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.

.

Haven't read whole thread,but i didn't sterilise at all with ds and he has asthma and excema and allergies,so the theory didn't work here.

Asthma/eczema are not completely environmentally triggered - lots of genetic predisposition involved too. Great article in the Times on Saturday about the pinpointing of the gene involved \link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2093891,00.html\here}.

Bumping for any other new mothers who are spending hours sterilising! I sure wish that I had found this 3 weeks ago. I was up for an extra 15 minutes 3-4 times a night to boil the breast pump and teat becausse I could not get DD2 to feed in the night. We do have a dishwasher so I will bung it all in there from now on!!

**

We did NOT have a dishwasher and the hospital knew this

**

I won't be sterilsing anything for this new baby.

will send this link to my friend who is PG too.

DEFFO BRILL LTH

THIS POST IS FURTHER DOWN IN THE THREAD BUT JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T READ THE WHOLE THREAD I THOUGHT I WOULOD COPY AND PASTE

THIS IS A COPY OF THE EMAIL I SENT TO UCH THE MICROBIOLOGY CONSULTANT {I have deleted my RL name and the microbiology consultant's name also my DS name and dob and DS consultant's name at UCH}

Hello

Our twins were born in 1995, and twin 1 died but twin 2 survived and was in NNU for 3 months. He is now 10 years old.

We were told when he came home that we did NOT need to sterilize the bottles or dummies.

We were told that the microbiology dept advised that the correct way to clean everything was to wash EVERYTHING in very HOT soapy water and put on kitchen roll to AIR DRY.

I was wondering if this was still the advice that was given to parents when they leave the NNU.

Thank you for your time

This is the reply that I received this afternoon. So this is the advice given as of September 2005.

Thank you for your email. Yes you are right about the bottles. However I cannot emphasize enough the importance of cleaning the bottles so that there is no dried or caked milk at the bottom of the bottle as this will encourage bacterial growth. Clean and dry are the operative words. Bacteria thrive in warm moist environments. In addition the greatest attention needs to be paid to hand hygiene before preparing feeds. A bottle steriliser is not a substitute for proper hand hygiene and may even give a false sense of security. For those lucky enough to have a dishwasher, the hot cycle in the washer after removing milk debris mechanically is good and sufficient cleaning method for bottles, provided they are then stored clean and dry.

This advice obviously applies to this country only as we are confident that there is no faecal contamination of piped/ mains water supply. I cannot comment on the state of the water supply out of the UK.

Consultant Microbiologist
Department of Clinical Microbiology
Health Protection Agency Collaborating Centre
University College London Hospitals

just passed this on to my fellow friends on bounty and got absolutely shot. oh well ...

What did they shoot you for - coming on Mumsnet (and admitting it) or for spreading some sensible advice?

RTKM, I remember reading this thread, and it being like listening to some evangelical preacher!!!! I binned my steriliser that afternoon, and never looked back! It is such a PITA bloody sterilising everything, and I too probably won't bother when this baby is born.

I actually told my HV this information, and she said it was not correct, but then she told me my son would starve if he didn't get solids at 4 months, so I ignored the old witch.

read \link{http://www.bounty.com/community/discussion/TreeLeaves.asp?btythdid=459820&btySubid=1&btyIMG=1&btyCurrentPage2=1&btypage2=1\this} and see! i can't believe not one person saw it and thought i don't sterilise either. i'm sure they can't all bother doing it!

Blimey, if there is ever a reason not to join the chat forum on Bounty.....
Bet they believe everything they read in the papers too. Still, it's what you feel comfortable with doing. Just wish I would have read this thread before DS was 7 months old (now 17 months and miraculously still alive despite RTKangamummy posting such irresponsible information )
RTKM I lurrrrve you, you know I do

MummyToToby - how do you get it to display messages under a nickname instead or real name?

They are harsh over there aren't they? Give me MN anyday!

finally one woman on bounty who isn't slating me. funnily enough an ex-microbiologist. this is what she has to say: "Firstly - I think it is a bit off to say don't trust USA sites. Why denegrate them any more than sites in the UK. Either could be right or wrong. 2ndly - The manufacturers of products are not the be all and end all when it comes to information. They offer the simplest, briefest information they can. Doesn't mean it is wrong, but also doesn't mean it is the only right information. I worked in microbiology in a large hospital trust for many years. We did not recommend sterilising, rather extremely high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. One of the biggest causes of problems in the paeds depart was kids with weakened immune systems, caused by the over used habit of sterilising anything that they came into contact with as babies. Babies need immune systems that develop by contact with at least the occasional bug or two."

Even after what she said and a link to the thread on here people still won't listen!!

saint george - when you click add post above the box where you type there is a circle to click that says use my real name or use ny nickname.

Sussed it - and I am that woman!

Not a microbiologist by the way - worked as personal secretary to Head of Dept.

well you worked in a microbiology dept, so i'm sure you know what you're talking about...

Off to watch Dr Who - will continue to fight the good fight later

breastfed babies dont get anything sterilised do they?
except nipple shield initially
they get fed when mummy is sick with a cold. direct transmission of virus!

Last week I melted the breast pump in the microwave...then a few days later blew up the microwave trying to sterilise a bottle in it (be warned - it doesn't work...glass all over the kitchen when the turntable flew out and shattered)...

NO MORE STERILISING FOR ME! :o

Thanks for all your kind words

I only want you to STOP if YOU want to

your microwave has set you FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!