try not to go more than 8-12 hours of use without proper washing. The longer you use the flanges for, the higher the risk of bacterial growth.
Use a clean ziplock bag or clean Tupperware container to store the used flanges in before placing in the refrigerator. Clean the container or use a new bag when you wash the flanges.
Do not rinse the flanges or bottles between uses. This doesn’t provide any benefit, and if you are going to rinse them, just use hot water and soap to actually clean them.
If you are using the refrigerator hack, do consider sterilizing your flanges and bottles at least every few days. The cleaner the flanges are to start with, the lower the overall risk.
Only you can decide if this hack is the right choice for your situation, and lots of parents swear by it without known cases of harm. Judge your situation carefully, and mitigate risks. We are all just doing the best we can do!
Want to be a more informed breastfeeding parent? Check out our virtual prenatal and postpartum videos from our On-Demand™ series.
