View Full Version : Did you use a bottle sterilizer?
Atlantic Puffin
20-09-2011, 10:26
As the title suggests......
Do you / did you use a bottle sterilizer...?
If not, how did you sterilize your bottles and feeding equipment..?
I wasn't going to get one, but then watched a youtube clip on the avent one (after looking at avent bottles etc) and thought it really might be useful.
Is it worth the cost to get one...?
SalsaMama
20-09-2011, 10:31
Yep, mainly because DS was prem. I'm not sure if I would have otherwise.
We got an electric one secondhand and it was fine. The microwave ones seem pretty cheap.
Littlemissmetal
20-09-2011, 10:33
I had 2 an electric avent and a microwave tommy tippee, but I have to say the way i cleaned most my bottles was by rinising in hot soapy water the put them in a huge saucepan of boiling hot water, because my boys wouldn't take avent bottles at all I had to use the tommy tippee closer to nature range bottles and they were much wider so would fit in either of my sterlizers. Most thin bottles would fit in the sterlizers though, but yeah.. my boys wouldn't take them ha
Janesmum123
20-09-2011, 10:43
Yes I used an avent electrical one it was fantastic. So easy just wash the bottles then turn it on and it switches itself off. You can leave then in there is your busy. Loved mine.
Wow I was told by hospital and baby shop not to bother warm soapy water is enough. Oh and pharmacist yesterday said warm soapy water to as we are to sterile these days. Oh dear should I be sterilising?
higgleandgoot
20-09-2011, 10:49
We use an avent electric one here. Used it for DS and now DD. IMO, I do think it's worth the money. I use tommee tippee bottles for DD, she has 5 a day and the avent one squeezes in all 5 bottles :)
Yes I used an avent electrical one it was fantastic. So easy just wash the bottles then turn it on and it switches itself off. You can leave then in there is your busy. Loved mine.
This :yes:
This time I've bought (secondhand) the new digital Avent steriliser and I secretly can't wait to start using my new toy!! :D
Atlantic Puffin
20-09-2011, 10:50
Thanks...!!
How long did it take for you to sterilize them on the stove top..?
The avent one does it in like 8 minutes or something, and I think that sounds super convenient.....
I dont think i would want a microwave one simply because we have a very small sized microwave and we barely use it as it is for that reason. :)
Atlantic Puffin
20-09-2011, 10:52
We use an avent electric one here. Used it for DS and now DD. IMO, I do think it's worth the money. I use tommee tippee bottles for DD, she has 5 a day and the avent one squeezes in all 5 bottles :)
Did you have the closer to nature bottles..? Or just the normal thinner ones...?
I have read (i think) that the tommee tippee closer to nature ones dont fit in the avent sterilizer....???
I think my new one takes like 6 minutes or something super quick like that. I just like them for the convenience.
PS I got the digital one on ebay for $80 and I've seen them retail for about $170!!
Atlantic Puffin
20-09-2011, 10:55
This :yes:
This time I've bought (secondhand) the new digital Avent steriliser and I secretly can't wait to start using my new toy!! :D
I'm trying to find one second hand too... But most are "pick up" on ebay, and I live kinda regionally.. Lol so might just have to buy a new one if I cant find one. :(
bluesfamily
20-09-2011, 10:56
If you are planning on bottle feeding then i would get one for sure. My sister gave me hers so I was lucky. It is a tommee tipee one and it fits otherbrand bottles too. Just wash the bottles then put it in for 8 minutes. I found it good as was like a storage unit for them too. I just left them in there until i needed them.
Definetly need to steralise bottles as if there is any milk left over after washing the steriliser will get rid of any germs. Specially important for 6 months. I did it for 12 months. You can do it on the stove top but i would only do that if i wasnt bottlefeeding full time.
bluesfamily
20-09-2011, 10:59
If you are planning on bottle feeding then i would get one for sure. My sister gave me hers so I was lucky. It is a tommee tipee one and it fits otherbrand bottles too. Just wash the bottles then put it in for 8 minutes. I found it good as was like a storage unit for them too. I just left them in there until i needed them.
