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.

.

personally, rather than faffing with cupboards and kitchen roll,I dunk it in Milton. I honestly think it is easier.

I've just come back from visiting my family in Holland and both my sisters were laughing at me for sterilising bottles after every use. The advice from medical profession & hv in Holland etc is to sterilise for the first 6 weeks and after that to just wash everything in hot soapy water/dishwasher. Then air dry or dry with paper towels. I felt so stupid ! I definitely wish someone had told me before. What a complete waste of time!

It makes sense that hot soapy water is as good as a steriliser for most things (haven't LLL said that about breast pumps for ages?) but what doesn't make sense to me is the argument over and over again in this thread that fingers, nipples, toys etc. aren't sterile so why does anything else need to be sterile. They don't seem to me to be the same thing - a finger or toy going into a baby's mouth will have a few bacteria on it - but the bacteria from that same finger left in a bottle and given the chance to multiply at room temperature would turn into LOTS of bacteria, and that could make a huge difference in terms of making a baby ill. So they're really not the same thing, bacteria on a finger/toy and bacteria left in a bottle - the bacteria in the bottle need to be got rid of as effectively as possible, don't they, even when it might not matter much at all what's on toys?

Personally with fiddly bits in cup spouts and breast pumps I'd rather do the hot soapy wash then a steam/microwave/dishwasher 'sterilisation' as well, as a back up just to be sure that I'd got right inside every single fiddly bit with hot enough water/steam (otherwise I'd just take three times as long at the sink anyway). But then I'm extremely paranoid about thrush, having had a bad problem with it before!

Just want to clarify something, hope I don't sound too thick. I thoroughly rinse bottles immediately after use with hot water then place in dishwasher which is put on last thing at night. At the mo I'm sterilising every morning. In the morn bottles aren't always dry so can I make up bottles immediately I open the dishwasher or do I need to dry first?

Please talk to me someone. I'm beginning to feel all alone and really want to stop sterilising. . .

I'm keen to hear any replies too scaryt. My ds is nearly 5 months and is gradually being weaned from boob to cup (he will not take a bottle!) and I have to make up his milk in a bottle to get the measurements right, then transfer to a trainer cup. All this faffing means I am getting less fussy with the sterilising. Am I endangering DS??

I stopped strerilising when DS started putting things in his mouth - we also have a dog so the house can be kept clean up to a point and I am also a firm believer in a little bit of germs to help build an immune system! -
So, I would thoroughly rinse bottles and then put them in the dishwasher - in the morning, just lay them out on some kitchen towel until I needed them - I never dried bottles at all - HTH

I have a 5 month old ds, and I feel that for a well washed bottle, and hot boiled liquid that is going to be consumed as soon as it is cool enough, or something as sterile and safe as breastmilk, why sterilise? If I am leaving fluid in the bottle, water or milk, I sterilise. I wouldn't feel comfortable not doing it then.

thanks for replies. just to clarify, I open dishwasher, I make bottles and that's it?! can it really be so simple?

Have not read the whole thread (AGAIN) but the issue is that formula is NOT manufactured in a sterile environment. And there have been trace of e-coli and other nasties in formula.
BF equipment does NOT need to be sterilised but as far as I know the DOH does recommend sterilisation of bottles with FORMULA because formula is not sterile and there have been serious illnesss is small baies (including deaths).
The biggest reason for babies going back to hospital - as far as I understand it - is diahhorea (sp?) and it is from upset tummies from badly prepared bottles

I too would beloeve a dishwaher to be good enough - certaibly for a baby past 3 months.

But a BF baby who gets bottles of EBM does not need to use sterilised bottles as BM does not contain e-coli and other nasties.

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 By RTKangaMummy on Tue 20-Sep-05 22:02 Hiya soapbox

when DS was in NNU ITU in a life and death situation

everything was sterilized

everybody had to scrub their hands in HIBISCRUB before going anywhere near babies

not allowed to visit if they had a cold etc.

No outdoor coats were allowed in ITU

No flowers allowed in NNU

SO yes on the NNU ITU everything was scrupulous and sterilized clean

DH wore a gown when he gave DS his first cuddle

I am saying that you must be SCRUPULOUS with cleaning with very hot soapy water and air dry the bottles

The USA babies don't have sterilized stuff do they?

I have emailed the microbiology dept at UCH to ask them what the advice is as of today and I will let you all know the answer.

I really do NOT want to cause any danger to any babies

Please do not do this if you are not comfortable with it

I am just telling you what happened in our experience

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

...................................................

By RTKangaMummy on Tue 20-Sep-05 22:02 Hiya soapbox

when DS was in NNU ITU in a life and death situation

everything was sterilized

everybody had to scrub their hands in HIBISCRUB before going anywhere near babies

not allowed to visit if they had a cold etc.

No outdoor coats were allowed in ITU

No flowers allowed in NNU

SO yes on the NNU ITU everything was scrupulous and sterilized clean

DH wore a gown when he gave DS his first cuddle

I am saying that you must be SCRUPULOUS with cleaning with very hot soapy water and air dry the bottles

The USA babies don't have sterilized stuff do they?

