Bottle sterilising mystery - how long ARE they sterile??

[Zzanne]

Hello! Our identical twins are due by c-section next Mon. We have an electric steriliser. I will try to breastfeed, but I want to have backup just in case and will probably mix feed or maybe just bottle if it doesn't work out. The instructions say that after you sterilise, the bottles are only sterile for 3 hours after the process once the steriliser is opened! We obviously will not use all 6 bottles in 3 hours. How does this work? What happens to them after that 3 hour period - how and what are they "contaminated" by??

Is there a way to store bottles so they stay sterile?

Help, we're bottle novices!

Thanks,

Suzanne

[Seona1973]

once they are sterilised assemble them and they are ok for 24 hours.

[horsemadgal]

I thought they were sterile in the steriliser for 3 hours if unopened. (So gives you max 3 hours to make them up).

Once made up and sealed the water remains sterile for 24 hours.

[BertieBotts]

Horsemadgal partly true, the water does stay sterile but the guidelines say to boil the water to a certain temperature to kill any bugs in the powder, which is not sterile. (Unless I am misunderstanding you as I have only ever sterilised using Milton)

Congratulations on your twins OP! There is a long-running thread on here questioning the necessity of sterilising at all, so you might want to have a look at that to be as informed as possible.

[horsemadgal]

Your right Bertie that is the new guidelines.
Does anyone actually do that though? I know my sons would never have waited for the bottles cooling down.

[horsemadgal]

Ignore me, I see there's a whole other thread about it.