Definetly need to steralise bottles as if there is any milk left over after washing the steriliser will get rid of any germs. Specially important for 6 months. I did it for 12 months. You can do it on the stove top but i would only do that if i wasnt bottlefeeding full time.
missie_mack
20-09-2011, 11:05
Nope I think they are a PIA. With DS and now with my breastpump I wash them in hot soapy water and boil the kettle. Once I have rinsed the bottles I fill them with boiled water and put the lid nipple down into the water and fill the inside of the nipple with boiling water. I then leave them as such. The problem Dh tells me with sterilisers is that once the steriliser is cold the item isn't sterile because very few of them have enough water to cover the item, most just steam sterilise.
microwave one with the big two and this time I am just doing the stove top, mainly cos I didn't expect to be using bottles yet and havn't bought one yet but it's working fine. I have been leaving them on for about 5 minues :)
FluffyDucks
20-09-2011, 11:16
You can get microwave sterilisers that are generic (to use for all bottles)...and cheap too. I remember from somewhere that you need to sterilise bottles for the first 6 months and after that hot soapy water is fine.
If you didnt want a steriliser you can always boil your bottles, etc in hot water on the stove. Same principle as a steriliser.
Atlantic Puffin
20-09-2011, 11:16
Wow I was told by hospital and baby shop not to bother warm soapy water is enough. Oh and pharmacist yesterday said warm soapy water to as we are to sterile these days. Oh dear should I be sterilising?
Umm... I think when they are new born, you should really sterilize.... Mostly up to 6 months, then from then the hot soapy water is okay (boiling hot soapy water then let it cool).................
I thought you were certainly supposed to sterilize because babies have practically no immune system...... :confused:
When I had Ds2 the nurse told me just to use HOT soapy water. She said sterilizing was mainly for babies with health issues
Pippy&Woof
20-09-2011, 11:23
I sterilised bottles etc with my first as I was expressing and storing breastmilk. But with my second child I didn't bother as I wasn't really expressing at all.
I used the Avent electric one.
Littlemissmetal
20-09-2011, 11:24
Rinsing in Soapy hot water and then sterlizing with Boiling hot water will kill almost all germs so a s and do the same job a sterlizer will do, so a sterlizer isn't really a nessecity, but some people find them convienent to use.
Californication
20-09-2011, 11:54
Double post.
Californication
20-09-2011, 11:58
Umm... I think when they are new born, you should really sterilize.... Mostly up to 6 months, then from then the hot soapy water is okay (boiling hot soapy water then let it cool).................
I thought you were certainly supposed to sterilize because babies have practically no immune system...... :confused:
Sorry, but not true at all. We had issues BF and it was the Dr and midwives who told me not to sterilize with something special. Hot soapy water to wash, hot water to rinse and then air dry is all you need to do. And definitely not to use sterilizing tablets as they are full of chemicals.
So if you want to, go for it. But the advice given to me by my medical professionals was it's unnecessary and a waste of time!
Stumbleine
20-09-2011, 11:58
Just be mindful of the tommy tippy one as they did get recalled as they weren't actually sterilising properly ... I know we had to get ours replaced :)
We did use one for when DH fed DD ebm but after 6 months we stopped sterilising and just washed the bottles and teats in hot soapy water.
Elijahs Mum
20-09-2011, 12:00
The midwife in hospital told me that really you will never be able to get hospital grade sterilization and as a pp said as soon as the bottles touch air they are not sterile anymore, but as a new mum you want to at least try! So yes I used the electric avent for 6 months ( very easy and very quick ) now just use the quick cycle
On my dishwasher!
I've got mam bottles from big w and you wash them, then pull them apart put the teat inside put a bit of water in and put the lid on. Microwave for 2 mins :) sterilizes themselves and come in cute colours too
Littlemissmetal
20-09-2011, 12:12
Sorry, but not true at all. We had issues BF and it was the Dr and midwives who told me not to sterilize with something special. Hot soapy water to wash, hot water to rinse and then air dry is all you need to do. And definitely not to use sterilizing tablets as they are full of chemicals.
