Midwife told me I dont need to sterilise bottles?

I had a midwife tell me while I was in hospital that I didnt have to sterilise bottles and just to wash them in soapy water. Ive sorta learnt not to take in all advise so I said to her that all the same I think I will be sterilsing our bottles. Has anyone had a midwife tell them this? Maybe Im wrong in thinking that newborn baby items need sterilising. Also I took my own bottles and formula into the hospital because I new Id be bottle feeding and they insisted that I use thier bottle. I thought OK tops. They ended up being really crappy bottles made out of really thin plastic stuff but what ever works. Anyway they told me that they were all kept in this kitchen area and to go up and make up formula and grab bottles whenever. I goes up to this kitchen and they are keeping the so called sterilised clean bottles in a cupboard not in the fridge. They use some kind of industrial dishwasher that sterilisers bottles cos it gets so hot but I was under the impression that they had to be refrigerated afterwards to keep them sterile. Once again maybe im wrong. Last time I was in this said hospital u had to get all bottles out of the fridge where they kept them and use special tongs to but teets on and all of this has completely gone out of the window. I decided that Id be better off at home and made up some excuse to go home cos I almost sure my son has thrush in his mouth now cos all of a sudden he isnt feeding properly now and snacks just like my daughter used to when I found out she had thrush too. He isnt windy or anything he just doesnt want to eat anymore and wants to feed every 2 hours instead of every 3.5 to 5 hours like in hospital. Im having him checked out by a nurse friend tomorrow about his mouth. The hospital i was in had also had a total of 19 c-section in the 4 days when Id come in to have my elective and 15 of them were bottle feeding. Maybe they figured that they were going through the bottles so fast there was no point in refrigerating them. Who knows :doh:

i would strelise all formula bottles ... and do it very well , but breastmilk bottles do not need to be sterlised because of the antibac. propeties in bm ...


if you dont sterlise ff bottles i find they get mucky very quickly ..

do it just to be on the safe side !!!

hth

eta : as for the fridge idea .. i had never heard of it ... ive been ff for 6 mths .. i always hung them on a bottle rack to dry in sunlight !!

Really. Ive always been told to put the bottles in the fridge after sterilising to keep them sterile. Huh u learn something new everyday.

Sterilising is a funny thing really. As I don't see that bottles can remain COMPLETELY sterile for very long. As soon as they come in to contact with air I'm sure some bugs jump onto them! I think boiling/steam is a good way to clean bottles though, but in the hospital that I work at we say use soapy, hot water and air dry on paper towels. Big change from years ago isn't it. Difficult for many parents to get their head around.

I cant believe how much its all changed in the 2 years since Ive had my daughter. Thanks for your feedback.

If expressed breastmilk is being used in the bottles, then washing them in warm, soapy water is fine. But if formula is being used in the bottles, the bottles will need to be washed in warm, soapy water and then sterilised. (If thrush is suspected, no matter what type of feeding, bottles should always be sterilised between feeds to prevent re-infection.) Bottles should always be put in the refrigerator after sterilising, as bacteria doesn't multiply as quickly in a cold environment (and sometimes it may be 12-24 hours before we use that bottle). And none of us want our babies to get sick!

I've never sterilised a bottle. I've always been told that hot soapy wash is all you needed, I do EBM.

I also suggest that there is no need to sterilise bottles either for EBM or formula. As long as you wash them very well in hot soapy water that is all that is needed

I FF and sterilise all the time...everything goes in mine: Dummies, bottles, spoons, bowls, u name it!

Once bottles are done they go straight into the fridge....my hospital told me thats what should be done.

I dunno when ill stop doing it....im fussy and makes me feel im doing something 'clean' for Chelsea even though im sure the amount of germs she gets off the floor from crawling would out way my sterilising habits!

I'm the same as Kimbaz

nothing against those that dont sterilise but it doesn't take any effort its not like where you had to boil stuff on stove etc

I say sterilise pop in fridge after I also resterilise and reboil water if he hasn't used his bottles within 24hrs, I used to do this with his spoons but not so much now he is nearly one but I will be sterilising his bottles and cups for as long as he is using them

Kimbaz and Rach75

I thought for a minute there my brain had made up stories about sterilising bottles. Last time I was in hospital they were all very serious about sterilising. Im going to still do it though. My husband thinks I shouldnt but it makes me feel better. Ill probably stop a bit sooner this time though.

Thanks for all your feedback on this subject.

