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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

sterilising

31 replies

MummyToToby · 12/05/2006 23:50

i always understood you had to sterilise all feeding equipment up to the age of 6 months but bottles for as long as you were using them. however \link{
www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/your_kids/babies_feeding.shtml\this website} says...

Bottle feeding:
It's important to keep all feeding equipment clean - you MUST sterilise between uses for the first six months. This is because formula-fed babies don't get the same protection from infection as breastfed babies, and milk is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

so which is correct?

OP posts:

LaylaandSethsmum · 12/05/2006 23:53

I do sterilise bottles and teats but have necer sterilised spoons, bowls , water cups. I read on here somewhere though that in USA i believe, they don't sterilise at all just hot dishwasher wash.

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 00:12

well just looking in the NHS book the midwife gave me and it says you only need to sterilise bottles, dummies, spoons and beaker tops up to 6 months, and you don't need to sterilise any other feeding equipment like bowls at all. so guess my original understanding was wrong!

OP posts:

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 00:15

yeah my midwife told me you can just use the dishwasher to sterilise BUT you have to make the formula up as soon as the dishwasher has finished AND the dishwasher cycle must be hot enough to dry them (which mine doesn't). if when the dishwasher cycle has stopped there is still water in them you still need to sterilise.

OP posts:

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 00:16

can also stop having to give cooled boiled water as a drink after 6 months (obviously still need to use it for formula though - i think)

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 13/05/2006 00:18

There's a thread on here somewhere about no need to sterilise at all. Just wash in hot soapy water and leave to air dry.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

And remember that if you don't give food till your baby's six months you won't need to worry about sterilising bowls anyway

madmarchhare · 13/05/2006 14:57

Speaking of not sterilising, which I wouldnt have if I hadnt been completely railroaded by by HV, ILs etc.. Im just trying to find any 'official looking' evidence to try and convince a friend of mine that it isnt necessary.

Although Ive assured her that lots of lovely MNers say its OK, it would be good if I could back it up with a nice link.

RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2006 15:24

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?rn=31621&topicid=1364&threadid=91585&redir=31621\here you go guys}

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 16:04

\link{http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/formula/sterilising/\this website} says:

"Cleaning your baby's bottles in a dishwasher is becoming more popular but the right temperature for sterilisation will only be reached on a hot programme of 80 degrees C or more. Bottles must then be filled with formula more or less straightaway."

backed up by \link{http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=302&id=2417\this one} that says:

"Bottles, plates, cups and spoons that are washed in a dishwasher will be very clean and probably well sterilised, if they are dry after the dishwasher cycle. If they contain any water after the cycle, they should be sterilised while the baby is under 6 months, or rewashed and dried for an older baby"

OP posts:

RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2006 16:09

MummytoToby

did you read my thread?

madmarchhare · 13/05/2006 16:27

Thanks RTKM. I think thats the link I read and wished I had before I had DS.

Squarer · 13/05/2006 16:30

All hail RTKangamummy, the saviour of the steriliser slave

Madmarchhare:
USA don't sterilise at all
New Zealand sterilise bottles for 3 months
We sterilise spoons????
Show your friend RTKangas thread if possible. I once found some "official type advice" regarding sterilising but I can't find it now. It referred to the reasons why sterilising became commonplace (can't remember why now, frustratingly!) and why it is counterproductive to the babies immune system (and then made reference to the non-sterilising USA). I'll have a think about it, see if I can remember the keywords to google.
But in the meantime, tell her RTKangamummy says its ok not to

Squarer · 13/05/2006 16:31

x-posted! Was Googling for the link

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 16:39

yep and found a much better website than the last one that gives me the peace of mind i do NOT need to sterilise!!
for all those mums who aren't convinced by what many MNers are saying about not needing to sterilise or use cooled boiled water for making up bottles.
according to \link{http://www.ucihealth.com/maternity/aFormulaFeeding.htm\this website} you do not need to sterilise and you can make formula up with cold water (but not hot) from the tap.
obviously as many of you will know cold water does not dissolve the formula easily, so the best thing to do would be to use half freshly boiled water and half cold water out of the tap.

OP posts:

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 17:55

the other thing is that mineral water CAN be ok to use with babies, but you have to check the mineral content first. some are higher than others and there's a certain level that is ok for babies. i personally can't be remembering a load of different mineral content values, so as our water tastes pretty yucky, we just filter it.

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Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 21:38

sort of going off the subject here, but if i microwave bottles (yes the bottle police come and get me!), i have to take of the lid (obviously) and the teat and screw ring don't i. and if i make bottles up in advance its 24 hours i can keep them for in the fridge isn't it.

OP posts:

Squarer · 13/05/2006 21:43

For microwaving, yes - remove the whole lot. I did as althought the teats are generally latex and can withstand extremely high temperatures, they heat up (obviously . Best to keep cold.
And again, yes, you can make up formula 24 hours in advance. Certainly what I did otherwise I would have gone insane.
That said, I have heard of people who just pour the boiled water into bottles, leave at room temperature and add formula as required. Certainly in summer months this can remove the need to microwave.

Original poster

MummyToToby · 13/05/2006 21:54

oops pressed post and i meant to add a bit more .. opened ready to drink formula can be left in the fridge for 48 hours can't it, and any prepared formula or opened ready to drink milk can be left at room for temp for 2 hours, but where a baby has not finished a bottle that milk can only be kept for an hour cos it has been contaminated by the babies mouth. and going back to the using tap water thing i forgot to mention you have to let it run for 30 seconds so as to run off any that has stood in the pipes. hope all this is of help to some of you.

OP posts:

Squarer · 13/05/2006 23:47

Yup, you got it Mum2T... Although you have to apply common of course - I wouldn't leave milk out for 2 hours in summer for example

chipmonkey · 14/05/2006 00:18

Squarer, apply common?

peaches27 · 14/05/2006 11:02

I think I tend to keep sterilizing despite reading the threads about not doing for one reason only. I make up all my feeds at once. The milk is therefore in some of the bottles for 20+ hours, although refrigerated. If I make up a bottle for immediate use there is no need to sterilise as any residual bugs dont have time to multiply in the milk. But if there are any residual bacteria after a good wash (dont have dishwasher) they would have chance to multiply in milk for 20+ hours. I dont sterilise spoons, bowls etc as the food is only on them a minute or two. But I sterilise because I cant be arsed to make up each bottle individually.

As far as I understand it, when we used to buy pasturised milk in glass bottles, they were sterilised before use, not because we were all babies but because the milk would be hanging about in the bottles for a few days.

So in a nutshell, I will be sterilising as long as I make up a days feeds all at once.

Original poster

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 16:03

the link i provided below says it is ok to make up a day's feeds in advance.

OP posts:

Original poster

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 16:32

another thing, which i wasn't sure about was do I need to let my bottles cool down before putting them in the fridge, but advice seems to be that as soon as you make them up you should put them straight in the fridge to stop bacteria multiplying. and that if a bottle hasn't air dryed completely when you need it you should dry it with a paper towel NOT a cloth.

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Original poster

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 16:47

and it should me the main part of the fridge not the door as it is not cool enough. apparently untouched milk can actually be left out of the fridge for 3 hours, not 2, even if it has been warmed up.

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 14/05/2006 16:50

Anything, not just bottles, should be allowed to cool before putting in fridge.

Putting something hot in the fridge can potentially raise the ambient temperature and mean that everything in there is possibly not cold enough.

I used to stand the bottles in a bowl of cold water to cool them down quicker.

Original poster

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 16:51

same for opened ready to drink formula.

OP posts:

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