Do I need to sterilize milk bottles for toddler?

[newmum234]

My son is 22 months old and still has one bottle of formula every night before bed - a bad habit I know, which I do intend to break at some point but can't face it just yet.

My question is, after washing the bottles and teats in the dishwasher do I still need to sterilize them now he's older? Or is putting them through the dishwasher alone OK?

TIA!

You can stop sterilising at one year old theirs no need anymore, will he not drink whole Milk? My daughter has two bottles of whole milk a day she came off formula at about 13 months x

That's good news, thanks. Unfortunately he hates whole milk and won't drink it!

When your child starts eating things off the floor at about 6 months and sucking on random pieces of furniture you can stop sterilising bottles

@Mrbob

When your child starts eating things off the floor at about 6 months and sucking on random pieces of furniture you can stop sterilising bottles

Yeah this!!!!

Also a tip I used for weening off that formula at bedtime was to use the same amount of water but slowly reduce the amount of formula gradually over the weeks a little at a time, till eventually it's just almost water and they no longer want it . Worked for me

Lol no way, toddlers lick everything around them and each other too. I don’t sterilise bottles passed 3 months

Formula is sweet, whole milk isn’t. Try mixing the two and gradually dropping the formula amount.

If you are using powered formula then yes you need to sterilise. If you swapped to cow’s or other milk in the bottle then you won’t need to.

Try mixing the two and gradually dropping the formula amount

We did this, dropping the formula by 10% and replacing with cows milk every 2 days till it was 100% cows milk.

If you are using powered formula then yes you need to sterilise. If you swapped to cow’s or other milk in the bottle then you won’t need to.

@Fallagain what is the difference? I’m confused now as some are saying yes and some are saying no lol

Powdered formula hasn’t been sterilised so bacteria is much more likely to grow.

Just like all safety guidelines eg SIDS you will find some people who don’t follow them and say well I put my 6 weeks old in a bedroom by themselves and they were fine. It’s up to you to decide if you want to follow safety advice.