Feeding & Nutrition

The only time I ever sterilized was before the first use on brand new bottles...boiled them for 5 min. After that, I washed them by hand most of the time, or if it worked out, timing wise, I would put them on the top rack of the dishwasher.

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Every new mom goes through this sterilizing stage...and I mean EVERY new mom. Congratulations and welcome to motherhood! Ok, sterilize the bottles if they are new, brand new from the store and you are going to use them for the very first time. As for how to clean them after that, HOT water and soap is all you need. I respect your opinion about never being too careful. I'm a mommy to 3 children ages 9, 6 1/2 and the baby will turn 3 in July. Make sure to rinse your bottles after each use if you don't intend to wash them right away. The only child I bottle fed was my third and I just made sure to rinse the bottles well until I was ready to wash them later. Sometimes I filled a basin with hot water and soap and let them soak if by chance I had left one in the car for a few days. It happens. You don't need to sterilize everything all the time. IF you feel that you must sterilize them, then by all means do so but it's not necessary. There isn't any harmful bacteria in the bottles and nipples that how water and soap won't wash away. I DO recommend, however, that you always let them completely air dry before assembling the bottles for their next use. Sometimes containers, especially if slightly damp can get a moldy smell but it can be remedied by washing again.

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Maybe I'm a bad mom, but I only sterilized nipples and such before the first use. I boiled them for about 5 minutes in hot water. Other than that, I washed everything by hand in hot water, not a dishwasher.

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Never sterilized and never had a problem. Just wash and rinse well.

When I read your question I thought "I was supposed to sterilize those things . . . " Never did it. My son is almost 4 and very healthy!

D.,

If at all possible wash the bottles in a dishwasher, that will help with the sterilization process. As for the nipples, if you buy the silicone nipples you only need to sterilize them once a week but you need to do it for as long as they are on the bottle. You do this to keep the bacteria from forming in the nipples or the bottles. For all three of my boys I used the playtex nursers. For several reasons, it helped to keep from having to sterlize things constantly and I only had to sterlize the nipples. Everything else went into the dishwasher on the top rack.

I hope this helps.

S.
36 y/o SAHM of 3 boys
14, 6 and 4

I only sterilized for about 2 weeks and then just washed with warm soapy water. My daughter is 14 months now and has only had 1 minor cold at around 5 months. I sterilize everything when we first buy it and then I don't worry about it any more. Do whatever you feel comfortable doing, but I really don't think you have to do it as long as 1 year.

Hi D.,

Wow, you are putting yourself through alot of work. With my first child came along I did the same thing because it's what my mother and grandmother did.

If you have a dishwasher throw all but the nipples in there. If not, you can do it all by hand and rinse well in very hot water.

The nipples need to be washed and boiled every use to prevent thrush.

This all came from my pediatricians. Good luck and save yourself some work. You could probably use that energy and few minutes elsewhere! :)

actually, i want to say that the peds and everyone is saying that now besides before first use you don't have to sterlize bottles and nipples at all. the only time i ever sterilized my childrens bottles was when they were sick. my SIL sterilized her daughters until she was over a year old. if you have a dish water, then the water should get hot enough to where there would be no need to sterilize them. but look into not sterilizing. i know that i just heard that recently a few different times. can't remember if it's only if you are on well water, though.

I only sterilized new nipples before first use. After that, I only wash them in hot water and soap. I never sterilized any bottles for my 2 sons and they never had any problems.

I sterilized my son's bottles and nipples until he was old enough to not use them anymore. He is now 32 months old, that is 2.5 yrs and now all I sterilize is his pacifiers and sippy cup rubber stoppers. I will continue to sterilize his pacy's and rubber stoppers for his sippy cups when he finishes using them. I am a clean freak, slight case of OCD and I believe in cleanliness is next to godliness. Can't be too careful, especially if they are in day care or local public babysitter. Luckily I do not have that problem as I am a SAHM to one adorable boy. Just sterilize how you see ft for however long you see fit. Ask the doctor if all else fails, they always have the best advice.

If I remember correctly, we did it for the first year and as long as we used bottles for. I think you can probably get away with stopping this earlier. But, you are right, you can never be too careful and if you don't mind doing it, then why not? After a while, I think we started putting the parts in the dishwasher in a mesh holder.
Good luck!
M.

I think you can be too careful... that if you overclean and oversterilize you don't build your child's immunity. That said, we bottle fed on occasion. For the first month or so I sterilized everything everytime. After that, hot soapy water for both bottles and nipples was fine. Neither child ever saw ill effects. (I also sterilized breast pump parts throughout...)
In the end, you'll get a different answer from everyone and you'll just have to go with what your gut says and what you are comfortable with... Welcome to Mommydom!

T.

I have 2 kids, a 3 year old boy and a 16 month old girl. I steralized
Both of their bottles until they were about 4-5 months old. I always
Wash their things with really hot water so right there is like steralizing.
Washing them with hot water,in my opinion,is easier cause its one
Less thing you have to do.

Hi D. - I sterilized my daughters bottles, nipples and parts until she stopped using them at 11 months. At about 6 months I put everything in the dishwasher but they came out with spots and didn't seem clean. I may have been a little extreme but I would rather be safe then sorry. I used the Avent steam microwave sterilizer and it was very easy to continue until she was 11 months. She still uses a pacifier for naps and bedtime and I sterilize them and she's 13 month.

put them in the dishwasher on hot

I have 3 kids and don't remember EVER sterilizing anything. We use the dishwasher, which washes and sterilzes at the same time because it's hot water and soap.

By the way, never let ANYONE (on this message board or anywhere else) make you feel bad about using bottles instead of breast feeding!!

Hi D., welcome to Mommyhood - the toughest job you will ever love!!!!

I sterlize the nipples in boiling water once a week - the other times, they can go in the dishwasher - top rack - or even hand wash in hot soapy water. Not sure what kind of bottles you use - but if you use your dishwasher - just put it on the sterlization cycle if you have one, and you will be fine. I'm on kid 4 and never have had a problem! They also have a bottle warmer that has a sterilize option - use that if you have it for quick sterlization... usually only takes about 3 to 5 mins.

Good luck!!!!! Enjoy being a Mommy