Do we still need to sterilize bottles??

[kookaburra]

Hi all,

I have been reading through posts and noticed that some ppl have said that babies bottles do not need to be sterilised any more (according some child health places).

Is this true? I do think that there is not much point in doing it as they put everything in their mouth once they can pick stuff up and start to move around. My son is 7 and a bit months and I do sterilise his bottles but I didn't realise that I might not have to any more.?? I hope I am not sounding silly, but just wanted to know your thoughts. It would be so much easier just to wash them.

I guess we still need to boil the water.

Thanks for all your replies.

Alma

[javalava]

:yes: Good question... id love to know this!! I will watch carefully! :yes:

[misskittyfantastico]

The hospital where DD was born said that they didn't sterilise anymore - just washed with warm soapy water....that's what we did and we've had no dramas. We did boil water though.:)

[2princesses1prince]

It is been said by 2 different hospitals that Sterilising is no longer required. Rinse in cold water, was in hot soapy water, then rinse again thoroughly. This is sufficient now.

[poshBecks]

I stopped sterilising Ellas bottles when she started chewing on my shoes!! LOL.. I figure she's not going to get sick from my clean bottles. I still boil the water though. I stopped when she was 7 months.

[rynosmum]

Wha? No steralising?:confused:

I kept doing it until Ry was 18 months - but then again that's probably overkill...:rolleyes:

[bigglet]

I've stopped sterilising at about 6 months. My little one started teething at 5 and half months so was chewing everything and putting anything she could get her hands on into her mouth. By that stage I figured it was pointless sterilising bottles.....

[Mrs Potts]

Hospital also told us that sterilising wasn't necessary anymore. Basically it's as mumtotwins said. Just make sure the water is hot.

That being said, I fail to see what has changed, when "we've" been sterilising for years. We will continue to sterilise, at least til DD is 6 months.

[Melo]

Geez, I sterilised upto 6 and a half months.

Gives me a piece of mind I suppose :)

[M O P]

As the water in my kitchen sink hot tap comes straight out a dam, where stock occasionally drink and emus and kangaroos do too, I think I'll just keep sterilising for now. Atleast 'til Hugh starts picking up sheep poos!

[indigoin0z]

i think it really depends... i didnt sterilise much with second bub, but i was very thorough with washing / rinsing..

i wouldnt suggest that is for everyone tho,
i have seen bottles
in some peoples homes etc that i wouldnt give a dog to chew on....:barf:

i also know some areas water supply is more suspect & unreliable so i would always at least boil the water to rinse with..

( i must say i was afraid of using those sterilisation tablets way back with #1 bub, they started eating away the teats, what are they doing to our babies with all these chemicals?! they might not die from germs, theyll just die from having no insides left?:eek: )

[SamanthaJane]

I will still be sterilising. My hospital still recommends it.

[InSaneOne]

i just wash well in hot soapy water and rinse well and air dry. about once a week i do boil my bottles and teats and lids up in a big saucepan on the stove for 5 minutes.

i still boil water though.

[tweedledee*tweedledum]

Mmmmmm.....well it has been said that using anti-bacterial soap and detergents are quite bad when washing bottles and teats, so I actually boil them for 5 minutes in a pot of water that has come out of our puratap. I think I will continue doing this, as it gives me piece of mind that at least they are not chewing on a teat that might have old milk or something on it!

[LittleBoysRock]

The hospital where DD was born said that they didn't sterilise anymore - just washed with warm soapy water....that's what we did and we've had no dramas. We did boil water though.:)

Same here! I had brought an advent electric sterliser but we used it about 3 times in total. The CHN said just to wash in soapy water, rinse and let air dry. We used boiled water for the bottles though!

The reason for NOT sterilising is that you can make the envirnoment TOO germ free for children and babies.