Quick question re sterilising - reply tonight if poss - thanks

[ames]

Hi just want to check something. We are going away just for the weekend in our caravan. DD is 61/2 mths mainly bf but has the occasional bottle. Will I need to take the steriliser (along with everything else) or would I be ok to sterilise the bottles before we left? or would it be ok not to sterilise yet. I make the bottle up and use it immediately (dont know if that makes any difference) I bought some of those disposable bottles but they stink of plastic, not sure that DD is gonna take to them (she didnt when I tried before. Thanks

ames - I would still sterilize at 6 1/2 months personally. you could sterilize some ahead, but supposedly things don't remain sterile after about 24 hrs out of the sterilizer.
What sort of sterilizer do you have? You could always use a bucket/washing up bowl and some Milton or sterilizing tablets. Alternatively you could boil stuff for about 20 mins in a saucepan. There are plenty of ways to sterilize other than our faithful steam/microwave versions! Have you thought of buying one of those Avent travel bottles? They basically have a detachable base/stand, and a holder thing integrated into the bottle around which you attach an avent sterile bag (which you can buy most places). You don't then need to sterilize the bottle bit as the bag fits in here, but teats etc will need sterilizing obviously. Hope this helps.

I think the "official" answer is yes, take the sterilizer as bottles only remain sterile for 3 hours. However I know of many children who were exposed to the odd germ at this age (in fact I know children whose mothers gave up sterilizing at 6 weeks) with no ill effects. Personally I'd make up the bottles and seal with boiled water and then add the formula just before feeding, but to be sure you should take the sterilizer.

I'd suggest taking a tupperware box and some sterilising tablets and use that if you're worried.

By doing it before you go, technically the bottles/teats would not be sterilised by the time you use them - but then again, they're not sterilised the moment you take them out of the steriliser! Any milky bacteria would have been killed off so, provided you put the bottle together and seal it with a lid, I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem.

I'm no expert though.

I used to just scold our bottles with boiling water and soak the teats for a while on w/e's away. Not sure if it's "prescribed " practice but my dds were always fine. Or you could try sterilizing tablets instead of lugging a sterlizer. Have fun.

We went to Malta with our dd when she was just 6 months old and there was no way I was going to pack up all our sterilising equipment. Back then I had read it was ok to stop sterilising after 6 months, so all we did was to soak her bottles and teats in boiling water overnight. No harm came to her at all. And if you think about it, that is what mothers used to do anyway, and they got on perfectly fine!

I thought the 'official' line went that after 6 months there's no need to sterilise. I stopped doing beakers and dishes then and no harm came. If you aren't a bleachfreak (ie someone who won't let your child touch anything remotely grubby through fear of bacteria)and have let dd build up her immune system naturally with the odd toy straight from the floor etc then she'll be fine with a good old rinse of boling water I reckon... Have a nice time

I was told to keep sterilising dd's bottles and teats until 1 yr but to be more relaxed with evrything else. Having said that, in Canada they don't sterilise at all apparently. I sterilise dd's bottles and keep them in the fridge.

If I was you I would forget the occasional bottle while you are away - no need for sterilising then

Erm, I never even had a steriliser - just put things through the dishwasher and breastfed most of the time! So it was never a problem for me. My MIL thinks we are mental, but our children are incredibly healthy, I think partly as a result of this policy!

Thanks for the advice guys turned out sterilising was the least of my probs see 'alternatives to a travel cot' thread!!!

Actually cancel that thread cos if we take one of the seats out we can get a cot in!!