IMHO and the opinion of microbiologists there is no need to sterilize

[RTKangaMummy]

As many of you already know

My DTs were born at 27 weeks and spent 3 months in NNU

We were told not to sterilize when we got home

We were told to wash everything in hot soapy water and leave out to air dry on kitchen roll

The hospital microbiologists advised that this was the best way to clean everything

And considering how ill DS was, in NNU, we followed this advice and he never had an upset tummy as a baby and was completley fine

So my advice to everyone is to not worry too much about it, wash it in HOT SOAPY WATER AND AIR DRY {washing up liquid}

This was in LONDON btw.

When I was preggers I planned to sterilize bottles, teats, nipple shields, dummies etc.

But now, I think, thank goodness that we listened to the microbiologists at the hospital. And didn't waste all the money and time on it.

DT2 {DS} was very very very ill in NNU ITU etc.

IMHO if he can come out of hospital and not have everything sterilized and not have a tummy bug or vomiting/diarahea, then why an earth should healthy normal babies be at such a risk of being ill?

If you give a baby a toy teddy it is not sterilized, now I know that won't have any milk on. But they will still put them in their mouths.

If you wrap teats in cling film which is not sterile, then why bother?

IMHO it is all a con by the makers of sterilizing units to put fear into everyone

Saint George worked for a microbiologist and she says the same thing and that he said that as long as you were extremely clean, babies would be fine. And that all this sterilization has caused problems in maternity hospitals

So set yourself free BUT be very clean and use very hot soapy water and air dry.

Also you should make sure all the milk bits come from all the little areas IYSWIM

What about parents who put their little finger into the babies mouth to sooth the baby

What about the ones who breastfeed they are not sterile, are they?

What about older brothers and sisters touching, coughing sneezing etc over the baby? {Although I do realise that is not milk related}

I AM NOT AGAINST ANYONE STERILIZING TO THEIR HEART'S CONTENT, IT IS JUST TO SAY THAT WE DIDN'T AND DS WAS VERY PREM AND HE WAS FINE

So if you want to give it up and feel that you must carry on then I am giving you an example of where it wasn't used and the outcome was fine.

BTW when DS came home he was with his corrected age 4 days old {not 3 months}

That was during a very hot summer too.

.

Daisy - I haven't sterilised any of DS's weaning related items. Ice cube trays, bowls, spoons, all just get put through the dishwasher. He puts anything he can reach into his mouth anyway so I couldn't see the point.

Thanks

Spread the word in RL as long as you are careful to wash your hands etc.

I'm glad to read this as it makes perfect sense to me.
I am a doctor although not a microbiologist and have been confused about sterilising since day 1.
DD was in SCBU and I had to express. They were insistent about all the pump bits being sterilised in Milton but then you put it together with your non-sterile hands and put it down on a non-sterile surface so QED its not sterile any longer!
If it was really important that things were properly sterile like for an operation or something you would be wearing sterile gloves and you'd have to put green surgical drapes on your kitchen worktop!
You aren't eliminating all the bacteria by 'sterilising' like this just reducing them which you could just as well do by washing thoroughly.

Brilliant thread, just what I've been wondering about - feel much more confident about stopping using the steriliser now, thank you!

bump

Oh, this is great to know!! Don't have a dishwasher so will probably keep using the microwave steriliser to make sure things are clean, but I guess this means I don't need to worry about sterilising immediately before I use something - if I keep them in a clean place once they have been through the sterliser they will be ok, right?

make sure everything is clean including your hands

Wash in hot soapy water and leave to drain/drip dry

Using an umbrella netting thingy to prevent flies landing on them while drying {more likely in summer}

After everything is completely dry put in a sealed box to keep clean - but make sure completely dry

Remember to rinse the hot soapy water off, though! You don't want your babies ingesting Fairy liquid now, do you?

I was told by clinic nurse to not worry too much about germs, but to be wary of excessive chemicals, especially in the first couple of months (i.e. no wipes, baby bath, anti-bac handwash etc.)

I was hoping that it was obvious to rinse off the soap

You'd think so, but I've seen some scary stuff...

I wish this info had been around when my dcs were born (eldest dc is 20). Ds1 had feeding problems due to a cleft palate and so was bottle fed. I was absolutely neurotic about things being sterile because thats what happened when he was in SCBU. I was paranoid that my home couldn't live up to the super clean SCBU!!!My dh used to joke that if you sat down in our house you got put in Milton! I was a little more relaxed with ds2 and dd but they were both breast fed and didn't have bottles. Plus I was sterilising feeding bowls (yes I know but as I said I was paranoid!)one day and turned round to find ds chewing the pram wheels and I thought to myself what am I doing?!!