I don't plan on sterilizing my nipples, and all I can find on-line is "yeah -- you HAVE to!" with no explanation as to what could be so harmful in a well-washed bottle with fresh formula that isn't hanging around on a breast. So -- I'm curious.
And, if your answer is 'no' -- why?
2006-12-27 00:44:29 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Should You Sterilize Your Baby's Bottles?
By Steven Parker, MD
WebMD Medical Reference
In the old days when water supplies were not reliably clean, it made sense to boil the water before use. But now, sterilizing bottles, nipples, and water is mostly unnecessary.
Unless your water supply is suspected to harbor contaminated bacteria, it is as safe for your baby as it is for you. There is no reason to sterilize what is already safe.
Sterilizing the bottles and nipples is also unwarranted. Thorough cleaning with soap and water gets rid of almost all germs. And once on the bottle, the nipple begins to pick up all the germs in the environment, so a "sterile" nipple and bottle is just a pipe dream anyway.
2006-12-27 00:48:16 · answer #1 · answered by Miriam Z 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, I"m not sure. I breast fed my daughter and then at 4-5 months started to give her formula and I sterilized EVERYTHING. if her pacifier fell on the carpet, I would boil it before I gave it back to her. She was the first baby. I sterilized everything until she was 9 months old.
Now my son I used disposable bottles and the nipples. He was a premie and couldn't nurse. They could only be sterilized when you used them the first time and after that, it said not to boil them anymore, just wash them in warm soapy water. And that's what I did. One of the main reasons to sterilize everything is to keep the baby from getting thrush of the mouth. It can be painful (It's a bunch of ulcers in their mouths). It makes it harder for them to nurse or drink from a bottle. That's what I was told. My son had nothing sterilized. If his pacifier dropped on the carpet, I would rinse it off and give it back. Both of my kids have good immune systems. Neither on of them get sick very often and neither of them have ever had an ear infection. So i don't know if sterilizing is mandatory or not.
If you don't want to sterilize, either use a dishwasher (it sterilizes) or use disposable liners.
2006-12-27 01:27:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never sterilize my baby's bottles. I breastfeed, but supplement with formula so I do use bottles frequently. I don't think you absolutely have to sterilize them unless your baby is sickly or prone to illness. I just run the bottles through the dishwasher and the heated dry will kill any bacteria (in my opinion). I do hand wash the nipples though because gunk gets stuck in them when I run the through the dishwasher.
But unless your baby's pediatrician says you absolutely have to sterilize your stuff, I wouldn't worry about it.
2006-12-27 02:54:29 · answer #3 · answered by braks_gurl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the baby has dropped the bottle on the floor then yes u shoukd sterilize the bottle becuz its a whole lot of germs on the floor but if it hasn't been dropped on the floof or not in anybodys else mouth then u don't have to sterilize just wash good becuz ur newborn baby doesn't have a lot of germs.
2006-12-27 00:50:34 · answer #4 · answered by Tiffany B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no because it is going in their mouth and that is the most unsterilize place on your body, i mean children eat dirt and candy off the floor all the time and they are fine, i thing that i think everyone should do if not make a habit is washing your hand all the time, after coughing, snezzing, changing dapiers, and before you fix the bottle because that is how almost all the gems travel from person to person, i wash me hand at least fifty times a day, all you have to do is wash the bottle or nipple before eating the bundle of joy. and i mean a pacifer is like the same thing, you see parents pick it up off the floor and give it to their child, but sterilize bottles and nipple, it dont make any sense to me!!
2006-12-27 01:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I work in a kitchen and the water in our dishwasher is180 degrees in the rinse cycle that is what it takes to sanitize the dishes normal washing at home does not get that hot so the bacteria may not die. If you have dishwasher with heat dry you could probably not do the sterilizing. You have to remember that babys imunine systems arent as strong as us big people. As for the germs on breast dont think they would come in contact with quite as many germs as lets say your hands would.
2006-12-27 00:59:13 · answer #6 · answered by cheryl H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I raised 2 healthy kids and I only sterilized bottles before their first use. After that I just washed and dried them between uses. I sterilized them the first time because you never know what kind of residue might be left on them from manufacturing.
2006-12-27 00:54:04 · answer #7 · answered by redhairedgirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO......but all you have to do is make sure they are clean with dishsoap and water, and rinse very well. Our immune systems develop by being exposed to germs.....and normal 'germs' that are present after only washing a bottle are so few it won't hurt your baby at all. I never once sterilized my daughters bottles. It's better to concentrate on washing hands and such. I bet babies 1000 years ago were exposed to way more nasty stuff when people didn't bathe for weeks at a time! hope it helps! Oh....but do boil them when you open them for the first time.....you never know what was in them before they were in your house.
2006-12-27 00:56:11 · answer #8 · answered by sleep_chic 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to sterilize your bottles and nipples before you use them for the first time. After that you should be fine washing them in the sink with warm water or in the dishwasher.
2006-12-27 00:47:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would sterilize them before you ever use them but after that you can use just hot soapy water to wash both nipples and bottles. This kills the germs also.
how do I know? My doctor told me.
2006-12-27 01:05:36 · answer #10 · answered by Lisa 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