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Infant Hygiene
Safe and healthy hygiene habits are important for all ages, but they are especially important in settings with children who are in diapers and are very young. Maintaining safe diapering and infant feeding practices is essential to reduce the spread of germs and prevent children and caregivers from getting sick.
Mother playing with baby post a fresh diaper
Image by Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels
Diaper Baby Looking at his reflection
Image by Luis Fernando/Pexels
Even a tiny amount of poop, so small you can’t see it, can contain millions of germs. Reduce the spread of germs by following the guidance below for safe and healthy diapering in the different settings.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Black mother changing diaper for baby
Image by William Fortunato/Pexels
Protect yourself and your children from germs by following these diapering steps.
Keep a hand on the child for safety at all times.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Here’s the scoop on your baby’s poop
Image by StoryMD/Unsplash
Wash child’s hands with soap and water and place him or her in a safe, supervised area.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mother's love and feeding baby
Image by TheVisualMD
Babies grow quickly in the first year of life by drinking breast milk or infant formula. Careful cleaning, sanitizing, and storage of your baby’s bottles and your breast pump parts (if you pump milk) can prevent germs from contaminating the milk you feed your baby. Visit the following pages to learn more about how to keep your breast pump clean and how to clean, sanitize, and store baby bottles to help keep your baby healthy.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cleaning baby bottle
Image by Ambernectar 13
Follow these steps for cleaning your infant’s feeding items to help prevent germs from contaminating the milk you feed your baby. If your baby is hospitalized, follow your health care provider’s instructions for cleaning infant feeding items.
Infant feeding items include bottles and the nipples, rings, and caps that go with them. Certain bottles also may include valves or membranes. Some infants may be fed with a syringe, medicine cup, spoon, or supplemental nursing system.
Wash feeding items.
Note: If you use a dishwasher with hot water and a heating drying cycle (or sanitizing setting) to clean infant feeding items, a separate sanitizing step is not necessary.
For extra germ removal, sanitize feeding items at least once daily. Sanitizing is particularly important when your baby is younger than 3 months, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system. Daily sanitizing of feeding items may not be necessary for older, healthy babies, if those items are cleaned carefully after each use.
Before sanitizing, make sure you have cleaned feeding items, bottle brushes, and wash basins using one of the methods above. Sanitize all items (even the bottle brush and wash basin!) by using one of the following options. Check with the item’s manufacturer about which method to use.
Bleach: (if you can’t boil, steam, or use a dishwasher)
After sanitizing, place items on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. Allow to air-dry thoroughly before storing. Do not use a dish towel to rub or pat items dry because doing so may transfer germs to the items.
w the clean feeding items, bottle brushes, and wash basins to air-dry thoroughly before storing to help prevent germs and mold from growing. Once the items are completely dry, put them back together and store them in a clean, protected area to prevent contamination.
Cleaning uses soap and water to physically remove germs from the bottle. Sanitizing is an extra step to kill more germs on items that have been cleaned. Sanitizing feeding items provides more protection against all infections.
Bottles should be cleaned after every feeding. If your baby does not finish drinking a bottle within 2 hours, throw away the unfinished formula. Germs can grow quickly if breast milk or formula is added to a partially used bottle, or if a used bottle is only rinsed, rather than cleaned.
If your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness (such as HIV) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer), sanitizing feeding items daily (or more often) is particularly important. Daily sanitizing of feeding items may not be necessary for older, healthy babies, if those items are cleaned carefully after each use.
You can clean brushes and basins in a dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe, or by washing by hand with soap and hot water. They can be sanitized using one of the methods above (boil, steam, or soak in bleach solution) if recommended by the item’s manufacturer. If you steam an item, be sure the entire item fits in the steamer.
Air-drying infant feeding items on a clean dish towel or paper towel is probably more hygienic than using a drying rack. Drying racks may trap moisture, allow mold and germs to grow, and be difficult to clean. If you prefer to use a drying rack, use it to dry only your infant’s feeding items. Every few days (or at least daily if your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system), be sure to wash it, sanitize it, and allow it to dry thoroughly to reduce contamination.
No studies have shown that babies have become sick from contamination on the outside of an infant formula container. Also, powdered infant formula is less likely to become contaminated if it stays dry. Avoid using liquid cleaners on infant formula containers to help prevent contaminating powdered formula inside the container.
If you want to clean the formula container, use a disinfectant wipe or paper towel sprayed with disinfectant to clean the outside of the container and lid before it is opened for the first time. Do not submerge the container or place it under running water. Wait until the surfaces are completely dry before opening the container. Do not clean the inside of the infant formula container.
