Do you really need to sterilise bottles?

[issynoko]

Have been reading more and more about how washing bottles with hot water and using a good brush is all that's really needed and once a teat is on the bottle it begins to pick up germs anyway so 'sterile' is a myth. Am about to have my 4th baby and have always bf or formula but using a steriliser before. Would you formula feed but NOT use a steriliser? Am about to buy a BPA free Avent steriliser - our old one is knackered. But paused for thought!

I would until they are much older. It doesn't take much effort. Would you be able to forgive yourself if he caught a stomach bug because of it?

I do for about 4 months, its a handy place to store the bottles if nothing else. Had dd3 in Feb and got a microwave steriliser, it was a revelation after my old steam one