Recs re expressing milk...and is it right that steamed bottles are wet??

[SquidgersMummy]

My DD is 8 wks - at w'end expressed a couple of ounces, she woke fm a nap and happily had them fm Daddy. Tried last night and hysteria. But she is really windy/gripey so prob wrong time to try but DH in work all day. Not sure it will work as she wont have a dummy at all (trying as recommended re SIDS). But my main worry is I thought moisture breeds bacteria - when the microwave steamer has finished everything is still wet - how is it supposed to dry?

Such a faff. Can see helpful re babysitting but such a hassle when tired etc. Any tips very welcome.

X

I would leave it to air-dry. I air dry my cold-water sterilised bottles, because wiping them with a tea-towel may spread germs.

The water is sterile so there won't be any bacteria. You can leave them to air-dry, but it shouldn't be a problem if there is a tiny amount of sterile water.

Leaving them to air dry actually de-sterilises them, although it's not as germy as drying them with a tea towel. If you leave them in the microwave steriliser with the lid on they will both dry and stay sterile, but as Tea said, the water/moisture inside the bottle is sterile so there's no problem filling them up wet - in fact I think that's what is advised by manufacturers and medical types over leaving them to air dry. Then there are those who say sterilising is not needed at all...I think it's one of those situations where you have to think about how many cacky bottles or jugs babies have been fed out of over the centuries and the human race has still managed to thrive, so you don't need to be too horribly concerned. Just keep it all as clean as you can.

PS SarryB the Milton's website says to drain bottles and use them immediately, so there's no need to air dry when cold water sterilising either. (It's in the 'do I need to rinse bottles' link/question.)