Sterilising bottles

From what I’ve been told by my health visitor, bottles need to be sterilised because they’re in contact with milk. If they’re not cleaned properly then it breeds harmful bacteria but things like cups, bowls, utensils and toys can be cleaned normally with soap and hot water. Sterilisation is due to the milk.

If on formula you have to sterilise .

Every countries recommendations are different for bottle sterilisation, the UK recommends up to 12m old but I stopped at 6 months old because I wash them in next to boiling water (my hands will not stay in the water without gloves) and fairy liquid. There’s no bacteria in them once washed properly so I don’t see the need to, especially when he puts anything in his mouth and his immune system is better than when he was younger, do what you think is best.

You have to sterilize because of the milk

As @Hannah said, there is a huge difference in what other countries recommend. Somehow, the UK is the only country where they are concerned bacteria might be present after washing bottles where formula was used. Every other country (I know 100% about 6 of them) suggests to stop at 6 months the most. Some say 3 months, Germany says you don't need to even start sterilising! Mind you, the formulas are the same as here. I asked around, a lot, as to why the UK says differently than anywhere else and the 3 possible answers I got were: 1. The water in the UK is bad (??) 2. It takes up to 14 years for NHS guidelines to change, so might be outdated guidelines 3. They are concerned people don't wash bottles properly so NHS are covering their own asses. I'm leaninh towards number 2 tbh...

@Mantha my money is on number 3! Sounds about right. There probably are a lot of people who don’t wash bottles very well!

Yeah I thought it was to do with the bacteria in the milk and formula, we don't steralise anything else but will continue with bottles until he's at a recommended age and definitely able to physically cope with contaminants better etc.