Sterilising formula bottles

[Usedtobechilled]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone can answer this...
I express and don't sterilise the bottles, I wash them with hot soapy water, same as my pump parts.
Started combo feeding and now have to sterilise the bottles for formula... why? What's the difference?

I’ve always sterilised bottles and pump parts when expressing, I wasn’t aware this wasn’t necessary? I‘m hiring a hospital grade pump and the instructions say to sterilise pump parts between sessions.

It's the higher temperature from the steam that kills off more bacteria in the sterilising machines

I think it’s because breast milk has some antibacterial properties? I might have that wrong but basically the same reason you can leave breast milk 6 hours at room temp but formula is only 1.

You are supposed to sterilise the pump/bottles by the way, just not as frequently.

The microwave ones are excellent and cheaper

Second a microwave one. So easy. I wouldn't risk not doing it. Even with expressing.

This

There's plenty of sites that say washing in hot soapy water is sufficient such as the fda website, la leche etc if your baby was full term so now I'm more confused.

I think there's potential bacteria in formula that you need to sterilise, so anything that has formula in needs sterilising before it gets used again.
With breast milk, I didn't sterilise after 6 months.

I think we are supposed to sterilise to help kill off bad bacteria found in powdered formula.

You use a minimum of 70°C water to kill potential bacteria within the milk powder and you sterilise the pump and bottles to kill any bacteria from residue milk ( breast and formula ) not washed away properly from them.

There was a case recently reported of a baby dying from bacteria in a breast pump.

I would sterilise the pump as well.

Only look at UK sites if that is where you are (FDA is American) tap water composition and temperature vary by country. American dishwashers for example tend to run hotter than British ones.

Breastmilk is sterile essentially. Meaning any bacteria in there is 'friendly'.

Formula, like any food product, grows bacteria once opened. It's why you can't have a tin open for more than a certain amount of time.

You need to sterilise formula bottles because it remove formula stuck in creases in the bottle and helps to keep the next feed as bacteria free as possible.

Ah thank you! It's been boggling my brain. I obviously sterilise for formula but i never really understood why because I didn't need to for breastmilk.
😊