How long do I steralise for?

[Muckypup]

When can i stop steralising bottles for formula and expressed milk. DS is mostly breastfed but is now on solids. Do I still have to steralise bottles even though the plates he eats of etc are not steralised?

I think I stopped at about 8 months for DD2 and she suffered no adverse affects, although I think one of my books says a year

milk is an excellent place for bacteria to grow - better than a plate for example. so its best to be scrupulous (sp?) about cleaning bottles etc
some people sterilise up to a year, some people never sterilise, just give it a good wash in very hot water and washing liquid
some people use the dishwasher

its up to you

although if i were you id just stop now

hth

DS is 7mths today and is bf but has one bottle a day. I haven't sterilised it for about a month now, just stick it in the dishwasher. Much easier

Apparently in the States they don't sterilise, just use dishwashers...

I stopped sterilising dd's bottles at 6 months.

Thanks! We don't have a dishwasher but I'll stop worrying and wash in hot water.

A question I was looking for an answer too also... I thought it was 12mths but can be quite a nuisance waiting for the kettle to cool and the bottles to be cleaned... my DDs 9mths, I may think about stopping soon.

I stopped sterilizing at 6 months. We don't have a dishwasher (sadly!) but if you do, I think they are hot enough to sterilize anyway.
I just make sure that I clean the stuff really well now.