How Long Do We Have to Sterilize Things?

We were told that the dishwasher does a fine job of getting things as clean as they need to be for a baby - and that's all we used from the beginning (except right after the item came home from the store - we boiled it then). I'm sure she is at a stage where you can move to cleaning items just as you would for an adult.

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Honestly, we sterilized many things until the kids were in to elem. school (5-6 yrs. old). A GREAT/EASY way to keep toys clean is to put them in the dish washer on the top rack. Even hot-wheel cars can be put in a garment clothes bag and laid on that top rack. Stuffed animals went in to tied pillow cases and got a delicate cycle in the wash and then tossed in the dryer. Everything survived and looked just fine (better than all nasty!) even the animals that said spot clean only. Our kids were in daycare and seemed to stay more healthy than some of the others. Maybe this was the reason !??!! With all the crazy bacteria around now, I didn't feel that taking the chance was worth it with extra dr. bills and sick children. Use the dish washer for LOTS of things. I haven't melted anything yet and I sure thought I might.

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Hey, I have a 2yr old boy and I also stay home with him. When I asked his doctor how long to sterilize his things she told me at least 3 months. I sterilized his things until he was 4 1/2 months. Hopes this helps.

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Good Morning L.
Interesting first name : ) How is it pronounced? My Mama named me Caryl (pronounced Carol)

There is no more need - probably actually less - for you to sterilize those things for your new baby that there is a need to sterilize the same things for you and your husband's use. New babies have the benefit of Mother's milk which carries extra anti-bodies and is more like 'raw' milk, so much healthier.

It's just an old wives tale that everything neeeds to be oh so sterile for new babies - clean? YES - sterile? duh, why? : ) I'm an old fashioned G. who thinks so much of what we've been taught to do is just silly. Washing hands frequently - VERY important - clean dishes, of course, use soap and hot water. But babies are just little adults : ) Why would they need all the extra effort? Think about it.
Blessings to you and yours : )
Hugs, too
G.

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L.,

I had to laugh when I read this. Sterilize? What's sterilize? The only thing I ever, and I mean ever, boiled was pacifiers if the child was sick or if I found one in the dog's mouth. Everything else was washed in the dishwasher and was as clean as the plates I ate off of.

K.

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Hi,
I know as a first time parent, you won't believe this,but...We've had nine babies and it's true. You sterilize the paci when baby#1 drops it, you wash with soap and water when #2 drops it, you run it under water when #3 drops it and, sometimes, when water isn't around, you wipe it off and suck it off yourself before popping it into his mouth! Our "baby" is 8 and all of them very healthy!

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We were told to stop at our 2 month check-up.

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Sterilization? You've already done it about 7 months longer than most of us did! I run the pacifiers through the dishwasher (and soon the piles of teething toys). Seriously soon she will be crawling around your house and putting EVERYTHING in your mouth. You won't be able to control her environment for much longer. Wait until you walk in and find her teething on your rubber flip flop - ewwwww! I'm not saying to encourage the consumption of dirt, but it's a nature part of life. Oh and she will get plenty messing helping you with that garden this summer! Have fun!

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Other than first time cleaning and the routine run through the dishwasher, you should be able to stop sterilizing unless your child has some type of medical issues. See link below for some more info.
Best,
C.
http://babyparenting.about.com/od/nutritionandfeeding/f/s...

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Sterilize? I did it the before any bottles, pacifieres, etc where used, then I threw them in the dishwasher. You are putting way too much work on yourself!

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i have 3 kids, never sterilized anything, and they're all perfectly healthy and have never been sick! every so often, i spray down toys with Lysol disinfectant, but they need to be exposed to stuff, or they'll never build up immunity.

I didn't sterilize anything with my daughter. I figured if soap and water was suffucient to get a breast clean enough to go in her mouth, it was sufficient for anything else that went into her mouth.