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Weaning

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

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Original poster

Sterilising - Everything? nothing? pointless or necessary?

49 replies

jenny260906 · 03/05/2007 21:25

DS is 7 months and im still religiously steam sterilising all bowls, spoons, cups etc that go anywhere near him, at every feed. Is this still necessary at this age? I know 'they' recommend to sterilise things until babies are 12 months but DS is almost crawling so his hands are all over the floor, everything is going in his mouth so he is getting his fair share of germs (not that our house is filthy or anything!!... oh, you know what i mean!!)

So... is sterilising to this extent really needed?

OP posts:

rowan1971 · 03/05/2007 21:27

I sterilised everything for about a week, then gave it up completely (tho I was bf-ing, so didn't have so much - erm - equipment to worry about). I mean, my nipples sure as hell weren't sterile. I don't get the whole sterilising thing AT ALL.

Someone will now come on the thread and tell me that I seriously endangered my sons' health.

AitchTwoOh · 03/05/2007 21:32

i stopped sterilising at about 12 weeks, everythign went in the dishwasher thereafter. you are freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Nikki76 · 03/05/2007 21:32

DS is one in 3wks and I plucked up the courage only last night to stop sterlizing! Was quite sad to stop really....been part of my evening ritual for so long..I went all glassy eyed and wailed awww he's growing up!!

MissGolightly · 03/05/2007 21:33

I breast-fed my DS to 6 months and then weaned straight onto non-sterilised pots etc. Like Rowan I don't "get" sterilising.

Not being a formula-feeder I don't know about bottles but have seen lots of threads on here suggesting that you don't need to sterilise ANYTHING, even from birth, just wash scrupulously in hot water and allow to airdry. My friend, whose baby was in special care at birth was also told this by the paeds there.

Hillls · 03/05/2007 21:41

I stopped sterilizing at 6 months with dd2, with dd1 I even carried milton wipes around with me in case she was to touch something.

I just saw it as pointless really, my dd2 was in ITU for the first few months and they never sterilized from day one so when I got her home I thought it was pretty pointless me starting it. She was a very very sick baby but was fine with it.

margoandjerry · 03/05/2007 21:48

I think it's a con trick put about by avent etc. It probably made sense pre-dishwashers and homes with plenty of hot water but now it really doesn't imho.

There's always talk about bugs breeding in milk but I think very hot wash or dishwasher wash will kill most bugs. And if you avoid making up milk feeds in advance I can't really see where the problem is.

I did sterilise for six months but all the while wondering why the hell I was doing it...

MissGolightly · 03/05/2007 21:48

here is the thread from RTKangaMummy about not needing to sterilize at all.

Hillls · 03/05/2007 21:51

Yes and cold sterilizing has got to be bad for the health surely with all those chemicals, I washed my path with milton and it splashed my trousers, it blooming well bleached them white

Nikki76 · 03/05/2007 21:52

Thing is, I never put DS's bottles in dishwasher as I was a bit about all the chemicals in the tablets....anyone else felt the same?

SittingBull · 03/05/2007 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bigmouthstrikesagain · 03/05/2007 21:56

I sterilised everything for ds1 - (bf'd but I used to sterilise his feeding bowls and spoons!! lol) then sterilised bugger all for dd - ds1 is always getting tummybugs dd now 1 has never been sick! Go figure..?

Hillls · 03/05/2007 21:56

I use ecover which is all natural cleaning agents, they do dishwasher tablets, washing powder, washing up liquid & toilet cleaners (everything really)

PinkTulips · 03/05/2007 21:57

have never steralised anything for either of my babies and they're very healthy. dd got her first cold this year at the age of 2 and had never had ABs before that. ds is a fine strapping healthy 9 month old

pointless exercise imo as i bf and i'm hardly gonna steralise my nipples am i now?

UCM · 03/05/2007 22:00

I have a 14 week old baby, I stopped sterilizing after about 3 weeks, if you are not a filthy person, wash your bottles in hot soapy water and rinse them, you are fine. Sometimes I put them in the dishwasher and then on occasion I have sterilised, then most of the time they get washed up, rinsed, then used. My DD has never had any nasty tummy bugs.

My reasoning on this was that according to a MN they don't do it in SCU. DS kept putting his dirty fingers in her mouth and she didn't develop any lurgies.

I will say that I do the bottles separately, not with loads of stew pans or stuff. Heh Heh.

Malaleche · 03/05/2007 22:01

I think sterilising botle teats or sucky cup lids is probably a good idea as stuff can get stuck in there that the dishwasher/washing by hand wont reach. I always rinsed everything after with tap water to get the sterilising fluid off tho-

UCM · 03/05/2007 22:01

Yes Nikki, I always think 'Oh they have left a bit of stain on the glass, better rinse properly'

PavlovtheCat · 03/05/2007 22:02

I sterilise bottles (mostly BF, but some formula (awaits things being thrown) but nothing else.

I stopped when DP melted the microwave steriliser in our microwave (has grill function), not once, but twice , last time about 1 month ago. Had considered stopping before then, and to be honest often did not sterilise if I needed a pot which was not, as long as it is thoroughly clean and rinsed thoroughly.

DD ate sand with her food today at the beach, I am sure she a sterilised pot is not going to make her health any better than it is! (she has never, touch wood, had a sickness bug - oh I just murreyed myself there didnt I?)

Hillls · 03/05/2007 22:04

Yes but if you rinse off the sterilizing fluid it rather defeats the object, as tap water contains bugs too, so you are just replacing the old bugs with new ones IYKWIM

UCM · 03/05/2007 22:06

Hills, I know that the bugs where you live are probably the same as mine SOS. DD has been fine.

Hillls · 03/05/2007 22:12

Yes UCM I used to be terrible for sterilizing, cant believe I waisted all that energy, my mum still does it! and my dd1 is 3

AitchTwoOh · 03/05/2007 22:12

i stopped using a rinse agent so i figured that the last rinse was being done with water only, iykwim? also you can buy little slatted boxes to put the teats in so they stay upright. the whole box is a bit of a waste of space imho so i just used the lid part for the teats and lids. you get them in mothercare.

NoBiggy · 03/05/2007 22:43

Given half a chance, DD chews shoes. Sterilising bowls etc seems a bit pointless if she's going to do that!

Nikki76 · 03/05/2007 22:45

DS ate sudocrem yesterday....cue panicked call from me to Boots!!!

Last time I give him the pot to try and keep him still when I change him! He gets the lid off far to easy!!!

expatinscotland · 03/05/2007 22:46

I never sterilised my boob before I stuck it in DD2s mouth so I figured just washing her utensils and bowls was enough!

Malaleche · 03/05/2007 23:00

I think the point about sterilising teats etc is that bateria in food remains can be much nastier then what's on your floor or boob - thats why it didnt seem that illogical to me to rinse off the sterilising stuff with tap water...
Mind you where does that leave us re the fact that you have to boil the water you use for their purees etc? Maybe it's all just about damage limitation ....?

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