I am fortunate enough to be able to leave work to nurse a few times each day, but I still need to pump. It is a bit of a chore, so I’m always looking for ways to make it easier. These Medela wipes are a great way to quickly clean pump parts. While I thoroughly clean everything at the end of the day, it is nice to just wipe things down in between. They are alcohol free, and can also be used on toys, surfaces, etc. At $8.99 for 24 wipes, they are pretty pricey. If I calculate the time saved at work, however, they are more than worth it. You can purchase a pack in stores with baby departments (I bought mine at Target), or online at toysrus.com.

Before I discovered these Medela Quick Steam Bags with daughter number 2, I was constantly boiling bottles and breast pump parts in a big pot on my stove. It wasn’t very practical or tidy. A colleague turned me on to these bags and I am eternally grateful. You just put the items you need to sterilize in the bag, add a few ounces of water, and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. The bags are very discreet, so you can use them at work without anyone even noticing what you are putting in the microwave. Each bag can be used up to 20 times (and has a place for you to mark off each use so you can keep track). You can buy a pack of 5 for $7.75 at amazon.com. They are also available in the breastfeeding aisle of stores like Target or Walmart.

As a nursing mother, I was very fortunate to have a flexible job and daycare close enough that I could nurse my little one several times a day. Even so, it was always necessary to pump. I don’t know how I would have survived without my Medela. The Pump in Style Advanced is very effective, easy to use, and relatively quiet (a definite plus when you have to pump in your office). The parts are easy to clean and the bottles that come with it are BPA-free, so there is one less thing to worry about. This pump is definitely the pump for working mothers. It comes with a great carrying case which keeps everything together in one place and even has a little photo frame built in so you can look at a picture of your baby while you pump. It comes with a removable cooler. You can plug it in or run it on battery power. Jennifer Garner and Julia Roberts are just a few of the celebrity moms who rely on this pump.