How long do things stay sterilised?

5 replies

threestars · 06/04/2008 10:17

I feel like I'm oversterilising bottles and the pump!
My steam steriliser says things stay sterilised in it for 3 hours if I don't open it. So if I sterlise a bottle and put the teat & lid on it, does it only stay fresh for 3 hours? If not, how long? I then transfer milk into it just before using, unless it's EBM in which case I stick a teat on the bottle it's in.
If I end up not using a bottle within 3 hours I'm re-sterilising it, but I'm worried that I'm destroying the teats like that. I'm using NUK teats on the whole and they don't look very durable.
Likewise, if I use cold water sterlisation, how long will they stay sterilised? DH says for ages and ages. I haven't been able to find any answers in baby books.
sorry for the ramble...

OP posts:

kiskideesameanoldmother · 06/04/2008 10:25

good heavens. don't bother sterilising. wash and rinse hot soapy water and air dry or stick in the dishwasher with everything else. EBM has antibacterial qualities which makes it last longer while in the bottle compared to formula even after your child has sipped from it.

Seona1973 · 06/04/2008 12:47

It stays sterile for 3 hours in the steriliser if it is unopened. If you then open it and assemble the bottles they will be ok for about 24 hours so no need for all the extra sterilising. I did sterilise and would do if I had another lo too.

Parents risking baby sickness by not sterilising, survey shows

Lukesmammy · 06/04/2008 20:44

Agree with Seona - sounds like you have the same steriliser as me.

The bottles will stay sterile in the unit for 3 hours so long as the unit is not opened. But if you screw the cap/lid on etc before those three hours are up and the unit has not been opened previously during that time then they should in theory stay sterile until used.

If I don't use them wihin 24 hours then I tend to sterilise again. Probably don't need to but just for my own peace of mind.

Martha200 · 07/04/2008 07:33

My sterilser says if unopened then it's for 24hrs! (wonders the difference, or is it that yours is trying to cover itself more?)
As it goes, have never left anything in there for that long.

nappyaddict · 07/04/2008 08:00

have you read this?

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