Hi
I'm going to sterilise everything, Dummies, bottles ect. I would feel better doing it then not doing it. At our hospital you have to take your own bottles and stuff. They provide a Steriliser for mothers to use.

I sterelised everything until about 6 months. Then I started washing in warm soapy water.

How long do you need to sterilise for?

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!).

I dont use soapy water, i have just been using hot water and bottle brush and then sterilise them. I dont let the dirty bottles sit though, rinse out straight after use. Should i be using soapy water??

I use boiling hot soapy water then sterlise.

Just a tip...if you were going to sterilise everything. My sister bought a small bench top lift-top bin which was tall enough to immerse bottles, teats etc in - I think it fitted 4 bottles in it and filled that with sterilising mix and kept them in there until they were required. I thought it was a great idea.

Yeah that is a good idea. Thanks for that one.

i sterilise everything. I wash in hot soapy water. Rinse in warm water, and then sterlise in avent steamer microwave one. As soon as it comes out of steamer, i fill with water to required amount, and then seal...
I will stop sterlising in the avent thing at 6months, or, as soon as he starts putting stuff in his mouth.

ETA - the health nurse told me no need to sterlise, just wash in hot soapy water, and rinse in hot water.

I dont steralise with miltion, once a week i boil annika's dummies and bottles/sippy cups in a big pot on the stove. The rest of the tiem i just wash in hot soapy water.

My MCHN told me that over steralising they will not build up an immunity to any germs, and are more prone to being sick...

Not judging anyone or anything, this is just what i was told...

i wash on hot soapy water, the serilise them and put them into a air tight container - that is what the midwife told me .. god how can they all have so many different instructions for people....for the same thing

I soak my DD's in hot soapy water for an hour then wash in hot soapy water then rinse with hot water. I too was told by the NeoNatal nurses that over steralising could be more damaging for my bub as she needed to build up her immune system.

My gosh! I have never heard of not sterilising but it kind of makes sense when it comes to building immunity, seriously shouldn't there be one universal way? Or at least one way health professionals in aus tell us to do it! How confusing

These days it is a bit of a personal choice thing too. I sterilised for a few weeks, then got too lazy. I have tons of botlles so do a big pile of bottle wahing every couple of days.

If you would give ur child immunisations, y not let their body learn to fight bad bugs in food? it is rare 4 bubs 2 get sick with unsterilised bottles, just unwashed bottles.

DS is five and a half months old and has been bottle fed from day one. I was also told that sterilising bottles means that the baby doesn't develop their immunity. I just wash the bottles in hot, soapy water using a special rubbery bottle brush which doesn't scratch the inside of the bottles. Then we rinse in just boiled water, air dry and store in a big, air-tight plastic container.

I agree that some people probably aren't as careful as the rest of us - the problem is when bits of milk or formula get stuck in little scratches and contaminates the new milk or formula. As long as the bottles are properly clean, then not sterilising is fine.

I would personally be a little worried about them not sterilising in a hospital..... there are so many germs in hospitals that you or baby would normally not be used to, thats why they get out breaks of super bugs and stuff every now and then and also why they usually go to great lengths making sure everything coming into contact with patients is serilised like bed sheets, towels etc.. why should bottles be different?

On the other hand at home you will have built and immunity to the bugs in your own home since you live there and as such will have passed on the same immunity to baby during pregnancy.

I've been told by the child and youth health midwife to sterilise until they're about 4 months old because their immune and digestive systems are still immature at first, then after that its good to start letting the germs in to build up their immune system, but like i said just to wait for it to be fully developed first.

I was told the same thing - aparently they don't even sterilize bottlefeeding equipment in hospitals anymore. I'm breastfeeding and have a breast pump and a collection of bottles, and I bought a sterlizer so that I can use periodically. I do it everyone once in a while and I don't worry about storing them so they stay sterile (which they only do for 24 hours).

The midwife said to me (and i've heard it other places to) that babies need some exposure to bugs to build up their immune systems and prevent allergies.

When my daughter was born in July each mother was given a container of milton and a new bottle to keep in their room so there was no bulk sterilising or bottle sharing.

I still use an electric steriliser but will probably stop in a few weeks when my daughter is 6 months as she's all over the floor putting everything in her mouth anyway. I think it would be safe to wash well in hot soapy water once your baby starts to crawl.

