How long to steralise and why do it anyhow?

[amberj]

First question- How long (until what age) do you need to steralise your baby's bottles?

Second question- Why do we steralise? I mean, today I was watching Peter play and EVERYTHING is going in his mouth, and its not like I steralise his toys (oh god, am I meant to??)- so why are we SO careful about their milk when they get lots of germs elsewhere? Don't get me wrong, my trust Avent steamer is in the micro ten million times a day, but I am just curious!!!

[Rach75]

I know its the norm now adays not to sterilise but really when you have the convenience of a micro one or steam steriliser why not use it, I still do Jacks bottle and he is 2 tomorrow..

[MrsFabuloso]

I don't sterilise anything this time. Though we're not using bottles at all, just dummies. I just wash them in hot soapy water maybe twice a day. With DD I sterilised until she was about 6mths, with the same thought as you, that she's licking the floor and stuff, so why sterilise?? I did it occaisionally, to make sure the bottles were clean, maybe every 2-3 days, but not daily. Both my kids are fine!

[Kristale]

I dont steralize anything I just use hot soapy water and rinse in hot water. I work at a womens and childrens hospital and was told by the midwives that they dont steralize anymore and dont promote doing so. Amelie has (touch wood) not had any kind of sickness at all! But if you feel better doing it then I dont see why not and I have read that it is only needed until they one year old.

[~breeze~]

Wow I had heard from one lady that hospitals dont recommend sterilising anymore, I didn't know it was the norm!!

I sterilised DD's bottles & dummies for about the first 18 months. I'm sterilising DS's for at least the next 5-6 months, I just prefer to know the bottles & dummies have been sterilised.

I suppose it comes down to personal choice these days?

[amberj]

Oh wow, I thought it WAS the norm to steralise! Does anyone know why hospitals are not recommending steralising anymore?