aaarrggghhh been really stupid - sterilising

[berolina]

As some of you will know from my thread I am still supplementing bf with some formula and expressing for ds (4 weeks tomorrow) (we are on an upward curve with the bf though!). So of course I have bottles and pumps to sterilise. We have a steam sterilisier which we always run at least twice.
However I've been so stupid... I thought it was enough to rinse out bottles, pumps etc. with water before putting them in the steriliser and only brush if there were visible residues of milk. Now I've read I always need to brush and wash them in warm soapy water first... and am terrified ds will get a nasty bug because I haven't been doing this so far. Feel really guilty now - and I'd just got over my guilt at not exclusively bf .
Sorry, just wanted to share that...

[Hazellnut]

Berolina, whilst in hospital after having dd I was expressing cos she wouldn't latch on. No one told me how to use the cold water sterilising equipment and I didn't wash anything for about 24 hours, just stuck it back in the sterilising liquid as I was being a bit dim at the time . DD had no ill effects as a result ...

Someone said to me that when you have a baby, everyday there is something new to feel guilty about !!

HTH (at least to think there is another dimwit around ).

[nerdgirl]

Berolina, do you have a dishwasher? Just bung the bottles into that and they come out clean and sterilised. I never bothered with a steriliser on ds2.

[starlover]

berolina.. don't worry about it! if your ds was going to get a bug he;d have done so by now.

seriously... someone on here who is in america said that over there they don't sterilise anything anyway! just wash it in hot soapy water...

he'll be fine... don't feel guilty!

[Kidstrack2]

berolina its fine don't worry at least you know now! At the very least you baby could catch thrush but this happens to the best of us even when rinsed out with soapy water, its just that bacteria spread really quickly where milk is concerned.

[SoupDragon]

Your baby is now 4 weeks and you've been doing this all the time - he's not been ill so don't worry

There's no need to worry about the past, just worry about the future. Nerdgirl's right, the dishwasher on a hot wash is ample. But don't put teats etc in at the same time as something that's had a tomato based sauce in it!!

[berolina]

cheers (weak and wan )
It really is one worry after another isn't it? Had a taste of it in pregnancy but after the birth it's even more so. Not complaining though - got my lovely baby

[berolina]

btw we don't have a dishwasher.

[LIZS]

Agree with soupdragon, your ds has been fine thus far. If he was going to get a bug you would know about it very quickly, as you will probably discover in the future. They are less likely to get tummy bugs with breastmilk and remember your nipples aren't sterilised ! When bottles etc are new there are less scratches and flaws for old milk to accumulate on. If you are that worried just make sure to use hot soapy water from now on, give a quick scrub with a bottle brush, rinse and sterilise.

You don't need the additional guilt of the "what if's" but unfortunately it goes with the territory to an extent.

[hunkermunker]

Agree with the others re him being fine.

And good news that the bfeeding's going well, Berolina - really pleased to hear that. You're amazing

[aloha]

i have never owned a bottle brush. a swoosh with hot soapy water and a blast in the steriliser did for me....ds very much still here 3 yrs on!

[throckenholt]

if it has been sterilised then any bugs will be killed. If it has a build up of residue then all it will do is provide a surface for new bugs to grow on when you add the milk next time.

Don't worry - if he had a bug you would know about it. He is getting immunity from your milk as well.

Just wash with hot soapy water from now on.

Congratulations about the breast feeding - hopefully soon you can say goodbye to bottles and sterilising.

[berolina]

Thanks everyone. Hunkermunker - gee, gone all
Lizs - yes, the 'what ifs'... I think someone wrote on MN once that the guilt comes with the placenta - I think they're right!