Re the fridge thing, it does make sense that bacteria doesn't grow as quick, but that really only works if your fridge is clean. You are probably much better when ff to as soon as your bottles are sterile fill them with boiled water and put caps on them. That way they are sealed and there should be nothing there to grow and the water is in and ready for use too.

I use EBM, I wash in hot soapy water, dry and then I have a special plastic box that only bottles etc go in once clean. This keeps bugs dirt etc away from them until needed.

I ff DS and stopped sterilising when he was 7 monts old as i couldn't see thepoint to it. When i did sterilise i used to wash in hot soapy water the sterilise in the microwave, then fill them with cooled boiled water and sit them on the bench til i needed them. DS has never ever been sick, and i actually think sterilising might well be a waste of time as they are only sterile til you pull them out of the steriliser.

I think you need to do wahatever makes you feel comfortable and if thats sterilising and keeping your bottles in the fridge, then do that.

I have a beautiful 11 day old girl (my first) and I am a very stressed newbie mum. Can someone please give me their FF tips. I have been TRYING to BF but she has a receded chin and today and yesterday she has been very congested (the muggy weather into aircon no doubt).

Here are my newbie questions:

1) What is your FF routine each day ?

2) How can I help decongest bubby - she's not sleeping at all now cos she is so uncomfortable, she would normally sleep for 4 to 5 hours but now barely an hour

3) After washing in hot soapy water, I should sterilise and then put the completed bottles (without formula?) in the fridge. Then just take the empty bottle from the fridge to fill up with formula is that right?

4) How long does formula last in the fridge for?

5) How long should formula sit before I consider it 'discarded' - sometimes she needs a good burp or change before finishing the bottle.

6) I was told I should use a pacifier if FF to comfort her sucking reflex, is that best to do before or after feeding?

7) Is it wise to bath her while she is congested in an attempt to calm her down?

Sorry for all the questions ... I feel so incapable and tired and stressed, tell me it gets better please !!

We tend to feed 3 hourly, and if she drains the bottle we top it up.

you could steam up your bathroom, but it is a bit hot for that, get a snot sucker (comes with fess lttle noses or nyal saline solution) hold her upright, elevate her bed, suck on her nose (i know its gross but when u r desperate...)

It is up to you whether you sterilise or not (see discussion below) and feed her at whatever temperature you prefer. personally we do room temperature.

It can last in the fridge for 24 hours

At room temperature it lasts about 1 hour

After. if you do it before it could mask her hunger

I don't see why bathing her should be a problem, after all, we bath or shower when we are congested.

hth

Thank you, I am sending mum to the chemist to get some baby vicks and saline - we just tried the snot sucker and it helped a little. She is sleeping on her daddy's knees on her tummy which is helping her get some rest. She looks so exhausted the poor thing, it breaks my heart =(

I will try the shower steam thing after she has rested a little. Thank you so much for your help again !!!

My little girl is 8 months and i have always washed in hot soapy water rinsed off and put in avent microwave steriliser and made up bottles after they have cooled down with cooled boiled water and put straight into fridge so is everyone saying i shouldnt have to sterilise bottles anymore just wash in warm soapy water and rinse and make as usual... with cooled boiled water still????? Iv never heard i can stop but i guess iv never asked iv just carryed on as normal as iv always thought up till there 12 months and on cows milk then u dont have to sterilise but if i can stop now then all the better and easier for me and my partner :dance: hope someone can confirm all this and if its alright for me to do this from now on!! laura xxx:D

Laura, I think just do what you feel comfortable doing. I know my sister steralises until they are one. We are still sterilising (we figure it takes about 3 minutes to wash the bottles, and then the microwave does the work so why stop) and it makes us feel like we have completed our routine for the night!!! We are doing half formula bottles and half cows milk at the moment to get DS used to the different milk. :-) My sister told me to do that anyway... haha!!!! We all just muddle along as mothers, not really knowing what to do cos of so many different conflicting opinions!!!!!!!

Yeah if i didnt happen to come on here and read that thread i wouldnt of thought any dif as i always thought sterilise till 1 and after then just do it like we would for ourselves with cows milk but yh like u say microwave does it all just 5 - 8 mins and thats it but hearing this has made me think sterilisng isnt neseccary anymore everyone sayin from 6 months they stopped and just washed thoroughly but yh like u said we all do our own things as mums and neither way would hurt them but my health vis might say dif u just dont know but im a first time mum and i always have done what me and my partner felt suited us so why change that now but interesting to read so many dif things people do and say! Thanks. Laura xxx