Storing sterilised bottles?? Makes no sense

[Hensmummy]

Hi

I am really confused on best way to store sterilised (empty) bottles. I use the Tommee tipper electric steriliser I usually take a bottle as and when needed but I recently found out once you have opened the lid you should make up all the empty bottles and store away.

But what’s confusing me is when they come out even when they are left to cool they have condensation on, is it safe to assemble them and store when they are wet inside? A lot of people said they air dry theirs but surely that’s worse than opening the lid of the steriliser for a few seconds each time I want a bottle??

Also is it best to store them in the fridge? Or on the side?

And two more questions on the subject….do you keep the teat collars on when sterilising or separate?

And finally….I use MAM bottles so they come in lots of parts and takes up lots of room in steriliser, is it okay to stack them all up in steriliser? I get scared to over load so do 3 bottles at a time but having to use the steriliser multiple times a day.

Thanks a million

Mam bottles I stérilise in the microwave all at once, much easier. Let them cool then assemble. I don’t worry about coming into contact with unsterilised air!

As long as they have been through the steriliser they will be fine. Technically, once the lid of the steriliser is opened they are no longer sterile, but you don't need the bottles to be sterile to feed a baby safely. The reason you use a steriliser is to kill off any bugs that may be left on the bottles from any formula residue that might not have been washed off properly.
As a nanny, I leave the bottles in the sterilused and assemble them as needed.

That rubbish confused me too. We've mam bottles too but we use a cold water steriliser and the bottles can stay in there for 24 hours and opening it doesn't affect the contents. It's a Milton one and cost less than 20 quid on the boots website. So much easier.

I was lax parent.
We used Milton tablets and a box of water.

The bottles would stay in the water until needed.

Thé baby is a bit older now, and we just run the bottles through the dishwasher. There’s a reason you’re technically not supposed to do that but I think it’s not something I can get worked up about.

You don’t actually need to sterilise baby bottles. Just wash them with very hot soapy water and a bottle brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Job done.
Guidance has changed, Hospitals don’t sterilise bottles in special care baby units. People are just afraid to stop because they have always done it.

I didn’t sterilise a single bottle for DS2. Zero problems.

@olympicsrock

You don’t actually need to sterilise baby bottles. Just wash them with very hot soapy water and a bottle brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Job done. Guidance has changed, Hospitals don’t sterilise bottles in special care baby units. People are just afraid to stop because they have always done it.

I didn’t sterilise a single bottle for DS2. Zero problems.

The NHS guidelines still say that you should sterilise up to 12 months.

You absolutely should be sterilising bottles, dummies etc for babies. Hospital units usually use single use (and sterile) bottles, especially in NICU and SCBU where the babies are more at risk of necrotising enterocolitis

I don't know the answer but I'm about to try a bit of mixed feeding and was wondering the same about condensation! We also have MAM bottles to try.

I used to shake off excess water and assemble them and put them in the cupboard until I needed them

3dc in relatively recent times and I just left them in the steriliser, I thought thats what everyone did tbh!

Hospitals don’t sterilise bottles in special care baby units

Yes we do! We use cold water sterilisers for baby's own bottles and single use ready made bottles and teats for babies that are using our bottles. Mums also sterilise their breast pumping kits in a cold water steriliser.

Honestly the entire guidance around formula/sterilising makes no sense. It doesnt help that its different in different countries. Id just use common sense and you'll be fine.

I used to take them out of the steriliser and put them in the fridge.

I’ve been using milton sterilising tablets to sterilise my bottles in a tommee tippee steriliser. I didn’t read instructions as steriliser and tablets had different instructions so listened to family advice. Turns out i’ve been giving my baby milk and water from bottles that were being sterilised too strongly. Milton tablets are meant to be diluted with 5L of water but i’ve been diluting them with not even 1L. Only noticed after a couple days because baby water smelt odd, tried it and tasted chemically. Terrified my baby is gonna be unwell or worst. On the verge of crying with panic. Help.

@marinar98 I’m sorry I’m not much help but didn’t want to read and run, maybe try calling the Milton helpline found their number on Google 0800 097 5606. Try not to panic, if you can’t get through maybe just phone a health visitor for advise? X

I also use MAM bottles and I just wash them in hot soapy water with a bottle brush, let them dry out abit, and then assemble them to be sterilised in the microwave... have you still got the instructions that came with the bottles? This explains how to sterilise them in the microwave.
Once the microwave has finished I let them cool and assemble them and just leave them on the side next to the prep machine, all ready to use.
When we first started using the MAM bottles (we did have tommee tippee using the tommee tippee electric steriliser) I thought what a massive faff this is, but sterilising the MAM bottles in the microwave is sooo much easier and quicker.