Sterilising Bottles ???

[Peach]

My DD is almost 9 months old and I am going to start weaning her onto formula from the breast.

Do I need to sterilise the bottles just prior to use? Or can I run them through the dishwasher, put them in the cupboard and use them straight from the cupboard ??

Shes 9 months old and I dont sterilise her food bowls .. so advise on this would be great!

Jen

[Kazbah]

germs grow in formula milk really easily - if you're keeping the bottles ready-made then I'd sterilise them, but if you're mixing them as you need then prolly not? I do the latter and no problems here.
Methinks its the same reasoning for using boiled water.

[Beach Mama]

Jen we have just started 2 bottles a day and I rinse them in hot soapy water and every few days sterilise them but I don't do it every day. I figure she eats stuff off the floor so not sterilising should be ok!
I also make up bottles as I go and I boil the water add to the bottle and put it in the fridge.

[August]

Depending on how many feeds a day she has and how many bottles you own you might find that you end up sterilizing them just before use, but either way you will need to have sterilized bottles always on hand. Storing them in the fridge would be better than in the cupboard.

I use miltons so will usually scrub and soak all of the bottles once a day, and either leave them in the solution or store them in the fridge once sterilized. I've read somewhere to re-sterilzed the bottles if they have not been used within 24hours but it depends on how fussy you want to be about it.

[Enchanted]

I do the same as Tan and only sterilise every few days. Oscar picks stuff up off the floor as well and I don't sterilise his bowls etc for food. If you don't want to sterilise them I think a good soak in hot soapy water and a good srub should be fine

[Peach]

If I run them through the dishwasher each morning after giving them a scrub I think that should be ok. Dishwasher stelilises everything as it gets so hot.

I will be making them as we need them so milk won't be sitting in them for long periods of time.

Starting her on S26 for her 10am feed. Its only for 12 weeks then she'll go onto cows milk. I feel insanely guilty .. but if I want to feed my next baby at the breast I need to give my operated on side a chance to heal ( i had a lump removed). Kenzie had 9 months of exclusive breastfeeding ... so she's ad a good start!

[MistyFying]

Jen well done on 9 months of breast feeding

I too don't think you need to worry all that much about sterilising at that age. Just follow good hygiene rules and you'll be ok.

[Early Kids]

Congrats on 9 months of BF!! Well done

When brendan was discharged from hospital the nurse told me that I didn't need to steralise the bottles. aparently they did a study on this and they found that steralising bottles wasn't any better or worse for babies immune systems. I chose to only steralise once a week while Brendan was younger but by the time 9-10 months came and he started rolling, he was also starting to pick crap up off the floor. I haven't steralised for a few months now. It's really a personal preferance, If you are making bottles as needed then you probably dont need to steralise. Also I'd be a bit funny about doing them in the dishwasher.... I prefer to hand wash with warm soapy water and make sure that they are clean. (i personally dont like dishwashers)

[MantaRay]

There is no need to sterilise, just rinse in cold water first before washing.