sharing breast pumps and bottles

[KiwiMama]

*sorry. I think I may have posted in the wrong spot*

I keep hearing about how breast pumps are single person items , but what about bottles? I've never seen or heard anything about not sharing bottles. I know I've received and given bottles and never thought twice.

Is it just because bottles can be sterilized better? Not that I've really bothered to worry about that...

I've been thinking about offering my SIL my Avent Isis pump. That would be fine since all of the parts can be sterilized, right?

[cocoabean8]

As adults, we eat off the same plates and drink of the same glasses of other adults in restaurants and such.....after a good dishwashing.
I feel the same way about bottles. I would buy new nipples and sanitize the rest. Breast pumps are the same for me. The pump part is only for suction....no milk touches it. You easily and pretty cheaply (at least compared to buying a new pump) replace the parts that do touch the milk/breast. Most of those parts are hard plastic and can be boiled so if you weren't able to buy new, I wouldn't be disgusted by someone borrowing.

[LDSmomma]

Originally Posted by cocoabean8

As adults, we eat off the same plates and drink of the same glasses of other adults in restaurants and such.....after a good dishwashing.
I feel the same way about bottles. I would buy new nipples and sanitize the rest. Breast pumps are the same for me. The pump part is only for suction....no milk touches it. You easily and pretty cheaply (at least compared to buying a new pump) replace the parts that do touch the milk/breast. Most of those parts are hard plastic and can be boiled so if you weren't able to buy new, I wouldn't be disgusted by someone borrowing.

I agree. I bought a pump on craigslist, and just sterilized the washable parts. I'm not concerned about it at all, and we've had no issues!

I like what you said, cocoabean8, about adults eating off of shared, but washed, dishes! Good point!

[Pod4One]

The pump thing isn't so cut and dry. There are closed systems and open systems. Depending on the pump, the milk *can* get into the pump housing and contaminate it which can lead to an infection. Here is a good site that talks about how borrowing pumps and you can do a side-by-side comparison of the different pump.

http://www.breastpumpsdirect.com/cho...pump_a/126.htm

Bottles may be like plates at a restaurant, but breast pumps are more like toothbrushes - single user only.

[sgmom]

If milk can contaminate a unit, or if mold can grow in the tubes, any user is at risk for infection. Not just second hand users.

That said, I feel comfortable sharing a pump with people I know, but i'm not sure I'd buy one second hand from someone I don't know.

[_betsy_]

Originally Posted by sgmom

If milk can contaminate a unit, or if mold can grow in the tubes, any user is at risk for infection. Not just second hand users.

That may be true, but it's kind of like a used car seat - would you really take the risk that it hadn't been in an accident of any sort? With the pump, what if contamination/sterilization/etc. weren't as important to the other person as it is to you? It's just not a risk I'd be willing to take, to be honest.

I have an Ameda Purely Yours and it's a closed system. I could easily and in good conscious sell the pump and have the next person buy their own shields, tubes, connectors, valves, etc. Costs about 40 bucks for a complete accessories kit.

[sgmom]

Well... Like I said... I feel comfortable sharing with someone I know (and trust). I did exactly this before I bought my own. There was no way I was about to fork out $300 on a pump without trying it first, so I borrowed my friends pump in style for about a month... then went out and bought my own, even though she offered to sell me hers.

I was more concerned about the motor failing, to be honest, and it's not likely I'm going to sell my current one for several years (if at all).

I'm like that though... If it's something I know I'm going to use often, I just like buying new (depending on what it is, of course). But that's not going to stop me from borrowing from a friend first.

I was comfortable with it, but it still got a vicious cleaning.