can I stop sterilising bottles or not?

[rubadubadoo]

My ds is one this week. He only has a couple of bottles now, one first thing in the morning and one before bed. I want to stop sterilising bottles and hopefully offer him cow's milk from a cup. I know he's OK with cow's milk but he isn't brilliant at drinking from a cup. I will of course persevere with the cup, but if push comes to shove is it OK to give cow's milk from a bottle that hasn't be sterilised?

Thanks for any advice.

yes, stop

And yes again. Re the cup thingy, start off by practising when he's in the bath - it doesn't matter if it goes everywhere then.

oh what a good idea on the bath, although both mine were drinking the bath water out of whatever was handy by that age - so they got that practice without me using it as a technique. Cup use comes with time - LOADS of one year olds have a morning and bedtime bottle.

Thanks - I'll be relieved to stop - just a bit nervous that's all. A couple of articles I've read infer that as long as bottles are used for milk, then you should still sterilise, but I shall gladly stop - hurray!

how are you washing them? dishwasher is effectively sterilising them anyway if you want to put your mind at rest.

Yes and give him a cup to play with. Even empty they are great for hitting stuff with! Then gradually introduce water and give it to him at mealtimes. The put the milk in during the day. The last Bottle to drop should be bedtime as it is a comfort as much as anything else. I would not worry about that one until 2 years tbh but if he will take a cup that is better.

Unfortunately dh and me are the dishwashers - but I use gloves, v. hot water and rinse well. Dishwasher is definitely on my wish list - half way down unfortunately.

v hot water sounds more than adequate

you dont need to sterilise anymore, general consensus is that once on the move and probably putting all sorts in their mouths, its a bit pointless sterilising

I used hot water, washing up liquid and an old toothbrush (to get into the fiddly bits) from very early on.

He does use a cup to take water at mealtimes - but I've had to take the valves out so that the cups become free flowing as he couldn't be bothered to suck. However he gulps down quite a bit before coming up for air and I'm worried he'll drown!

sounds normal, honestly.