Doh - left sterilizer behind - do I need to bother with a new one?

[NoSleepTillWeaning]

I knew I'd left something on holiday. Turns out it was the microwave steriliser in the microwave. DS is 7 months, will be drinking from a cup in next couple of months (already has water from a cup) do I need to bother getting a new one? (ds is no 3 so no plans to need steriliser in future!).

Only other salient point, I make up formula the forbidden way - ie water in bottles and add powder when it is cold.

What do you think??

Up to you entirely. I haven't sterilised any of DDs stuff since she was born. Good wash in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher does it for me.

Hot water or a dishwasher will suffice.

I always put the formula in hot water as it was easier to mix and should help kill any bugs in the powder.

i would just wash them in really hot water or boil them in a pot, i wouldnt buy a new one.

Thanks, but my concern is that I don't use hot water as usually out / too disorganized / used to the old way etc. Still ok you think?

Thanks again. Yes, thinking about it it probably makes little sense having a sterile bottle and unsterile powder!

personally think making the bottles up the old way much more worrying that no sterliser. why bother sterlising bottles at all if the powder not sterile????

If you're out, a carton is best if you can get them for that formula. That milk is sterile.

I agree, it is more important IMO to make up the formula in water over 70 degrees c than it is to sterilise an already very clean bottle. If you find it too much to make from scratch it is better to make them up with the higher temperature water and leave them in the fridge chilling for later use than it is to make it up with cold water.

Alternatively, fill up a separate bottle in advance with (e.g.) 4oz of boiling water and cool in fridge. Then make up bottle with 7 scoops and 3oz of water that is over 70 degrees (to kill the bacteria) and then add the 4oz cooled boiled water to bring it down to drinking temp.

Formula isn't sterile - it needs to be added to water at least 70C temperature to kill bacteria (but not much higher as it then destroys nutrients). IMO you've been lucky your LO hasn't had any issues as it is.

At 7 months when they are chewing all manner of stuff off the floor then sterilising is a bit pointless. Caught my DD trying to eat Grazia magazine this morning!

"IMO you've been lucky your LO hasn't had any issues as it is."

Really? And you are an expert on the subject?

The chances of the baby having a problem with non sterile powder is very mimimal. You'd be very unlucky for your baby to have a problem even if you always mixed with room temp water. I know lots of people mixing with cool water, are they all lucky too?

Six salmonella outbreaks linked to formula in 20 years from 1985 to 2005, 287 children affected (not just UK). No stats I've found on e.coli

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Current guidance is to sterilise all feeding equipment used for feeding formula up until age 1. This, apparantly, does not apply to breastfed babies. I would buy another steriliser or use milton tablets.

Try Mothercare Sterliser Bottles - you just put bottle / teat upside down in the lid with water and into microwave. They are brilliant.

Really wouldn't want to give anyone advise about making up bottles but I and everyone I know put powder into cold boiled water and no problems. My (usually very clever brother) made his newborn DDs bottles with cold water straight from the tap until SIL put in right. She survived.