Sterilising bottles at 10mths

[milkyman]

I have always done this but a friend mentioned u don't need to do so after 6mths. Is this correct?

[juneybean]

Well considering they can crawl and stick everything in their mouths, I don't see the point, but as long as you ensure you wash the bottles properly and there's no residual milk.

[rachyconks]

I do. I know it's a waste of time/effort/energy - but it's just a habit now. I can't seem to break it! They just seem so much cleaner - and going by what DD gets caught with in her mouth it really shouldn't matter!

[BotBotticelli]

I think the advice is to sterilise bottles until a year. I know they stick all sorts in their mouths from 6mo onwards, but the bacteria that hang around in milk curds are especially nasty and that's why milk bottles (and not toys, teethers etc) need sterilising in the first place.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with bot. Sterilise while you use formula, its not sterile and can contain some pretty nasty bacteria.

Once your Lo hits 12 months you can ditch the bottles and the formula and move to full fat cows milk in a cup

[InMyShreddies]

Yep always sterilise of using formula, when you switch to cow's milk it's the 'hallelujah' moment when you don't have to faff with Milton ever again!

My mil is so disparaging of it... I'm very lax in other ways but she doesn't seem to get why it's important.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

shreddies give her some info on the bacteria that has been found in formula, she'll soon come around!

Perhaps she is one of the meant that thinks formula powder is sterile...

[Nancy54]

Surely the same bacteria that are found in formula can be in cows milk? In that formula is just modified cows milk?? I might be wrong...

I think the advice is up to a year as the thinking is that after this time a child would be more able to cope if they did become ill. Obvs you still ave to thoroughly wash your cups or bottles that have had milk in.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes nancy you are wrong. Formula isn't the same. Here's what the NHS say under Making Up Infant Formula:

Even when tins and packets of powdered infant formula are sealed, they can sometimes contain bacteria such as Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) and, more rarely, Salmonella. Although these bacteria are very rare, the infections they cause can be life-threatening.

[Nancy54]

But what about the ready made cartons? Surely it's just cows milk plus vitamins etc?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Don't feel qualified to answer that one nancy. I know its not just cows milk with some vitamins in. The milk will have gone through a factory where there is potential for contamination but don't know what the risks of ready made versus powder formula actually are.

[lurcherlieber]

ready made cartons are sterile. apparently they can sterilise formula completely in liquid form but not as a powder.

since the prep of formula using powder with hot water is supposed to kill off anything nasty i thought the issue was just with milk on the whole regardless of it being expressed breast milk, carton or powdered formula.

i never see the problem with sterilising that others do. it takes me 8 minutes in the microwave plus my washing up is a bit patchy

[Nancy54]

Yes I don't think powder that had been added to hot water or ready made cartons can be anymore dangerous than bog standard cows milk tbh. But nasty bacteria can develop in normal cows milk too if not washed correctly.

And yes you're. Right, sterilizing is so quick, you might as well just do it!

[swannylovesu]

i stopped sterilising as soon as they started licking the dog!

[chloeb2002]

www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/should-you-sterilize-your-babys-bottles

Trying to find the best research on not steralising. It seems that at last its being agreed that sticking bottles etc in Milton or the microwave won't sterilise it... More over if it does then it of course doesn't remain sterile once its removed from an air tight environment. Just like clinical stores in a hospital.
So if the pathogens are in formula milk then a sterilised bottle will make no difference as sterilising the bottle will not sterilise the milk.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Surely though that is why the formula powder is mixed with water the correct temperature?