Did you sterilise bottles etc at 9months.?

[Magpie1976]

Steriliser just broken and don't want to fork out for a new one for next few months. Today I boiled bottles in a pan. Would you even bother sterilizing any more?

Why not use sterilising tablets? I used them when I travelled home to NZ and wondered why I hadn't used them all along...

I sterilised bottles and teats as long as they were used (as taught when doing nursery nursing training) but I agree with the sterilizing tablets idea.

Thanks. That hadn't occurred to me. Do they leave a chemically residue? How long before all sterilized?

If you are giving formula it's advised to always sterilise bottles (that's what I was told on a weaning course) so that's what I'm going to do. Only 4 months to go... I hate the faff of sterilizing! I know some people do stop before then though.
How about the microwave bags. I have the Munchkin ones each bag can be used 30 times.

I stopped from 6 months. Although mine was breast milk in the bottles. Apparently it makes a difference. Not sure how much though!

I did as long as I was giving formula, which was 18 months for us.
Milton fluid and cold water. Best stuff ever

Thanks. Not heard of the microwave bags. Will check then out. Yes it's such a faff

I did, because we were using formula so there wasn't a choice. We used tablets all the way through - they're really easy.

My dd is 10 months and I just wash them in very hot water now. When she was a bit poorly I sterilised them all daily but I don't do it all the time now x

I stopped around 11 months with my first and with my second I didn5 sterilise at all. Very hot soapy water, very hot water rinse and jobs a good 'un.

So at 9 months I wouldn’t buy anything new.

I think the NHS website recommends sterilising anything that comes into intact with milk until they are 1.

I sterilised bottles until 12 months when I switch over to cows milk. I know people who stopped much sooner though.

The microwave bags are great.

I sterilised until we stopped using bottles, which is what my HV recommended. At about 16 months?

I stopped when my ds was doing things like licking the buggy wheels and eating stuff from the floor. It was at that point I though stwrpising had become pointless. (Probs about 11 months I think).

What about sippy cups etc? Do you sterilize them too if they've had milk in them?

No,the dishwasher should be enough by then.

No idea as my DC were using beakers at 9 months. I think the advice is that you should though.

My health visitor said you don't have to sterilise things after 6 months although I do still do the bottles at 7 months

No, we stopped at six months.

Bottles are always run through the dishwasher so by the time they’ve been through a 45 min cycle plus an hour sitting in the steam in a closed machine, I don’t think there’s any nasties left.

No,the dishwasher should be enough by then.

Dishwashers do sterilise, don't they? We don't have one so I didn't look it up, but if you make jam or similar, the recipes always tell you a dishwasher cycle is a perfectly ok way to sterilise something.

I mix feed so bottles are only used occasionally but I sterilised until 6 months with DC1 and didn't bother at all with DC2.

I just don't see how it's necessary if you have an otherwise healthy baby and wash the bottles very thoroughly in really hot soapy water. The minute you take the sterilised bottles out of the steriliser and start adding formula/screwing lids on etc they stop being sterile anyway.

I (shock horror) also make up the bottles with cold tap water after sloshing a shot of boiling water into the powder.

I don't think a dishwasher sterilises , but it cleans very well!

Smurf123 your HV is going against NHS advice.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/sterilising-bottles/

NHS advice is to sterilise to 12 months both for breast milk and formula and says dishwashers do not sterilise.

I read somewhere that the bacteria in milk is particularly nasty hence the need to sterilise but I can't find the link. It's worse than any bacteria baby can pick up when crawling on a floor. I find this hard to believe when I go to a play group and my DD puts all the dirty toys in her mouth though.

Anyway everyone makes there own choice but good to know what official advice is.

Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated.

I wonder tho about the nhs advice to sterilize till age 1 as after that time surely cow's milk will go in bottles or cups and they need sterilizing still? ( That is if milk may contain bacteria still ) or is it just for formula milk?