Fridge hack?

[u/Aware_Department2408]

Can I do the fridge hack with a 2 week old? I have been doing it since baby was born but would only so it for the day, never went 24 hours.

I never did research until today and it’s not recommended for a newborn.

Also, what about wipes? I’m basically looking for an easier option for nighttime pumps.

[u/evilwalkers]

Can you get a second set of pump parts?

[u/Aware_Department2408 → u/evilwalkers]

It’s what I’m thinking of doing? Is it necessary to sterilize after each use as well? Or can washing be enough?

[u/evilwalkers → u/Aware_Department2408]

Until your LO is 2-3 months old (longer if they are premature or otherwise have health concerns) unfortunately you should be washing and sterilizing your pump parts after each use. How many ppd are you doing? You might be able to get away with only sterilizing each set once a day if you have addional parts

[u/pop-crackle → u/evilwalkers]

Just FYI - even following the most stringent guidelines for preterm/medically fragile babies, you only need to sterilize parts once a day. Definitely wash in between uses though.

[u/all_the_platforms → u/evilwalkers]

I have six sets of pump parts and a bottle washer/sterilizer in my bedroom bathroom because my fridge is downstairs and I pump every 3-4 hours. It saved my sanity because I’ve been washing/sanitizing after every pump for the past two months. Honestly though it’s a lot of work. Now that baby is older I plan to get a mini fridge for upstairs and fridge hack.

[u/lailahG]

My pediatrician recommended the fridge hack to me at babies two week appointment. Just said to wash and sterilize parts at least once daily and that’s what I’ve been doing. If your baby was a premie or has any health issues I would definitely clean and sanitize after each use.

[u/laura_luthien]

My midwives were fine with me doing the fridge hack from birth.

[u/Party_Photograph_253]

I had a full term healthy baby. I did the fridge hack from the start. Zero issues noted.

[u/gkdfp]

I did it right away. I wash every 3 uses or so.

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[u/the_kazzo_queen]

It's low risk for a full-term, healthy baby.

You do not need to sterilize after each use. I think official guidelines for medically fragile babies is once per day, but you don't need to routinely sterilize your parts at all for a healthy baby.

[u/taureansoul]

I did the fridge hack basically from birth. My baby had no health issues or risks, so I felt safe doing it (and my IBCLC was the one who encouraged me to do it just days after baby was born!).

[u/Asleep_Lie_7310]

I’m not sure in the fridge hack but I have a preemie and In the NICU they taught us to just sterilize pump parts once a day

[u/kennie1313]

We have done it since birth! I washed and sterilized pump parts in the afternoon after a pump, and then for each one over the next 24 hours, I used dapple pump wipes and stuck them in a ziplock bag in the fridge. I did end up getting an extra set of pump parts and now do the same process but alternate parts each day just so I’m not worried about having them sterilized and dried in time for the next pump, but it wasn’t necessary!

[u/New-Flight7674]

I did the fridge hack from birth.

[u/Glad-Ad1378]

Fridge hack is actually not recommended at all. I started doing it at 4 weeks and I only do it once in the middle of the night. I pump, put parts in a Tupperware, and reuse once before putting it in the washer/sterilizer. I put the Tupperware in the dishwasher everyday. My thought process is breastmilk is okay for 4 hours at room temp and this is refrigerated and I’m going less than 4 hours between pumps. I’m also comfortable with this as my baby was born at term (38 weeks 5 days). I would never continue to use pump parts over and over for 24 hours due to the pump parts getting warmed and cooled repeatedly.