If there’s one thing exclusive pumping moms hate most, it’s all those dang dishes! It especially sucks in the beginning when you’re pumping 8 times a day & washing pump parts just as much.
The fridge hack is one thing I used in my pumping routine that saved me a ton of time.
What is the fridge hack?
The fridge hack is storing your pump parts in a ziplock bag in the fridge between pumping sessions, and washing them once or twice a day.
This is a pretty controversial pumping hack, and there is a lot of debate among the pumping community over whether it’s safe or not. I used the fridge hack and it was a total life saver, but it may not be right for everyone.
If you’re worried about contamination when using the fridge hack, then it’s OK to skip it. Don’t use a hack that you’re not comfortable with. If it causes you more stress, then it’s not worth it and it’s not going to benefit you.
If you do want to give it a try, here’s a list of questions you can run through to help you decide whether or not you’re comfortable using this hack.
9 Questions to ask before using the fridge hack
- How old & how healthy is your baby? The fridge hack is not recommended for babies who were born premature or who have a weakened immune system. These babies are more at risk of serious illness or death if your pump parts are contaminated with harmful bacteria, so it’s important to be extra cautious. You might also want to consider waiting until your baby is at least 2 months old before trying the fridge hack.
- How clean is your pumping space? For example, are you pumping in a clean space at home or are you pumping in a public space? Clean your pump and pumping surface regularly. Wipe the dials, power switch, and countertop with a disinfecting wipe.
- How clean is your pump kit? Did you wash your hands before touching it? Was it stored in a clean space in the fridge? Did you put it straight in the fridge after pumping or was it left sitting out? Has anything spilled on it? Was it dropped on the floor? Do NOT use your pump kit if you think it may be contaminated or if it has been sitting at room temperature for too long. Wash the pump parts and container before using them again.
- Do your parts smell sour? One way to tell if your milk has gone bad is if it has a foul odor. Give your parts a quick sniff before using them.
- How clean is the storage container? Are you using a clean ziplock bag, or has your container been cleaned and sanitized? Has anything spilled on the container? Does it smell sour or have a foul odor? Don’t store your parts in a dirty container. Use a clean ziplock bag or a clean, sanitized container. Clean the container regularly, and allow it to air dry. Or use a new bag.
- Do you have cracked, bleeding, or sore nipples? If you do, you’ll want to be careful about not introducing bacteria because that could lead to an infection.
- Do you keep getting thrush or mastitis? The fridge hack could be to blame. Make sure you’re rinsing or wiping off the flanges before storing. You could also try washing your parts more often than once every 24 hours.
- Does your baby have gas or tummy issues since starting the fridge hack? Another issue I’ve heard is baby having gas & tummy issues while using the fridge hack. If your baby does have gas or tummy issues, try stopping the fridge hack for a while and see if that helps.
- How fatty is your milk? If your milk tends to be pretty fatty, it can build up in the flange and connector, so you may want to rinse your parts before storing them or wash more often than every 12-24 hours.
Remember, it’s OK to skip the fridge hack if it stresses you out. But if you want to use the fridge hack safely, I’ve got you covered in my “Exclusive Pumping Made Easy” course.
In the dish washing lesson, I break down everything you need to know about keeping your pump parts clean – including how to use the fridge hack as safely as possible.
Want to learn more time-saving pumping hacks that actually work? Click here to check out the Exclusive Pumping Made Easy course!
