To sterilise or not to sterilise

[supergreenuk]

Okay so this is the thing. I have been breast feeding and I am now starting to wean. You are supposed to sterilise the bowls and spoons. Do people really do that up to a year or are we all just putting it in the dishwasher and using it straight out of the cupboard????

[Cadders1]

I think the advice now is just to sterilise bottle teats (so my HV told me). Pretty much pointless sterilising everything else - my DS spends most of the day stuffing anything he can get his hands on into his mouth!

[Cadders1]

Meant to say once they are past 6 months.

[ShowOfHands]

You don't really need to sterilise anything, particularly if you have a dishwasher. Dishwasher does the same job.

[BikeRunSki]

I sterilised bottles up to a year. Did BLW from 6 months, so not much crockery/cutlery, but didn't sterilise it anyway.

[whooosh]

The Amreicans don't sterilise anything-at all.....and they don't appear to have a major problem.Cleanliness is the key and even if you don't have a dishwasher,hot soapy water and a very good scrub is just as good IMHO.
Relax...will be fine.

[thisisyesterday]

no, there is NO need at all

if your baby is grubbing about on the floor, then a wash with hot water is fine. they'll be putting all sorts in their mouth anyway

[2plus2more]

The only thing I ever sterilised was the bottles and teats. Once my kids were 5 months they were fully onto sippy cups and the sterilising stopped. My kids are perfectly healthy. No need to get worked up about the possibility of a few germs - babies are more resilient that "they" would have you believe and a few germs do their immune systems good!

[rubyslippers]

not sterilised anything at all

started to wean DD at 24 weeks (from EBF)

dishwasher or hot soapy water is fine IMO

[supergreenuk]

I have found an NHS web site that says
������ Thoroughly wash all bowls and spoons for feeding in
hot soapy water.

And a boots weaning magazine says sterlise up to a year.

Confusing. It makes you think that Boots are just in it to sell a sterliser. I have to say I am more inclined to trust and NHS leaflet.

Thanks soooooo much you guys.