sterilizing stuff

[janiceg]

i want to get a sterilizer today for dummies and bottles if i need to express in the future. what sterilizer do you have and what do you think of it? are the microwave ones safe? or should i just stick with a pot of water?
thanks heaps, girls!

[OneCheekyMonkey]

I believe the latest studies have shown that washing in hot soapy water and letting air dry is just as safe.

That is what I have been doing anyway! plus I let my stuff dry in the sun...

[Shell31]

I'm really slack with Daisy & don't sterilise anything :eek:. I think I've used Milton for a week or so when I got home from hospital but its really only the odd Dummy & I found it a waste to throw it out all the time.

With my others when they eventually went onto the bottle I had a microwave steam steriliser which was great for the bottles. I'd make up the batch of bottles for the day with the water then only have to add the formula at feed time. When breastfeeding and wanting to give them EBM in a bottle I used the milton as I always knew in advance if that was going to happen i.e a night out.

Basically things change & they are no longer so strict on sterilising things. I too have heard that I can just wash the breast pump in hot soapy water & let it air dry.

[SurNuage9]

I use a steam steriliser but I only use it on his bottles, nothing else gets more than hot soapy water. There is some debate on whether its necessary and it seems to be not so much nowadays but I do it simply because when dealing with milk that could spoil I'd rather be safe than sorry. But I pretty much sterilise them in the morning and then leave them out and fill them as i need them

Also, just putting stuff in the dishwasher is fine, that will sterlise as well

[BubsNo1]

:wave: Hi,

I'm using the avent microwave steam steriliser. I find it quite good and at least I figure it has to be doing something, LOL :cool:

I just wash the bottles, teats, dummies etc in hot water, then pop them in the steriliser with 200ml of water. Put the lid on and cook for 2 minutes, let it cool for 2 minutes and they are ready to go. :yes:

In hospital they were using the Miltons solution, which I suppose is just as easy. You make up a batch in the morning and it lasts for 24 hours. You can just pop everything into a container and let it sit in there as far as I know.

I've also heard that sterilising isn't "the be all and end all" nowadays, but I figure if it's been done for generations, then I plan on sticking with it. :)

Hope this helps,
Sheree xxx

[Maybelline]

i use milton ..seems to do the job

[SophOlivia]

Hi - I still sterilise just to be on the safe side. I have an AVENT steam steriliser and I love it. Sooo easy. Have the microwave one too but I prefer the steam version.

Good luck :)

[k2ma]

I use hot soapy water rinse it thoroughly with hot hot tap water. I only sterilize if it has fallen on the floor outside of our house really.

Main thing is to be sure to get all milk and dried milk powder etc out when you wash I would have thought?

That said, I sterilized everything for the eldest til he was 3 months(!) but for the other two, just hot soapy water.

[Lateralus]

We use an AVENT microwave steriliser too - easy as! Also, found out today (from Lactation nurse) that once you have sterilised things, you can wrap them in a clean tea towel and pop them in the fridge to be used within 24 hours... Means you can sterilise a batch of stuff at the start of the day & it's ready to go when you need it (particularly handy for overnight so you don't have to muck around sterilising stuff then - which is what I had been doing).

[eeyorethedonkey21]

i sterilised everything for my ds. this time i'm going to be putting bubs straight onto formula and the midwife today told me that hot soapy water will be more then enough while we're in hospital. i've got the avent steam steriliser which i'll prolly use when we get home. :yes:

[EmyLou]

I have a microwave sterilizer and sterilize everything every few days. The rest of the time its just hot soapy water.

[bootiful]

even hospitals recommend hot soapy water and nothing more.

[Ashi]

Even tho with my other kids I sterilized EVERYTHING for 6 months (which was what they recommended back then) This time I just wash them in hot soapy water then rinse in fresh water, and b4 I use them I pour boiling water from the kettle over them to make sure they are clean

Im BF tho so I don't use bottles or anything very much, occasionally use the breast pump
but I think I'd do the same even if I was formula feeding

maybe everyone being super crazy about sterilising everything has something to do with the large amount of antibiotic resistant viruses these days.. who knows!

[Lateralus]

Has anyone else used milton to sterilise? Because I am having to express so often to try & build up my milk supply, I am starting to get worried about putting the pump/ bottles etc in the microwave so frequently (every 2 hours at this stage)... Surely the plastic won't stand up to that kind of regime?! I bought some milton today - it smells like swimming pool :( Am sure it must be safe to use though - it's very widely used isn't it?!