Sterilising question...

[EdieMcredie]

...Don't know where else to post this. Trying my baby with some teethers this morning which say COLD WATER STERILISATION ONLY on the packet. What is this and is sterilising a teether really necessary when she has her hands forever in her mouth anyway?

it means in a steriliser with Milton or somesuch in it, but if your baby's teething and hands are in mouth anyway I wouldn't bother sterilising meself. Mine has a dummy (3 months) and though we were sterilising rigourously till now, we've just stopped since realised most of the time my toddler fishes them off the floor, sucks it (seen us doing that with his! and sticks it back in.... Argh!

they're probably filled with water so would explode if steam or microwave sterilised. The warning is to say if you are sterilising them you can only do it using the cold water method (sterilising tablets). DD has been using one since she was about 14 weeks and it's never been sterilised, just washed in warm soapy water. How old is your lo?

She will be 3 months on Friday.

I really wouldn't worry about not sterilising them. If you're really worried then you could try using a spray disinfectant on them and then thoroughly washing them to get rid of the disinfectant.

I also have some hard plastic teething ring which I shove in our steam steriliser occassionally but if you don't have a steriliser at all then I really wouldn't worry about it.

The only thing you should rigorously sterilise are bottles because of the risk of food poisoning from milk residue.

although (re sterilising bottles...) see this very long thread

Certainly has made me think twice about sterilising if and when I get round to expressing enough to store/give in a bottle...

awwwww 5gr4mb why did you have to go and show me that? I haven't read it all yet but now the lazy voice in my head is arguing with the paranoid voice in my head about what to do about sterilizing bottles.

See if I don't sterilise and DD gets a stomach upset that's my fault for being lazy.

Then again if I do sterilize and DD gets eczema it's my fault for being paranoid and insisting on sterilizing.

Am very tempted to stop the sterilising once DD reaches 6 months in 3 weeks time, especially as we have a dishwasher. Hmmmmmm...off to ponder dilemma....

I stopped worrying about sterilising dummies and teethers when DD started stroking the cats and then sucking on her hair-filled little hand but I am still doing bottles and other stuff gets chucked in if there's room.

OP, sorry this thread seems to have been hijacked. Are you reassured about not sterilising the teether?

BWM-That's fine! Yes im reassured. I washed in warm soapy water, rinsed and popped in fridge.

Cannot believe someone would sterilise their hands
take it she meant cold water and not steam!! (need an OUCH emoitcon)