How long do you have to sterilise bottles for?

[bizziebee]

Dd is six months now - do her bottles still have to be sterilised? Going away for a week and would be good not to take the steriliser with us!

I'm sure that bottles have to still be sterilized but everything else does not have to be - sorry!

As long as you make sure they are cleaned thoroughly in hot soapy water so that no traces of milk are left in the teats, then you don't have to sterilise. You should allow to air dry if possible.

If you'll have access to a dishwasher then that's an easy way to make sure they are cleaned properly - no sterilising required!

Agree with bookthief.

I thought it was till dc is 1 year, but not sure as I got fed up and stopped at about 9/10 months! Think Bookthief is right as well. Mothercare do sterilising bags to put in microwave, which might be an idea. I used them on holiday and weren't too bad to use.

DS is 6 months & fully breastfed but does have the occasional bottle of EBM - and I have never sterilised his bottles! There's been threads on here before about why (some people) think it's unnecessary. I put the bottles/breastpump in the dishwasher or wash them by hand. At 6 months your DD is probably putting all & sundry toys etc in her mouth & they won't be sterile...

I dont sterilize, stopped when DD was 3 months, has never had a problem.

I wash with hot soapy water (I use eco washing liquid, as it has less nasty chemicals in it and I can never get the smell of fairy washing up liquid off the teats) then leave to air dry

dd2 was 11 weeks early and when i expressed for her they told me to just make sure the equipment was fully cleaned in hot soapy water so i did but when i got home i sterilised just for peace of mind.

personally i think you'll be fine, maybe buy antibacterial washing up liquid.

I think I stopped when ds was 3 months. I sometimes use the dishwasher but mostly wash in hot soapy water.

good to know - thanks guys! We have a dishwasher so they'll definitely be clean. Thats a good point saltcod -she is putting everything in her mouth at the moment!