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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:
intergalacticwalrus · 13/05/2006 20:23

But RTKM, you are an evangelist!! You have liberated women from the opression of sterilising!

RTKangaMummy · 13/05/2006 20:25

Thanks Blush perhaps I should get a box and go to speakers corner in Hyde Park Smile

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intergalacticwalrus · 13/05/2006 20:28
Grin

Yes, release them from the shackles of sterilising! Set them free!

peaches27 · 14/05/2006 11:12

I have read the last few yards of this thread and the beginning.

As I posted on the other thread I sterilise because I make up all the bottles at once and obviously some have milk in for 20+ hours (in fridge). We have no dishwasher.

I wonder if this just applies to the current practice of making the feed up immediately before use? This is something I cant be arsed to do, have to do em all at once. I cant find anything to say its safe not to sterilise AND you can make up a days feeds at once.

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 15:02

yes i was wondering this as well. what do you think RTKM?

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 16:05

also does anyone know how long can you store them in the cupboard for before using them again?and can they just be put on the shelf or do you need to keep in the bags/containers?

JoolsToo · 14/05/2006 16:07

just adding my 2pence worth - although I'm out of the game now Grin

dd's sterliser was great - took about 2 minutes - don't see the problem mesen

Twiglett · 14/05/2006 16:07

why make up feeds in advance .. make up bottles of boiled water in the morning .. leave on side so they cool to room temp .. when you need a feed add the formula powder to a bottle and shake vigorously then feed baby .. you don't need to warm it up .. and no issue with bacteria in plain boiled water

LadyTophamHatt · 14/05/2006 16:20

does it dissolve properly in room temp water twiglett?

Twiglett · 14/05/2006 16:23

YES

Wembley · 14/05/2006 16:28

That's exatly waht I do twig but I do sterilise my bottles and I do heat the milk up slightly after mixing the formula but it's great when you go out, no having to use thermal bags. I've found Tommy Tippee pots that sit inside the bottle with the measured amount of formula really handy too! Grin

GDG · 14/05/2006 16:42

Actually JT, it takes 8 mins! Much better when I gave it up - which got earlier with each baby Grin

MummyToToby · 14/05/2006 17:27

someone told me that to save time they use half cold tap water and half freshly boiled water when making up bottles. this eliminates the need to have to wait for the boiled water to cool down.

MrsSpoon · 14/05/2006 17:31

We have an E-coli outbreak locally and one of the recommendations for preventing its spread is proper sterilisation of babys' bottles. May be worth considering keeping going if your child is still at nursery, coming into contact with other children and potentially dodgy hygiene practices.

Otherwise on all other levels I agree, if I had another baby I wouldn't bother at all with sterilising.

RTKangaMummy · 14/05/2006 21:11

When DH made up the feeds he would make up a glass pint jug and store it in the fridge and then we would fill the bottles as and when needed

This would be within the 24 hour period

When DS was having less milk than a pint he would make the lesser amount

IYSWIM

Smile
OP posts:
shellybelly · 15/05/2006 11:06

dd is nearly 11mths, we stopped sterilising last week and its great. She is crawling and everything is going into her mouth (caught her eating something off the kitchen floor the other no idea what its was!) her beaker does not get sterilised says on the label not to so why do bottles, got more space on kitchen bench now

peaches27 · 15/05/2006 20:09

Still sterilising because I have gastric flu. I was in bed all day yesterday, but today I thought you might have answered my question about feeds being made up in advance for up to 24 hours.

I know its possible to make it up with cooled water but I find that the powder doesnt seem to mix in as well. I suppose we all find a way that suits us ...

BUT I am treating myself to a table top dishwasher (we have no room for a floor one) and then I will give up the steriliser.

MumtoBen · 15/05/2006 22:18

I have found this thread very interesting. Thought I'd share something I did by accident. I used to always stick to the 1 hour rule for formula. But...

One day I gave my son a bottle of formula. A few hours later I was tidying up and realised that I gave my baby a bottle of left over formula from the previous day that had been left in the room and not the freshly-made up bottle....I spent the next 24 hours really worried he was going to get a stomach bug, but he was fine! By the way I am NOT advocating that anyone do this!

harpsichordcarrier · 15/05/2006 22:22

I must say - while I remember - that this thread has made my life sooooooooo much better with dd2
Grin
so thanks rtkm

RTKangaMummy · 15/05/2006 22:32

SmileSmileSmile

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RTKangaMummy · 20/05/2006 18:19
Smile
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bamboozleslover · 03/07/2006 10:57

just giving this thread new lease of life as i have a question to ask. you are supposed to leave the bottles to air dry - but how long can you leave them out on the rack for? mum keeps telling me it is unhygenic leaving them out there all day with insects flying around and as i wasn't sure have become chained to the steriliser again!!

SaintGeorge · 03/07/2006 11:02

I used to put mine inside the cupboard, top down on kitchen roll. The kitchen roll absorbed any drips and the bottles were away from flies etc.

Replace the roll each time you replace the bottles.

RTKangaMummy · 12/07/2006 13:00

SmileSmileSmile

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RTKangaMummy · 20/08/2006 09:56

SmileSmileSmile

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