When powdered formula stays dry, it’s less likely to get contaminated. To keep liquids away from the powdered formula, don’t clean the formula scoop unless it gets dirty. If the scoop was dropped on the floor or otherwise soiled, clean it as carefully as you would your baby’s bottles, and allow it to air-dry completely before placing it in the formula container.
The safest method of mixing formula is by shaking or swirling the formula and water inside the feeding bottle. Blenders can be difficult to clean, and blenders used to prepare infant formula have been linked to illnesses among babies. Whisks and spoons are easier to clean, but they still may increase the risk of getting germs into your baby’s milk.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Clean Feeding items
Image by Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Providing breast milk is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health and development. Pumping your milk is one way to provide breast milk to your baby. However, germs can grow quickly in breast milk or breast milk residue that remains on pump parts. Following these steps can keep your breast pump clean and help protect your baby from these germs. If your baby was born prematurely or has other health concerns, your baby’s health care providers may have more recommendations for pumping breast milk safely.
Before each use:
After every use:
Clean in a dishwasher (if recommended by pump kit manufacturer).
For Extra Protection, Sanitize
For extra germ removal, sanitize pump parts at least once daily. Sanitizing is especially important if your baby is less than 2 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer). Daily sanitizing of pump parts may not be necessary for older, healthy babies, if the parts are cleaned carefully after each use. Sanitize all items (even the bottle brush and wash basin!) by using one of the following options.
Note: If you use a dishwasher with hot water and a heating drying cycle (or sanitizing setting) to clean infant feeding items, a separate sanitizing step is not necessary.
Boil:
Store Safely Until Needed
Allow the clean pump parts, bottle brushes, and wash basins to air-dry thoroughly before storing to help prevent germs and mold from growing. Once completely dry, the items should be stored in a clean, protected area to prevent contamination during storage.
Key Tips for Handling Breast Pump Tubing
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean
Document by CDC
CDC’s breast pump cleaning guidance recommends following the pump manufacturer’s instructions about whether to use a brush to scrub the pump parts. Scrubbing with a brush may damage some breast pump parts but not others. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before scrubbing your pump parts with a brush.
If the manufacturer’s instructions allow for the use of a brush, use a small brush with soap and warm water to get inside the hard-to-reach areas of breast pump parts. Otherwise, consider washing these parts in the top rack of the dishwasher (place small parts inside a closed-top basket) or boil disassembled parts for 5 minutes. Some parts are best washed by hand, so always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid damaging certain parts while cleaning them.
You can use any soap intended for washing dishes to clean pump parts, including dishwasher soap if you are using a dishwasher. Do not use antibacterial soap because it can contain additives and chemicals that may not be safe for regular, daily use to wash breast pump parts. In addition, there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Rinse pump parts thoroughly after washing to remove all soap residue.
Some breast pump manufacturers make hygienic wipes specifically for cleaning breast pumps and breast pump parts. These wipes may be convenient when you don’t have access to soap and water. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), even if these wipes are used, breast pump parts that come into contact with breast milk should still be cleaned using dishwashing soap and warm water before using them again.
There are three ways to sanitize pump parts: steaming, placing in boiling water, or using a dishwasher with a sanitize setting (or hot water and a heated drying cycle if your dishwasher does not have a specific sanitize setting). Follow the breast pump manufacturer’s instructions on how to best clean and sanitize your pump parts. For items that cannot be sanitized, thoroughly clean and inspect them regularly to make sure they are in good condition (no cracks, chips, signs of wear and tear, or other defects). Replace them when needed. For more information, please see our web page How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean.
Healthcare facilities are in the best position to determine the specific pump hygiene practices that will be safest and most feasible in their settings. However, daily sanitizing is always the safest choice whether a breast pump is used at home or in a hospital.
Most used or secondhand bottles are safe to use if they are in good condition (no cracks, chips, signs of wear and tear, or other defects) and cleaned properly. For extra germ removal, sanitize bottles by boiling them for several minutes or putting them in the dishwasher on the sanitize setting. Always inspect bottles before each use and throw them away at the first sign of damage or wear. Do not use antique lead crystal baby bottles because the lead can get into your baby’s milk and cause lead poisoning.
