When and How to Sterilise Baby Bottles

Unsure when or how to clean baby's bottles? Our guide details the best sterilising methods and equipment, so you can provide your little one the safest feed!

Keeping your newborn well-nourished and happy is one of the greatest joys of being a parent. But along with all the cuddles and feedings comes an important responsibility - making sure the baby stays healthy. An integral part of fulfilling that duty is properly sterilising bottles before and after each use.

Sterilisation kills the harmful bacteria and viruses that could potentially sicken an infant with an immature immune system. So it's crucial to rid bottles of any lingering microbes that could cause gastrointestinal illness or infections.

Our guide will help new parents understand when sterilisation is needed and the best methods to use. From cleaning tips to storage advice, the goal is to give your little one the safest start.

So let's get into the specifics of keeping bottles bacteria-free to protect your little angel!

Why Is It Important to Sterilise and Clean My Baby's Bottles?

The ideal medium for the growth of bacteria is milk. For this reason, anything that has come into contact with milk should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised. Your baby may become ill if they consume milk with bacteria. Due to their weak immune systems, babies are less capable of fighting off a variety of diseases than adults.

By regularly using a sterile bottle and clean equipment, you can help lower the likelihood that your baby will become ill. Bottles and teats may still contain germs even if they appear clean.

How to Wash Baby Bottles?

A bottle brush should be kept especially for this use. When the bristles start to wear out, get a new bottle brush. You must sterilise the bottles after washing them.

• Take the teat out of the screw top after separating all the bottle's components. Make use of dishwashing soap and hot water.
• Using a bottle brush, thoroughly clean the entire bottle, including the thread where the cap screws on.
• Take out any remaining milk from the opening of the teat.
• To rinse the teat, squeeze hot, soapy water through the opening and repeat with clean water.
• Make sure that you thoroughly wash everything.

How do I clean Newborn Feeding Items in the Dishwasher?

• Separate every bottle component (bottles, nipples, caps, rings, and valves, for instance).

• Holding the bottle components under running water can help rinse them, as will any other feeding supplies. The temperature of the water varies.

• Fill the dishwasher with bottle components and other feeding supplies.

• To help destroy more germs, try running the dishwasher on a heated drying cycle with hot water.

• Take out the dishwasher. Wash your hands with soap and water before taking out and putting away cleaned goods.

• Items that aren't quite dry should be placed on a fresh, unused dish towel or paper towel to air dry entirely before being stored in a dust and dirt-free environment.

• Avoid wiping or brushing things dry with dish towels as this can spread bacteria to the objects.

How Can I Clean Newborn Feeding Things by Hand?

Give your hands a thorough 20-second wash with soap and water. Separate every component of the bottle (bottles, nipples, caps, rings, and valves). Holding the bottle components under running water can help rinse them, as will any other feeding supplies. Never place them in the sink. The temperature of the water varies.

Then Clean feeding Supplies:

• Put everything in a sanitised sink or container used specifically for cleaning baby feeding supplies.
• Avoid washing these goods directly in the wash basin as the bacteria there could contaminate them.
• Pour hot water into the washbasin and stir in the soap.
• Clean things meant for baby feeding should be scrubbed with a fresh brush.
• To make sure that nipple holes are clean, squeeze water through them.
• Rinse by either holding the items under running water or submerging them entirely in fresh water in a different basin reserved for washing baby feeding supplies.
• Arrange the bottle components, wash basin, and bottle brush in a dust-free, clean area using a paper towel or clean, unused dish towel. Let it completely dry in the air.
• Avoid wiping or patting things dry with dish towels as this can spread bacteria to the objects.
• After every usage, give the wash basin and brush a thorough rinse before letting them air dry.
• Wash them every few days, either by hand with soap and warm water or, if dishwasher safe, in a hot water cycle with a heated drying cycle.
• Wash your baby's bottle brush and basin after each use if they are younger than two months old.

How Should Breast Milk Supplies Be Cleaned?

You must clean the components of your manual pump, electric pump, or milk catcher that collect milk and every reusable container. You need to follow these guidelines:

• Hands should be cleaned and dried.
• Remove every container, including the breast pump.
• To get rid of the milk, first, rinse everything with cold water.
• Use a bottle brush, hot water, dishwashing soap, and care to remove any traces of dirt, oil, and milk.
• Rinse with hot water two or more times.
• Pour off into a fresh paper towel or fresh cloth towel. While they air dry, cover.
• If you are using an electric breast pump, make sure you follow the directions.

Do Baby Formula Containers Need to be Cleaned?

There is no evidence from studies that babies have become ill due to contamination on a baby formula container's outside. Additionally, if powdered infant formula stays dry, it is less likely to get contaminated. To avoid contaminating the powdered formula inside the container, do not use liquid cleansers in infant formula containers.

Before opening the formula container for the first time, clean the outside of the container and lid with a disinfectant wipe or paper towel doused with disinfectant. The container should not be submerged or subverted under running water. Do not open the container until the surfaces are totally dry. The infant formula container should not have been cleaned inside.

How Should Formula Feeding Equipment be Sterilised?

Three methods exist for sterilising your equipment:

• Steam sterilisation by boiling.
• Chemical sterilisation.
• Be cautious to prevent burns. Keep kids away from boiling or extremely hot water.

Since you are breastfeeding, you sometimes need to sterilise your bottles. For this, the boiling approach might work well. You won't have to spend money on chemicals or a steam steriliser because of this.

The Process of Boiling:

• Place the entire cleaned bottle including the teats into a big pot.
• Fill the apparatus with enough tap water to cover it.
• Verify that no air bubbles are present.
• After bringing the water to a boil, cover it and cook it for five minutes.
• Before removing the feeding apparatus and allowing it to air dry, let it cool in the pot.
• Put the sterile feeding apparatus in a sanitised, covered container.

The Process of Steam Sterilisation:

Steam sterilisers are widely used due to their cost-effectiveness and speed of operation. The germs are killed by the steam produced when they bring water to a boil. A few steam sterilisers can be used in a microwave.

• Fill the steriliser with to clean bottles and feeding supplies.
• Ensure that there is sufficient space for the steam to flow across all surfaces between each bottle, teat, and screw cap.
• Add amount of water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Put the microwave steriliser in the microwave if you're using one.
• Set the microwave or steriliser to the appropriate setting.
• After the cycle, put the equipment in a clean, covered container.

The Process of Chemical Sterilisation:

Applying chemical sterilisation requires caution. Bleach is used in many methods. Keep chemicals out of children's reach. There are liquid and tablet forms of antibacterial solutions available. They must be cooked precisely according to the instructions on the packaging.

• Make use of a glass or plastic container big enough for your baby's feeding supplies and bottles.
• Every day, prepare a new batch of the solution.
• After cleaning, put the feeding apparatus and bottles in the solution. Verify that everything is covered and that there are no air bottles.
• After sterilisation, leave the equipment in the solution for the recommended amount of time; there's no need to rinse it off.
• After a day, trash the solution and clean the container before making a fresh one.

Final Words

Proper sterilisation of baby bottles may seem like an extra chore amid the joy and chaos of new parenthood. But taking just a few minutes to ensure bottles are germ-free can give you peace of mind in knowing you're providing optimal nutrition for your baby.

Following the sterilisation process after each use and storage will minimise the risk of illnesses that are especially dangerous for infants. So, taking sterilisation seriously demonstrates your commitment as a parent to their well-being.