So if you want to, go for it. But the advice given to me by my medical professionals was it's unnecessary and a waste of time!
There are actual sterlizing tablets specifically made for use with baby bottles, not like the regular ones.
just her chameleon
20-09-2011, 12:14
I used an electric tommee tippee sterilizer and also sometimes the sterilizing tablets that you dissolve in cold water (can't remember the name).
There is so much conflicting advice out there. Some people say to sterilize, some say it's not required. I stopped when DD started putting everything in her mouth - kind of defeated the whole purpose really! Around 7 months I think?
It's entirely up to you :)
higgleandgoot
20-09-2011, 12:14
Did you have the closer to nature bottles..? Or just the normal thinner ones...?
I have read (i think) that the tommee tippee closer to nature ones dont fit in the avent sterilizer....???
yep, the closer to nature ones. :) I put 4 on the bottom, and one on the top and everything else just fits on top (teats etc..). I put the lids in between the bottles on the bottom. They aren't crowded in to the point where it won't sterilise them properly. But I wouldn't be able to fit much more in. :laughing:
really old
20-09-2011, 12:19
I'm under the impression that the current advice is to not use home sterilizers: only for the reason that they're unnecessary.
But I've already got one... so I'll probably use it.
Even though I've been told it's a waste of time.
Completely illogical.
That's me!
Not sure if it's different for formula, but for EBM the recommendations are def just hot soapy water :)
And that is at least 4.5yrs as that is when I was expressing for my first newbie lol
Degrassi
20-09-2011, 12:46
I use the milton solution (a sealed container filled with 2 litres of water and 2 Milton tablets). My DS is fed exclusively on EBM (he doesn't get directly on the boob anymore), so I have breast pump components, bottles & teats, dummies etc in the solution ready for when I need them. I change the solution every 24 hours.
DS is 7 1/2 months old (but is a premmie, corrected age 5 1/2 months). I will probably look at stopping with the sterilizing soon.
SalsaMama
20-09-2011, 12:48
Sorry, but not true at all. We had issues BF and it was the Dr and midwives who told me not to sterilize with something special. Hot soapy water to wash, hot water to rinse and then air dry is all you need to do. And definitely not to use sterilizing tablets as they are full of chemicals.
So if you want to, go for it. But the advice given to me by my medical professionals was it's unnecessary and a waste of time!
Exactly this.
Our paed advised us to sterilise for the first few months solely because DS was prem and was picking up every bug possible.
Otherwise her recommendation is to just wash as above. And for EBM, no sterilisation required as far as I'm aware.
Pippy&Woof
20-09-2011, 19:26
Not sure if it's different for formula, but for EBM the recommendations are def just hot soapy water :)
And that is at least 4.5yrs as that is when I was expressing for my first newbie lol
Yes this is true, u aren't required to sterilise at all (unless for premature babies etc). But being a NICU nurse I was so used to sterilising and it seemed wrong not to when I had my first baby =)
But yes u definitely don't have to sterilise, just hot soapy water and rinse really well.
Agreed. Current advice is not to sterilise, and just use hot soapy water. There's lots about the reasons why if you do a quick google, but basically it's that there is no need.
We just used hot soapy water or the dishwasher.
mummykitty
20-09-2011, 19:42
Agreed. Current advice is not to sterilise, and just use hot soapy water. There's lots about the reasons why if you do a quick google, but basically it's that there is no need.
We just used hot soapy water or the dishwasher.
Really? Hmm runs to computer to use google :)
Feathers
21-09-2011, 10:27
Considering the bugs that cause gastro, ecoli and rhinovirus LOVE stale milk, Ive sterilised for both my girls until 6 months of age.
First time around I boiled bottles. When DD2 was born, I bought a steriliser (Avent Microwave) and wouldnt go back to boiling. So much easier. Wash bottles and microwave for 2 minutes. EASY!
I did buy mine brand new, but Ive seen them on Gumtree, eBay and Facebook Buy and Sell Groups at less than half the price I paid for mine.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.9 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.