Bottle nipples and pacifiers break down over time. You should replace them for each child. Most pacifier manufacturers recommend replacing pacifiers every few weeks for hygiene reasons, even if you sanitize them regularly. Similarly, most manufacturers of bottle nipples recommend replacing the nipples anywhere from every 6 weeks to every 3 months. Always inspect bottle nipples and pacifiers before each use and throw them away at the first sign of damage or weakness.
The CDC and most breast pump manufacturers recommend cleaning pump parts thoroughly after every use to help protect babies from germs. If you cannot clean your pump parts thoroughly after each pumping session, you can rinse and then refrigerate pump parts for a few hours between uses to help slow the growth of bacteria. It’s important to understand that refrigeration does not stop bacteria from growing. No studies have shown whether rinsing or wiping and then storing pump parts in the refrigerator between pumping sessions effectively limits the growth of bacteria and is a safe alternative to washing between use every time. Infants have become ill from contaminated milk due to bacteria growing on pump parts that were not cleaned properly.
If you choose to refrigerate pump parts between pumping sessions, rinse the parts first to remove milk residue, if possible, and then keep the parts in a sealed bag to prevent contamination. If rinsing is not possible, wipe milk residue off the parts with a clean, disposable paper towel. If your infant is younger than 2 months or has a compromised immune system, proper cleaning of pump parts after each use is especially important.
Harmful germs can grow in breast milk (or its residues) and you need to disinfect your pump properly. Infants have become ill from contaminated milk due to bacteria grown on pump parts that were not cleaned properly. Proper cleaning of breast pump parts and feeding items, and appropriate storage of milk, can help preserve the nutrient and protective properties of breast milk, and reduce the risk of introducing germs to an infant. Thus, cleaning pump parts thoroughly after every use is the best way to help protect babies from harmful germs that could be on pump parts, especially for babies who were born preterm or have other health conditions.
Breast milk contains components that protect the milk itself from contamination with germs, after it has been expressed. This ability of breast milk to prevent the growth of germs is referred to as the bacteriostatic capacity of breast milk. Breast milk is bactericidal in that it can also actively reduce some of these germs. However, the bactericidal properties decrease with time, even under refrigerated conditions, and can differ by milk collection container type. There are also many different types of germs that could come in contact with pump parts. Some germs grow more quickly than others and the bactericidal capacity of breast milk is not consistent among all types of germs (e.g., Cronobacter sakazakii). Ultimately, breast milk is a nutrient-rich liquid that, despite its bactericidal properties, can still grow harmful bacteria.
Breast Pump Parts 1
Image by ParentingPatch/Wikimedia
Providing breast milk is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health and development. Pumping your milk is one way to provide breast milk to your baby. However, germs can grow quickly in breast milk or breast milk residue that remains on pump parts 1,2. Following these steps can keep your breast pump clean and help protect your baby from germs. If your baby was born prematurely or has other health concerns, your baby’s healthcare providers may have more recommendations for pumping breast milk safely.
The steps outlined below are based on the available scientific literature and expert opinion on breast pump hygiene. However, more research is needed to answer some questions about how to best clean breast pump equipment.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Baby Bottle
Image by © Michael Jastremski/Wikimedia
Germs can grow in and on baby bottles, sippy or trainer cups, and other food containers. It can be hard to clean infant and toddler feeding items during an event like a hurricane, wildfire, flood, evacuation, or power outage, especially if you do not have access to clean, safe water.
Clean All Feeding Items After Every Use
Make a cleaning kit to safely clean and store everything you need to feed you baby:
Your kit can include:
*Don’t use the wash basin or scrub brush to clean anything else. Use them only for your feeding items.
IMPORTANT:
Throw away bottle nipples, pacifiers, and other items that are hard to clean if they have been touched by floodwater. Tiny cuts or breaks in these items can let in germs that can’t be removed by cleaning.
1. Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
2. Discard leftover liquids or foods from bottles, cups, and containers.
3. Scrub and wash items.
4. Rinse with safe water.
5. Air dry on an unused paper towel or clean drying rack, or hang to dry in a clean mesh bag.
6. Clean the wash basin, scrub brush, and drying rack with soap and safe water. Rinse and air dry.
7. Store completely dry items in a clean place, such as inside your wash basin or storage bin.
Do not clean infant feeding items near diapering areas!
If your baby is less than 2 months old or if your baby is sick, you will need to do one more step after washing and rinsing your feeding items. Sanitize all items at least once every day for extra protection.
Use one of these methods to sanitize your feeding items:
Note: Any bleach that remains after sanitizing will break down quickly as it dries and will not hurt your baby.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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