Sterilising confusion

[QueenOfThePumpkins]

My twins are 2 weeks old and I had planned to breastfeed them, but that hasn't gone to plan so we are now on formula.

According to the manufacturer instructions, bottles are sterile for 3 hours after being sterilised as long as the lid is not removed. Once it is, the bottles should be used straight away. I've therefore been using the same two bottles and sterilising after every feed, but this is very time consuming... So how do I go about sterilising 6 bottles and keeping the other 4 fresh for later feeds? Sorry if this is a really dumb question but I can't seem to get my head around it

Lift the lid off, remove 2 bottles and put the lid back on, in the less than 2 seconds it will take to do that the chances of the other 4 bottles becoming unsterile is extremely unlikely. If you kept the lid off or removed all the bottles at once then yes you'd need to re-do it but otherwise no.

Honestly, I would make up all 6 bottles, quickly cool the ones you aren't using immediately and store them in the fridge until needed. It goes against the current official guidance but if you read between the lines, it's accepted that that is what the vast majority of people do.

I prefer cold water sterilising using Milton, as they stay sterile for 24 hours in the water, you just lift out what you need. So much cheaper and easier ime.

Cold water Milton sterilisation. As @lois says, it's so much better, simpler & easier.

Honestly, I would make up all 6 bottles, quickly cool the ones you aren't using immediately and store them in the fridge until needed. It goes against the current official guidance but if you read between the lines, it's accepted that that is what the vast majority of people do.

It’s not against WHO guidelines and the NHS begrudgingly admit it’s fine to do.

I used to sterilise 6 bottles at a time and take the lid off and put all the bottles back together empty so they are all sealed. And then use them within 24 hours.

I’m sure bottles stay sterile for at least 12 hours If not longer so long as you fully reassemble the empty, sterilised bottle with lid. We used to sterilise 4 at a time (as that’s what fitted in the steriliser), then assemble them all and use throughout the day.. in the evening, we’d wash any dirty ones, sterilise all the bottles & assemble them so they were all good to go overnight & the next morning!

I could be totally wrong but that’s what we did & to no harm at all.. this time we’ve bought the MAM microwaveable ones but we’ll work on the same principle that once sterilised & assembled with a lid on, they are good for the day/night!

We sterilise all bottles once a day.

We then put lids on the bottles, make up the teats (medela teats have 5 parts to them) and store them all in the cupboard. Use when needed.

Our LO is 6 months old now. Not had any issues.

What steriliser do you have ? I have the tommee tippee and it’s 24hrs if the lid isn’t removed. Honestly I wouldn’t worry. What are you going to do if you go on a long day out shopping and have to pack pre sterilised bottles ? I put mine on once a day and just keep taking from it and put the lid back on. As long as you don’t touch the inside of the bottle or the teat I’m sure it’s fine xxx

Thanks so much for all the helpful responses :)
I've got a Tommee Tippee one too @Bluebells45, but it's a very basic one that came with a breast pump.

Those who reassemble - do you properly dry the bottles in any way or just give them a good shake? I worry about the little water droplets that are left, but drying them would surely un-sterilise

The sterilising tablets sound good - can you re-use the water within the 24 hour period or does it also need to be changed when new things are put in? And again, is any kind of rinsing/drying needed before the sterilised bottle can be used?

The water is good for 24 hours.

Oh and no rinsing or drying because then they’re not sterile like you said.

We assemble wet. The water is sterile. All bottles are used within 24hrs.

I have the same steriliser as you @QueenOfThePumpkins
I take them out make up bottles and shove them in the back of the fridge WHO guidelines say they're OK for 24 hours like this.

Another recommendation for milton cold water steriliser. When i worked on a neonatal unit whats what we used.
Cheap, easy and keeps everything sterile. You can add stuff to it and take out throughout the day. Anything added is sterile and ready to use in 15 minutes

I use the tommee tippee steriliser for my twins (now 11 months) and never had any problem with bottles being left in the steriliser. I've always used them within 24 hours(ish). You'll become more relaxed as they get older!

Another Milton liquid water steriliser here, so much easier, just need to change the water once a day.

Don’t dry them to reassemble. The water in them is sterile.. won’t affect the milk or anything 🤷🏼‍♀️

We also keep them in the steriliser until one is needed then will assemble them all and use within 24 hours. The water in them is sterile so it's fine

When I had my twins and was pumping I was faffing about with a steam steriliser until a stay on the children’s ward when they gave us a cold water steriliser. Amazing.

Basically each day you fill it up with fresh water and a tablet. You put clean items in it and they’re sterile in about 20 minutes (can’t remember exact time). They stay that way in the water for 24 hours. You can add new items, but then have to wait the 20 mins again for everything to be sterile. All you have to do is change the water and add a new tablet every day. Absolutely brilliant.

I also made up 6 bottles at a time and stashed the others in the fridge but my two fed bloody constantly so there was never any danger of them hanging around for long.

Assemble all bottles, use within 24 hours. No need to dry them, the water is sterile.

Agree, the Milton tablets are far less faff than anything else. If you get one of the big steriliser units, you can fit loads in.

Huge congrats on the babies!! I always batch-prepared my bottles all at once. Saves time, confusion and it really helps when you're in a hurry and you can just reach for your bottle. But I only had one baby at a time. Unfortunately with twins it just means cleaning them and sterilising more often. You'll get the hang of it. Get into a good routine and don't get confused by the label on the formula.. they change the "rules" regarding sterilising and making up bottles all the bloody time.

Reassemble empty sterilised bottles and use as required