How do I clean newborn bottles and pump parts?

Take apart bottles and pump parts

Bottles include more than the container. Take apart the bottle, nipple, ring, cap, valves and membranes so each piece can be cleaned. For a breast pump, separate the parts that touch the breast or milk, such as flanges, valves, membranes, connectors and collection bottles. Wash your hands and follow the instructions for your equipment.

Clean bottle parts after every feeding and clean milk contacting pump parts as soon as possible after each use. Rinse them under running water rather than placing them directly in the sink. If a pump is shared, wipe the controls and nearby surface before and after using it.

Wash and sanitize the parts

For dishwasher safe parts, take them apart and put small pieces in a closed basket. A dishwasher cycle with hot water and heated drying or a sanitizing setting means a separate sanitizing step isn’t needed. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions about which pump parts can go in a dishwasher or be boiled.

For hand washing, use a clean basin reserved for infant feeding items, not the sink. Wash each piece with hot water, dish soap and a clean brush, rinse it, then leave it to air dry on a clean surface protected from dust. Don’t rub the parts dry with a dish towel.

Rinse the wash basin and brush after each use and let them air dry. CDC says to wash them every few days, or after each use if your baby is younger than two months, was born prematurely or has a weakened immune system.

Sanitize parts after cleaning for extra germ removal. CDC advises daily sanitizing for babies younger than two months, babies born prematurely or babies with a weakened immune system. For older, healthy babies, daily sanitizing may not be needed when parts are cleaned carefully after each use.

Let every part dry before storing it

Let washed or sanitized parts air dry fully in a clean, protected place. Once dry, reassemble them with clean hands and store them somewhere clean. Follow the equipment maker’s instructions if they differ from a general cleaning method.

If another caregiver prepares bottles, a short shared cleaning routine can help everyone follow the same steps. A feed record can’t confirm that equipment was cleaned. For a related caregiver question, see how to share a newborn feed log. These steps summarize U.S. CDC guidance.

Know when pump tubing needs attention

CDC says pump tubing doesn’t need routine cleaning when it is used correctly and milk doesn’t touch it. If water droplets remain inside after pumping, CDC says to run the pump for a few more minutes with the tubing attached. If milk or mold gets inside the tubing, discard and replace it. Ask your care team about extra steps for a premature baby or a baby with other health concerns.