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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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

407 replies

RTKangaMummy · 13/07/2005 17:04

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.

.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 21/07/2008 16:06
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RTKangaMummy · 08/08/2008 16:22
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OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 08/09/2008 12:04
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OP posts:
hopefully · 08/09/2008 12:27

Thanks for bumping this - I've been playing around with the idea of not sterilising, and struggled to find much information (not leaving it till the last minute or anything - am due tomorrow!), so this has been really interesting reading and convinced me an, crucially, DP, that sterilising is not the be all and end all!

RTKangaMummy · 08/09/2008 12:54

you're welcome

Just make sure you use hot soapy water and then drip dry preferable under a fly net umbrella thingy so flies don't land on them

And wash your hands

Hope all goes well for you tomorrow or whenever it happens

You have set yourself free and now you will have extra time to sleep or enjoy cuddles with your baby

OP posts:
misdee · 08/09/2008 12:55

thanks for this kanga. just re-read, as my dishwasher wont be plumbed in for some time at the new house, so will be using advice for bottles which may be needed if i express milk.

layda · 08/09/2008 12:56

I would add (not sure if anyone has already) to use a soft cloth and not a scrubbing brush to wash the bottles with, this stops them from getting scratched.
We didn't sterilise at all with dc but were meticulous with hygeine.

RTKangaMummy · 08/09/2008 12:58

you are welcome

We didn't have a dishwasher at all

Just used hot water with fairy liquid

OP posts:
ellideb · 08/09/2008 13:05

Why oh why was this thread not started before I bought my steriliser??? Hmm?

foxytocin · 08/09/2008 13:07

Ellie, this thread started in 2005.

RTKangaMummy · 08/09/2008 13:08

It was started in 2005

I bump it when I remember to

Sorry if you bought it when it wasn't being bumped

Maybe if others bump it too

OP posts:
ellideb · 08/09/2008 13:09

Mmmmm. Maybe it would have been a bit too early then! Why do these ancient thread keep getting pulled up?

RTKangaMummy · 08/09/2008 13:11

I bump this one cos of all the info on it

rather than keep starting a new thread and repeating everything all over again

Also if stuff keeps being repeated in threads some MNetters say why don't you search before starting another thread talking about same subject

So it is IMHO and IME better to bump this one

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ellideb · 08/09/2008 13:23

I see, thanks RT!

LazyLinePainterJane · 08/09/2008 19:53

Can I ask what may be a very stupid question?

When you have washed in hot soapy water...when you rinse, do you also have to rinse in hot/boiling water or can you rinse in cold?

LazyLinePainterJane · 13/09/2008 10:22

bump

foxytocin · 03/11/2008 11:00

bump

RTKangaMummy · 02/12/2008 18:51
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mrsduff · 04/12/2008 12:19

thank you so much for bumping this thread, now i can put the steriliser in the loft and reclaim some kitchen worktop space!

a family friend (a lovely old dear) said that in her day they sterilised bottles using coal dust (?!) which did make me think i was being a bit overcautious with my meticulous sterilsing regime!

harpsichordcarrier · 04/12/2008 12:24

I can honestly say THIS THREAD CHANGED MY LIFE

RTKM I heart you

jingleMAMADIVAsbells · 04/12/2008 12:38

I don't have a dishwasher and I just never thought cleaing was enough so just IMO i never seent he problem with it.

It only takes a maximum of half an hour to do so I don't see it as time consuming and not a waste of time, mainly though because I know for a fact DP was not the cleanest of people i.e he would give the bottles a quick once over and that would be that LOL.

So as long as I have kids under a year I will always sterilize but good to nknow.

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 04/12/2008 13:25

Thank you

My Granny was a teacher and she told me the healthiest children were the dirtiest

If you feel happier still sterilizing then carry on ~ I don't want to put pressure on you to do something you are not happy with

The point of the thread is to put out the alternative not to say anyone is wrong who feels sterilizing is the right choice for them

Please make sure you get out all the milk before putting in sterilizer so it isn't "coooked" in the bottom of the bottle

HAPPY MUMMY = HAPPY BABY = HAPPY MUMMY

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 04/12/2008 13:26

to POINT out the alternative

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 18/12/2008 22:37

...

Bubbaluv · 11/03/2009 07:51

Bumping my favourite thread