I have emailed the microbiology dept at UCH to ask them what the advice is as of today and I will let you all know the answer.

I really do NOT want to cause any danger to any babies

Please do not do this if you are not comfortable with it

I am just telling you what happened in our experience

We used formula

Thanks RTK... I still wonder about the fact that formula is not sterile (this is the powder not the ready made cartons!) and mainly if preparing feeds ahead of time (which is NOT what you asked ) and storing it is safe !
DoH came up with new guidelines this year asking parenst not to make bottles more than 30 mins ahead of time. Which i am sure makes life far more complicated !

I've just started battling with this one too. The SMA helpline reiterated the govt health guidelines but I also think that you can either prepare the feed ahead of time and whack it in the fridge or boil the water, cool it down in the fridge and add the powder when ready to feed, thus eliminating any danger of nasty milk. However, would welcome any other thoughts on this!

have never sterilized a thing for dd or ds. dd is 19 months and has NEVER been sick, not even a cold.

our gp had a great metaphor forsteralising... he says its 'like putting the gate in the middle of the field'. unless you live in a sealed bunker there is no way you can steralise everythng you child comes in contact with so all your doing is minimising the amount of immunity your child developed by coming into contact with everyday germs.

it's a waste of time and it certainly does not improve your childs health, quite the opposite in fact.

V interresting thead when you know what kind of advice you can receive at hospital.
I was told everything had to be sterilized and sterilizing and then leaving to dry meant that the equipment wasn't fit to use naymore with my baby.
A friend of mine who recently had a baby was told that you couldn't use cooled boiled water that has been prepared more than 1 hour ago. Not even sure that the water is then cool enoguh!!
All that because of contamination risks!!!

Ver very refreshing. Thanks RTKangaMummy

From the DoH website - again this is not about sterilising bottles but preparing feeds!

The European Food Safety Authority?s (EFSA) Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards has issued an opinion in relation to the microbiological risks in powdered infant and follow-on formulae. The Panel concluded that Salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii are the micro-organisms of greatest concern.
The importance of good hygiene practices in preparing and storing formula feeds from powdered formula.
Failure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines may increase the chances of a baby becoming ill.
Infant formula powder is not sterile; the risks associated with using powdered infant formula milk are reduced if:

• feeds are made up using boiled water that is greater than 70ºC; in practice, this means using water that has been left to cool for no more than half an hour.
• feeds are made up fresh for each feed; storing made up formula milk may increase the chance of a baby becoming ill and should be avoided.
• any left over milk is thrown away.
• mothers who require a feed for later are advised to keep water they have just boiled in a sealed flask and make up fresh formula milk when needed or use a liquid ready-to-feed formula.

Oke doke

DH would make up a jug of formula in the morning and it would stay in the fridge

And then through the day I would pour it into DS bottles according to how much he was likely to drink

BUT please make up your own mind

It is your baby

I am just giving an example of what happened with us and our extremely premature DS

And he was fine

But please decide what you want to do with your family and your baby

bit confused here because i am giving a bottle of formula and also EBM.

am i correct in thinking that if i put bottles and expressing stuff in the dishwasher i DO NOT need to sterilise it? as long as they are air dried and stored in an airtight container? do they need to be rinsed coming out of the dishwasher?

and if i am giving EBM it is enought to wash in hot soapy water by hand and air dry? and same for expressing kit? would make life SO much easier!

DS is almost 6 wks, if that helps...

and if i put the cool boiled water in a clean bottle and keep in the fridge, can i then warm it up before adding the formula at feed time? DS won't take it at room temp.

Hello AngeandLuka

The advise is that if you wash in HOT soapy water and then air dry

BUT please be very careful with cleaniness ie washing your hands

The reason for air drying is because of germs on teatowels

If you are worried about flies then get one of those umbrella things.

The reason is that if you handwash you can see if there is any milk stuck in the bottom of the bottle

BUT only do this if you feel happy about it

Like I said earlier in the thread DS never had his stuff sterilized and he didn't have tummy upsets

ok, I bought a microwave steriliser to do it up to 6 weeks or so (DS is 3 weeks old).

For EBM then, don't the bottles have to be sterile cos of bacteria breeding in the milk?

Interestingly, I have the avent breast pump (only used once so far because I got upset watching DH feed LO because it seemed so clinical and weird), but after painstakingly taking the blooming thing apart and sterilising all the bits, you then have to stick your fingers into various parts of the pump to reassemble. Fine, you've washed your hands, but they're of course not sterile, so all the sterilising seems a bit of a waste of time!

Does anyone have any specific comments on sterilising or not for EBM?

hey RTKM I link this thread to all my pregnant ladies

i have not sterilized at all for ds2, too lazy, just washed it all thoroughly. he is just dandy. he had his 6 week check today....
doc checked ds2s testicles then the roof of his mouth, then washed his hands!!