To think that sterilising bottles at 7 months is ludicrous...

[ThePerfectFather]

...given that 90% of what she sticks in her gob isn't even close to sterile? Toys, dummies, food - none of it sterile. She sticks her feet in her mouth most of the time, again not sterile. She is actively engaged in jamming anything within reach, or within rolling distance, in her mouth.

So why focus on this mandated "sterilise for a year at least" bullshit? It sounds like the usual crap trotted out by the NHS and the WHO that makes no actual sense when you examine it in a practical sense.

I've been sticking the bottles through the dishwasher to get them nice and clean but on the occasions I've got none clean, I scrub them in hot water and fairy liquid, give them a good rinse, and then that's that. Is this so wrong? How can a bottle be such a bacteria risk, but her Sophie giraffe that she chews on for hours is apparently fair game? I just don't understand my missus and her insistence on sterilising when our baby is surrounded be germs the rest of the time, and she's fine!

the problem is the formula that is put into the bottle and is a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause diarrhoea/vomiting . I sterilised bottles/teats until 1 year but didnt sterilise anything else. It's not doing anyone any harm so leave her to sterilise if she wants.

The issue is that formula milk can have certain, very dangerous, bacteria in it (hence it has to be made up with very hot water). It's not day to day floor germs that are the problem. My DS (6 months) keeps trying to lick the cat, and I still sterilise his bottles.

Off milk is no joke. If it gives peace of mind why not?

Not ludicrous, no.

Her Sophie Giraffe presumably doesn't have bacteria from milk all over it.

May I direct you to this thread for my opinion on this? I'm too tired to type it out twice in one day.

Well I was gonna come on and agree with you but I had no idea about the formula milk so I'm now questioning myself

I stopped doing dd2's at around 6 months once she was crawling around and eating the floor, the dog and anything else quite dirty.

She's 9 months now maybe I'll start sterilising again. Hmm

Oh, and please don't use teats from the dishwasher without rinsing them thoroughly first. Bits if dishwasher powder can get stuck in them and you really don't want your baby to be sucking on caustic chemicals.

The main thing is that everything is washed thoroughly. You can wash stuff well and not sterilise, but it's no good giving stuff a quick once over with some water then sterilising it.

I was told by health visitor that there's no need to sterilise after 6 months. DD is 5 months now and I'm almost tempted to not bother already cos she has her grubby mitts and anything else she can get her hands on in her mouth. In the US I think it's only recommended for first three months.

I understand your logic but YABU.

You don't have to sterilise anything else. You do have to sterilise bottles and teats. They are a Special Case.

I was told by the HV to sterilise anything that had milk in it - so if I make porridge with milk, then the bowl and spoon go in the steriliser. It's not like it's masses of effort either - just give everything a good wash in hot soapy water, rinse, and then bung it all in the steriliser. Also, the steriliser is handy for storing the bottles and teats etc. Saves them being scattered across the kitchen.

The level of ignorance on this subject is really quite astonishing!

Bottles and teats have lots of nooks and crannies for old milk to get stuck in and formula powder is not sterile. Surely better to put up with the faff of sterilising than risk a bad tummy upset for a still very small baby?

Actually the dishwasher or hot soapy water if you're meticulous are just fine from birth.

But if it gives her peace of mind then I can't see a problem.

In the US, they don't recommend sterilising at all - just using the dishwasher. I think the risk is too low to justify the faff.

I stopped at 6 months, and just put everything through the dishwasher on a hot wash. From what I vaguely remember its ok to do that as long as everything's washed properly.

I think from what the midwives said at the time, it's ok just use the dishwasher from birth.

At 10mo, I am still sterilising DC2's bottles, teats and dummies, more out of habit than anything else.

EasilyBored, does that advice from your HV re. sterilise anything that had milk apply to normal cows milk, or just formula?

I've fed DS porridge made with cows milk & not sterilised bowl & spoon afterwards. Should I be sterilising? Serious question!

I've only just stopped sterilising and my DD is nearly 12 months. I stopped as we've switched to cows milk so just using hot soapy water.
I think 7 months minimum for sterilising and it's usually so quick, mine was 8 mins in the microwave so no extra effort at all.

I was told to sterlisie up to a year old. And then got told off for sterlising stuff after one year old. I thought I was being extra careful.

YABU

It's the formula that's the problem. Hence up to one year by which time they won't be on it any more.