Sterilising bottles

I have MAM bottles and sterilised them before feed for 3mins in the microwave, definitely essential if you’re formal feeding

I got a sterilisation machine when my first was born, that way all I had to do was follow instructions and the machine would work out how long. We used the Tommee Tippee one. If you use sterilisation tablets there should be instructions on the back of whatever box they come in. We sterilised our sons bottles for quite a while after every use as it just made sense to get rid of any bacteria left in the bottle.

I cold water sterilised my daughter’s bottles, dummies and teethers until 6 months. Washed them all in the evening and then dumped them in the steriliser bucket in the morning to use throughout the day. Did that until she was 6 months. At that point she was crawling and putting everything in her mouth so it seemed slightly futile. Switched onto just washing everything in really hot water and storing in a clean Tupperware.

I sterilised my baby's bottles after every use until they were a year old 🤍

It’s recommended to sterilise until they are a year old.

I just find it very weird that the NHS Advises to sterilise to a year, when EU medical advice is to not do it at all...

Bottle used for formula should be sterilised due to the potential for bacteria as formula in the UK is not sterile, which is why it’s made with 70 degrees plus water. Unsure about other countries in EU but their formula might be different therefore their sterilising advice might be different. I know that in the US for example they can make formula with distilled water rather than hot/boiling. If you’re using UK formula I would follow UK sterilising guidelines. Never used a dummy so can’t comment on that, but literallly the only thing I ever sterilised for my LG were her bottles for formula.

I sterilise all bottles and dummies in a microwave steamer for 3 mins. Occasionally used a bottle that has only been washed in very hot water and no harm done. I do believe my boys have hardy tums though and other babies may be more sensitive. Until you know your baby then I'd say to sterilise all bottles. My husband is French and he's definitely more lax on sterilising things saying it's unnecessary but I'd rather err on the side of caution. I still periodically sterilise my toddlers dummies too.

@Emmo but Europe have very different guidance on pregnancy. You can have wine and cheese for example in Paris. Not saying it's wrong but you have to pick a lane. My husband isn't sure a steriliser is necessary but I'd say follow the NHS guidance if we are in the UK buying UK products

We wash our bottles after each use and sterilise when we have enough to fill our steriliser. This happens until baby is moved onto cows milk at 1 year. Dummies I only sterilise every now and then otherwise they just get a wash in hot water if needed.

@Jenna (Jen) I will likely follow the NHS guidance, although I plan to breastfeed, so hopefully won't need to do anything anyway. But once they are crawling and going around licking the floor I'm not sure I would continue up to 1 yr 😅

@Emmo I'm not buying bottles or steriliser until I have to. Also plan to BF and was told not to spend the money on it until I need to.

All bottles got/get steam sterilised after use every time until they're a year old and off formula and on cows milk. Dummies I barely sterilise, I wash them in boiled water if they fall on the floor. Once weaning cups, plates, bowls, spoons etc don't need sterilising.

New born babies reply on passive immunity from the mother which is via placenta and milk. They cannot create their own antibodies for a few months, this is why vaccines aren’t done straight away. I would 100% sterilise up until vaccines are complete, after this it is less important but you still don’t know what pathogens you expose them too when not sterilised

Honestly I don’t know. I’m of the opinion that young children (post vaccs) need exposure to pathogens but also remaining sensible. Not something obviously dirty or that’s been sat in faeces etc but a bottle out of the cupboard or something that touched a clean floor should be fine. I say this, but I’m not due until October, so maybe my opinion will change. Also, if the NHS said not to sterilise and a baby died then there would be uproar so it’s safer for them to say to sterilise. I plan to breast feed so I don’t know about formula specifically but you could look for research papers which culture formula and see if there is bacterial contamination, there must be some

You’re not only sterilising for the bacteria from formula that may not be fully gone with a clean but also the bacteria in our tap water thats not in big enough quantities to make us ill but can them, hence why it’s recommended no tap water till 6 months only cooled boiled if you must. I assume our tap water and formulas would both be different if thats the guidelines (or a lot of countries use distilled) there vs here, personally i will continue to sterilise bottles after use and washing until shes no longer having formula (still combi fed atm) but once they start putting everything in mouths etc i wouldnt worry about dropping something ive just sterilised or dropping things indoors

You need to sterilise bottles until baby no longer takes formula. It’s because formula can contain bacteria.

What about ready made formula. That’s sterile. Would you sterlise bottles then?

@Marina yes because ready made formula is only sterile until opening and is only sterile as its in a sterilised container and made using the same hot enough to kill bacteria method we would, i did think the same at first but then realised we wouldnt pour milk from a sterile bottle into an unsterile one so why would we with ready made! 🤣