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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

When do you stop all the steralising malarky?

47 replies

jmum6 · 22/03/2006 15:52

Have a nearly 7month old son and am beginning to get to grips with the solids. But what I want to know is what do other mums do about steralising?

I know bottles need to be done until they're one. But I'm also steralising the ice cube trays and containers that that I freeze his food into. I don't steralise the dishes or spoons, or his cups.

Am sick to death of st. the ice cube trays - it takes ages, anyone stopped doing this at 7 months? All seems quite mad to me when he's showing signs of crawling and puts everything and anything in his mouth.

OP posts:
jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 22/03/2006 15:53

i stopped sterilising full stop at 6 months with Jess, and have jsut started to put becky's stuff in the dishwasher now and she is 22 weeks.

Tinker · 22/03/2006 15:53

Never really did it this time around. Am breastfeeding but, really, there is no need as long as wash in hot soapy water and rinse in hot water and air dry. Read it on here so must be true.

Tinker · 22/03/2006 15:54

Oh, if you have a dishwasher, definitely don't need to do it.

desperatehousewife · 22/03/2006 15:55

as soon as they start crawling, they start picking up germs. I stopped at 6 months, and put everything (including the bottles) in dishwasher as it gets as hot as a steriliser in there anyway.

oliveoil · 22/03/2006 15:55

dd1 - sterilised EVERYTHING until 12 months I think.

dd2 - about 5 months for bottles, then she was sucking things off the floor and I thought I wouldn't bother! Also playing with dd1's manky toys etc.

Kayleigh · 22/03/2006 15:58

You can stop sterilising the bottles too. I stopped sterilising (everything) when ds1 was 7 months, and with ds2 at 6 months. Once they are crawling and sticking everything in their mouths there is absolutely no point in sterilising. Please stop wasting your time !!!

Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 16:02

I guess thats a resounding 'don't bother' then!!

What will I do with all this extra time.........

OP posts:
Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 16:02

Thanks everyone :)

OP posts:
Squarer · 22/03/2006 16:13

Jmum - your post of 4:02:31 PM "what will I do with all the extra time?" You sound exactly like me 8 months ago - I can assure you you and DS will find ways to fill it Wink Grin

Although I am pmsl at your sterilising icecube trays Grin

Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 16:15

What does pmsl mean? (I know am hopeless!!!) :)

OP posts:
Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 16:16

Just worked it out!!! (am slow too as well as hopeless):o

Doesn't everyone steralise their ice cube trays then?

OP posts:
Squarer · 22/03/2006 16:56

Well, I haven't ever sterilised anything to do with DS's food. I'm just picturing the ice cube tray sticking out of the Milton Grin

Piffle · 22/03/2006 16:57

I never started Grin

Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 17:14

This will make you laugh even more - I had to cut the ends off the ice cube trays to make them fit into the steriliser!

OP posts:
misdee · 22/03/2006 17:16

i havent steralised anything with dd3, as i couldnt get my nipples in the steraliser.

Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 17:17

lol :o

OP posts:
Piffle · 22/03/2006 17:18

My neighbour sterilised her nipples with special wipes she made with Milton
She sterilised everything even up to 3 yrs and now she has another baby and so keeps on doing it.
Her ds who is the same age as dd, is constantly tummy bugged, always diarrhoea and vomiting
Coincidence?

misdee · 22/03/2006 17:19

milton on the nipples! omg, thats madness. does she think she is a filthy moo then?

Original poster
jmum6 · 22/03/2006 17:19

Good point piffle they need to build up their immune system.

OP posts:
LemonDrizzleLady · 22/03/2006 17:34

until they were eating the contents of the carpets, bins and their nappies. Not much point after that really!

bubblez · 22/03/2006 17:39

i only ever steralised my dd's bottles and shes fine, i agree that they need to get a few germs and built and immune system

Squarer · 22/03/2006 22:20

christ almighty... do none of you boil your nipples????? You hardy fools! Seriously though, I will put the fact that my DS sucks the toes of my dog an hour after I have cleaned out the cheese and sterilised them to the back of my mind now I realise people don't boil their nips. You filthy lot!

Actually very seriously Jmum6 (and really this time) the building up immunity is very important. Since reading several articles, I stopped using bleach when pregnant and no longer use antibacterial products of any description around the house (they destroy all the good bacteria too). If you wash everything well in hot soapy water it will remove any "bad" bacteria. I can link to the All Hallowed RTKangamummys inspirational thread if \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1364&threadid=91585&stamp=060313202332\needs be....} (I was serah then) Smile

collision · 22/03/2006 22:21

Once they pick things up and put them in their mouth STOP STERILISING!!

RTKangaMummy · 22/03/2006 22:28

Thanks SmileSmileSmile

Squarer · 22/03/2006 22:34

Aaargh! Are you like, omnipresent, or what? I don't see your posts for months and then I mention your name and you're there. I'm slightly freaked.......