No one uses the Medela steam bags for storage? I put everything into a steam bag (it's clean, from being used to steam clean nipples the night before) and everything is stored in that bag at my desk until I stick the bag and parts in the office microwave to steam clean between pumps #2 and #3. Why use a separate ziplock bag?

I just store them (and the pumped milk) in an insulated lunchbox that I use to carry them to/from work. No differentiating clean/dirty. I try to shake the residual milk drops down into the bottle so it doesn't make a mess, but don't attempt to wipe it off or anything. *Shrug*

I was using a Ziploc but found a tupperware-type that was big enough, so I use that. I pump 3x/day at work, and just keep my pump parts in the tupperware in between pumps.

Anonymous wrote:The pump parts fit in quart size ziplocs (still disposable, but less plastic). In scheme of things, you might find that given the sh** that gets added to your life when you are WOTH and pumping, you'll be at peace with throwing out 5 plastic bags a week. I know I was

+1

i'll find some other way to atone for my transgression against the environment. although i really like the idea of those waterproof bags. i still have 4+ months of pumping left, so it's probably worth it to change.

my medela pump in style (5 years ago...) came with these handy little black drawstring bags with mesh at the top. they each hold one bottle/flange set. i wash them by hand (in the kitchen sink, with dish soap) each night and then in the washer every once in a while.

i am also a little on the lax side about the BM being at room temp, so just keep the bags at my desk (with my pump).

Wanted to add, I bet thirty-one would have a SUPER cute little zippered/drawstring bag you could use, and it would be quite washable as well.

I pumped at work 3x/day for about 10 mos after returning from mat leave. I am perhaps more lackadasical about the hygiene part than other moms, but in one year of ebf+center daycare, DD had exactly one cold and one ear infection. So I don't think it harmed her.

If you and LO are pretty healthy, and there is no more than, say, 6 hours between your first and last pumping sessions, there's really no need to refrigerate pump parts. BM is good stored at room temp for that long, so why wouldn't the tiny drops of BM that are stuck to the parts?

I left my pump at work (obviously was not EP'ing) so only carried bottles, horns, and small cooler bag back and forth each day. All of those were left, with the pump, in the pumping room between sessions (yes, i was spoiled). This minimizes the back-and-forth shlepping.

I kept my parts in a small cloth diaper wetbag also, and liked it, but the waterproof-ness of it was overkill. I started to realize that the little drawstring bags that flannel sheet sets come in, would have worked just as well (and been just as washable). Keep a washcloth with you at all times and you'll be set.

I used a tall square Ziploc container. It fit right in the little cooler I used to transport my staff back and forth. I started off with the Ziploc, and I agree, it just got kind of yucky by the end of the week (even after cleaning it every night) and I hated all the waste. The Ziploc worked perfectly for me.

I wrap my pump parts in a kitchen towel and store them in a ziplock. I use a clean towel each day but only replace the ziplock when it gets torn or dirty.

The pump parts fit in quart size ziplocs (still disposable, but less plastic). In scheme of things, you might find that given the sh** that gets added to your life when you are WOTH and pumping, you'll be at peace with throwing out 5 plastic bags a week. I know I was

I do use a ziplock bag, and I wipe the parts down with pacifier wipes between uses which keeps the bag from getting dirty. Every once in a while I clean/ replace the bag but it really doesn't get dirty often. I use the FIrst Years GumDrop Pacifier Wipes and a $5 pack lasts me almost a month.

Step 1: Two sets of parts and pump bottles. One stays at work, one stays at home. No hauling pump parts back and forth, just the pump and empty/full bottles.

Step 2: Get a big Tupperware container. Use it at work for your pump parts between sessions, keeping it all in the fridge. After each session, you pour the pumped milk into the bottles the baby will drink from the next day, so you're just using the same empty pump bottles each day. Wash pump parts, bottles, and tupperware at the end of the day.

There's no need for ziplocks unless you have to deal with something off site, at which point you pack your home parts to deal with during that time frame and keep the same system at the office.

I EP-ed for a year for #1 and then pumped/nursed for my 2nd for 18 months. I don't have a way to completely eliminate the use of 1 gallon zip lock bags but I have a way to reduce the waste.

When I was pumping at work, I would carry 2 ziploc bags - a "clean" one and "dirty" one. The clean one had the pump parts in it in the morning, and then after I was done pumping, I'd put the parts into the dirty bag. Then fold up the "clean" one and put back in my bag. When I get home, I would clean all the parts, and put them back in the clean bag that I had kept in my pump bag. I wouldn't throw away the "dirty" bag, I would just put it back in my pump bag for next time.

Every wknd, I would throw away both bags and start all over. Fun times.

I love the wet bags we use for cloth diapers. They're leak proof and look cute.



I like that I could stick them in the fridge between uses during the day and nobody would ask what was in there.

How do you store your pump parts between uses? I want to avoid ziplock bags but can't think of an alternative that is amenable for easy washing. Ideally would like to have 5 of the storage bags so I can throw them in the wash at the end of the week. Any suggestions?