New mum to twins - Milton sterilising fluid

[Cosmogirl86]

I have twin boys, aged four weeks. I've only had them home two weeks as they were ill and in scbu at the beginning.

Microwave sterilising is a faff with two babies so a few days ago I started using the Milton method as I can pop things in and out of the steriliser and it's far more convenient. It states there's no need to rinse, so I haven't been. I simply lift out, shake off the water and use.

My husband thinks it's unsafe as it smells of bleach. My health visitor thinks it's OK. I'm starting to doubt it as my boys have started vomiting more than usual, though still small amounts, and only after a bottle of expressed milk with formula. They rarely vomit when breast feeding

Anyone have experience with Milton? Is it definitely safe. I figure it can't be sold if it wasn't

It's definitely safe. I wouldn't want it in my mouth without a rinse but both my boys were fine with it.

My local hospital use this method in both postnatal ward and nicu

Milton should be safe to use, I would try your electric/microwave one again for a few days to rule out the sterilising solution, but it may just be that the formula isn't agreeing with them.

I ended up changing my ds' formula at 7weeks as there was slight change in the formula and it just didn't agree with him.

Further it could be that they are taking more air in from the teats and bringing it up.

It could be a variety of things, but Milton is usually considered safe (and easy!) 🙂

That’s exactly how I did it with my daughter. Kept her bottles in a Milton steriliser, took a bottle out and shook some of the excess water off when I needed some. It’s perfectly safe but it can leave a bit of a flavour so you can always rinse it off with some cooled boiled water if you think it’s bothering them (my DD never cared)

I would suspect it’s the formula that makes them vomit more, not the Milton- not because it’s bad for them, but it is different to breast milk and a bit heavier/harder to digest, so they might not be used to it yet. Is it full on vomiting or just a bit of spit up? If the former maybe try changing formula?

Thanks for the input! I am glad other people have used it successfully.

We are suspecting some reflux, but they both seem to be feeding well

It's not massive quantities of vomit, just enough to concern a first time mum of premature babies!

They only get formula top ups once or twice a day, and that's always mixed with expressed milk. All other feeds are at the breast

We used Miltons for a while when the microwave broke - we had similar concerns over the smell!

It's perfectly safe but the smell put us off using them again unless an emergency.

Small amounts of sick is normal, it’s called possetting. Reflux is also very common, especially in premature babies. Unless it effects feeding and/or weight gain reflux is not normally medicated.