When to stop sterilising bottles?

[newMNer]

Hi there. Does anyone know when it's OK to stop sterilising baby's bottles? It's no hassle sterilising them, but just wondering.

One year.
If you dishwasher them though it sterilises them, though I would still put them through the steriliser until around 6 mths, when they seem a bit less fragile. TOtally unscientific that last bit, btw!

i stopped ds2 at one ,just used lots of hot soapy water ,!!

sterilised for DS1 until around 1 I think - will do the same for DS2.

Don't bother - life is too short:

No need to sterilise link

I stopped at six months with both my 2!

If you could see the unsterile rubbish my DS picks up off the floor and shoves in his mouth.....I don't think a dishwasher clean bottle that hasn't been sterilised is going to hurt!

Thanks for the answers. Much appreciated.

My dishwasher is me or partner!
Still, we do make them clean. Yes, I was wondering whether the fact my baby sucks on everything in sight it is important to keep sterilising.

All babies are vulnerable to the germs that cause diarrhoea and vomiting, and so it is best to continue sterilising bottles and teats (and breast pump equipment) until your baby is one year old and has built up more resistance to bacteria generally. The recommended age for starting solids is now six months, and bowls, plates and spoons can generally be cleaned using your usual washing-up method from this age.

Cleaning your baby's bottles and teats in a dishwasher will not always heat them to the right temperature to kill off all known bugs, so it's generally still advisable to sterilise after washing. If you do want to rely on your dishwasher alone, it needs to be run on a hot programme at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees centigrade. The bottles then need be filled with cooled, boiled water straight away as the dishwasher will not leave them in a completely sterile condition.

It may seem pointless to sterilise feeding equipment when your baby is crawling around the floor and putting all sorts of things in his mouth, but the bugs that stick to milk curds can be dangerous. Your baby's immune system will grow stronger into the second year and he'll be able to combat infections more easily.

Hope this helps, ladies. Remember, for the sake of spending 15 minutes doing the right thing, your baby will be safer and less likely to suffer serious digestive infections and complications.