Bottle Steriliser?

[Namechangegardens]

FTM due in September.

Do you use a steriliser for bottles? If so, how often do you use it? It will (hopefully) be bottled pumped breast milk, if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

[Fruityfriday]

I was old school and used Milton with a Milton tank.

[Roboticcarrot]

If you buy the mam bottles they can just go in the microwave by themselves, would highly recommend!

[Dollhousedoor]

Yes we used ours a lot at home, not just bottles but the parts from breast pump we have could go in too but check first. Mam brand bottles can be sterilised without one so good for trips away and we also had Milton tablets for trips out too if wanted to pack light.

[starfishy]

I expressed everyday so used a steriliser a lot. Started with a steam one but then moved onto a Milton cold water one. Much easier!

[Fitforforty]

If you have a full term healthy baby then you don’t need to sterilise bottles for breast milk only if you are using formula.

[Chelyanne]

Had an avent stand alone steamer with our 1st, was on 1-2 times a day. Had a tommee tippee microwave steamer with our other 4, used 1-3 times a day (our youngest are twins). This time we have the mam bottles which can self steam sterilise in the microwave and I got a Milton cold water tub too so I can use either method.

I sterilised bottles pump etc when I tried to give breast milk too. Ours were mostly formula fed though due to me having a rubbish supply.

[CoalCraft]

Bottle and breast pump parts all need sterilising (DD exclusively fed pumped milk for four months). We have a Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser but I'm sure they're all much the same.

Personally can't get used to the smell of the cold water sterilisers. I trust it really is fine but they reel of swimming pool and I don't like to think of DD swallowing that.

[CoalCraft]

To answer the 'how often', question, when I was pumping it was every time I pumped at least, so six to eight times a day. It was part of what made exclusive pumping so brutal.

Now that DD is formula fed it's down to one or two times a day.

[Scotabroad24]

We've got an avent steam sterliser, used twice a day. Takes about 10 minutes or so. I also sterlise DS's little bowls and spoon, not sure if it's necessary but makes me feel better!

[AyyX]

I use the electric tommee tippee steriliser, maybe about once or twice a day now that she’s older (17m) and on formula. I sterilised the breast pump and bottles when I used to breastfeed quite often.

[LemonLemonLemon]

I just used Milton tablets. Found it easier than faffing with extra equipment. I expressed for about 6 weeks. I only ever had four bottles, because it’s best not to let them all build up. You can rinse the pump and reuse, but sterilise at least once a day

[TheOceanClub]

I have Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser. Usually I wait until I have 3 or 4 used and washed bottles and then throw in the microwave for 5 minutes.
The only thing which I don’t like and honestly I didn’t think about it earlier - it holds 4 small bottles but if I have to sterilise Dr Brown or MAM big ones, I can put inside only 2 + the teats and stuff.
My DS is formula fed and I sterilise after each feed. If I’m using the small bottle then I just use hot water. Depends.

[Thomasia]

MAM bottles can self sterilise in a microwave, so you can do them as you need them, and no need for extra kit. Some breast pumps come with a steriliser box that can be either Milton or microwaved. I know Milton is old school, but when my electric one broke, I found it far better using milton than having to clean and descale an electric one every week or so.