my MCHN said that you don't 'really' need to sterilise anything, but they reccommend it to account for the lowest common denominator (there is always someone that will take a shortcut and they don't want people to not even wash them ! sounds ridiculous but there are silly people out there), but after 6 months there is no need anymore just have to wash thoroughly and make sure have very clean hands when handling things. We never sterilised our DDs dummies as we figured she used to suck our hands etc which were probably worse than a dummy that has been washed. We no longer sterilise bottles either, each to their own though..do whatever feels comfortable (although in truth, as soon as you open the sterilising container..they are no longer sterile!).