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.

.

Ooh amazed how many posts this thread has had.

I totally agree, we are way too clean and it can't be good for thier immune systems.

I have a question though for ant microbiologists doctors or the like.

My 7 week old has just been prescribed Omeprazole for reflux. I was told it does interfere with gut flora and she could be more prone to tummy bugs like gastrointeritis (so know that will be spelt wrong)!

Do I have to sterilize or do you think dish washer is still enough in our case.

Should I make sure my 2 yr old DS doesnt stick his fingers in her mouth anymore!?

BUMP

bumpity bump

bumpity bump

WOW!! so glad this thread has resurfaced! now i dont have to even get the sterilizer out of the loft as my long awaited new kitchen has a dishwasher! but im guessing you would have to put the dishwasher on the hottest cycle?? am i right?

I shouldn't think so mad. Hand washing in 'hot' water would be no more than about 40oC. Even with your marigolds on it's hard to wash up in water much warmer.

After 2 weeks paternity leave, DH decided it was about time to plumb in our dishwasher - I am still very much in love with it

Hope all is going well with you.

I also feel compelled to share this little gem with one and all:

My friend got fed up with the tiny capacity of her steam steriliser so started sterilising stuff by putting it in her rather wonderful three tier vegetable steamer.

The HV 'told her off' as the vegetable steamer wouldn't get as hot as the steriliser?!

Never heard of the latent heat of vaporisation

PPS DH and I are now arguing about how hot 'hot' soapy water should be and he thinks mad should use the hottest setting.

Nothing like a conclusive answer eh?

only read op.

If you make bottles in advance and keep them in the fridge (yes, I know it's against current guidelines, but lots of people still do it) then you need to sterilise, you really REALLY do.

If you're making up bottles on demand then no, of course now

and you shouldn't use antibacterial washing up liquid.

Sorry if any of this has already been said.

I read this thread when i was pg and wholeheartedly embraced its ethos when DS was around 5 months.

Jareth - how come you cant use anti bac washing up liquid? Also how come if you make bottles on demand it isnt so important that you sterilize wheras if you make them in advance you have to?

TIA

just discovered this thread and past sterilising now but have to ask..

Whats wrong with antibacterial washing up liquid?

I don't know, but endless threads on this topic say that you shouldn't. I guess it's a chemical in it. Search Dettol or something in the weaning topics and you'll probably find an answer.

If you make bottles up in advance then they are in the fridge for (in our case) about 18 hours max. The fact that babies put everything else in their mouths is largely irrelevant - teddy bear ears aren't known for their bacterial colonisation. Milk is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and if the bottles aren't sterile, and you make milk in advance, then any tiny amount of bacteria will have time to multiply. The reheating of a bottle also increases this chance.

However, if youhave clean washed bottles, and you're making up a bottle with freshly boiled, over 70C water, then you're going to kill the vast majority of bugs (including the ones in the formula powder that you add to it) and when you feed immediately the risk is miniscule.

Hope this makes sense.

if you are worried about the milk being in the bottles for 24 hours then make up the bottles for just a day

Cos the babies that go to nurseries have made up bottles ~ don't they?

or after you have fed baby feed number 1 make up feed 2 straight away

so that after each feed you have the next one ready to be used

But seriously if you are not wanting to follow these ideas then carry on sterilizing etc

This is only for those who are wanting to be SET FREE from sterilizing etc

MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY AND YOU WILL HAVE A HAPPY BABY

if following these ideas makes you happy then follow them if ignoring them makes you happy then ignore them

btw DH says 60 degrees is hand hot

DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU AND YOUR BABY HAPPY

Jareth

I don't know who gave you your info about sterilizing but if it was a HV or magazines then IMHO and IME I would take it with a pinch of salt

but whatever makes you happy makes for a happy baby

your baby so your choice

RTK - don't dismiss me with so many of your (HV or magazines - whatever darling, it's my own research and education that has given me this information. patronising much? )

if you keep milk in the fridge it needs to be in a sterile bottle. (like normal cows milk is)

I was agreeing with you, in case you didn't notice that in all your glee

If you use bottles, and makes them up on demand, or use EBM, or cartons then you absoltely do not need to sterilise them.

I'm just talking about keeping bottles in the fridge.

Oh, and a friend of mine used to make up bottles from hot water from the tap 'doing what made her baby happy' as it was the fastest way for her to make a bottle.

guess who has constant stomach problems.

and FFS - pack it in with the

at the world and the world back

seriously though ~ if you want to ignore these ideas then ignore them

if you want to follow them then follow them

YOUR BABY YOUR CHOICE

The reason for this thread is to give you something to think about ~ I don't mind if you ignore it or follow it

It isn't my baby ~ it is your baby

I'M NOT IGNORING YOU AND I AGREE WITH YOU

clear enough

I was JUST saying that if you keep bottles in your fridge, then they need to be sterile. Clear, scientific FACT.

all you want.

I'm just adding into the mix.

..and I meant to say earlier, many congratulations on your twins.

I am jealous of twins.... I had a shitty pregnancy and wished that I could have had two in one go in a way... (I know it's not that simple) but.. yes, congrats

RTKangaMummy - yor DH must have hands of asbestos then because if you stick your hands in 60deg water it can take the skin off!

I once (very boring anecdote) was working in a food R&D facility, making chicken soup in an open vat with a thermocouple telling me the temperature. As it was not for human consumption, I thought I'd test out how hot I could stand the water - for holding my hand in it, the max was 47deg. For touching it, in and out, about 50 deg.
60 deg is used in many hospitals as the heat setting for water to kill of the legionella bacteria that live in the water towers - usually accompanied by a warning on the taps that the water is Very Very Hot. It is.

I only sterilised bottles used for EBM - so must have done it about 4 times in all. Am not sure I agree 100% with jareth though as most spoilage bacteria won't grow at fridge temps IF your fridge is kept between 2 and 4 degrees (with the exception of Listeria) - but if your fridge is 4-10 degrees then some bacteria will be able to grow slowly (and Listeria will be quite happy to grow very quickly)

thumwitch - it's the re-heating of the milk that is the problem. Dormant bacteria will spring into action at room temp. Sterilising the bottles, (and only if you're pre-making formula) will help prevent this.

interesting about hospital taps- i always wondered about that. Makes perfect sense.

He does have weird hands when it comes to heat as he is a Chemistry teacher and so handles tripods, test tubes when they have been with bunsen burners etc

Please read:

Wed 21-Sep-05 17:03:41

And the microbiologist will explain their reasons for the advice

And yes I do realise that it is 4½ years old before you tell me

Also, I wasn't meaning that you were ignoring me I was saying ignore the idea if you want to ~ I don't mind what you do with your own baby

Perhaps a good idea would be to read the whole thread and then it will give lots of different opinions and experiences

Then make up your own mind about what you feel comfortable doing with your baby

I've read the whole thread, and I've had enough with your massively patronising tone.

"Then make up your own mind about what you feel comfortable doing with your baby"

Like I said..

You DON'T know best, stop pretending like you do please? I'm just offering alternative advice.

Gah, you're SO closed-minded!