Sterilising- thick question

[Mississippilessly]

I have breastfed for 15 weeks but want to try expressing. I have an Avent Steam Steriliser. It had 2 cycles, a 6 hr and a 24. I've just put the pump bits and some dummies in. If I lift the lid to get the dummies out does that mean the rest if it is then not sterile anymore? The instructions suggest I can pause it, get them out then carry on for the rest of the 24 hrs? Is that right?

[Strugglingonagain]

If you assemble the bottles etc when you open the steriliser they stay steriliser for 24hrs I believe..

[Mississippilessly]

I forgot the lid. What a moron.

[FartnissEverbeans]

Nothing is sterile once it is exposed to the air, but if there’s something in the air your baby will be breathing it in anyway It’s not perfect but exposing the bottles by lifting the lid won’t harm your baby.

In fact if you google the hygiene hypothesis you’ll see there is some evidence that too much cleanliness of actually bad for children. I didn’t know that when my DS was small and I wish I had as I might have relaxed a bit - I was obsessed with sterilisation.

[Nedzilla]

Just clean them. They won't be sterile once you open but you can't possibly use straight from steriliser, otherwise why would you do 6 bottles at once. If you take empty clean ones out for the day they aren't sterile

Many countries ie america and european not third world don't recommend sterilising at all. Just wash well in hot water or use dishwasher on hot wash.

[ICJump]

If you are using bottles for e pressed milk you don’t have to sterilise them. Just got soapy water and a rinse with clean water

[Mississippilessly]

Brilliant thanks! That makes life s lot easier