[my2earthangels]

Can someone tell me what the current recommendations are in regards to sterilising bottles for a formula fed baby? At what age do you stop???

TIA

[lsolaBella]

Depends on who you read

I am a non sterialiser. Hot Soapy water for me and then rinse with boiled water.

http://babyparenting.about.com/b/2008/06/1...bys-bottles.htm

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/should...r-babys-bottles


ETA: I have 3 children now 6, 4 and nearly 2. All were FF by 6wks of age. We have never had a vomiting or diarrhea bug for the kids. DS1 was in CC from 2.5yrs of age then Kindy and now school, DS2 (4) was in CC from 18m of age and attends Kindy too.

This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 16/11/2011, 07:45 PM

[lucky 2]

Hi, you will get a variety of responses with the overwhelming majority saying no need to sterilise. Where I work we recommend following the guidelines of the Infant Nutrition Council (represents formula manufacturers) which are based on the WHO Guidelines for formula preparation which recommend sterilising formula preparation equipment.
http://infantnutritioncouncil.com/safe-prep-and-handling/

[lsolaBella]

Just going to add that the hospital I gave birth at did not sterialise FF or BF stuff. So that is where I got the recommendation of hot soapy water and airdry.

My little sister gave birth in a different hospital and all BF stuff was in Milton soaking for 24hrs.

[WinterIsComing]

Do you think there is a correlation between sterilising and a host of immunity related disorders like allegies in babies now?

(A genuine question - I've heard many times that using anti-bacterial cleaning products is quite bad for developing immunity, while having a pet in the house helps it).

[lucky 2]

You can sterilise with boiling or steam sterilisers which don't use disinfectants so it would not be related to increase in allergies. The only disinfectant that tends to be used is Miltons, sodium hypochloride (? spelling).

[emc002]

No it's not to do with allergies developing.

I use a microwave sterilising method, but I don't keep the bottles strictly sterile, I put them on a drying rack.

[*-*]

You can buy baskets to put in the dishwasher (if you have one). I have done this for all of mine

[lsolaBella]

I handwashed for first 6-8wks then used the Dishwasher basket PP mentioned.

[emc002]

Of course if I owned a dishwasher I would buy a box that goes in the dishwasher for bottles.