Sterilize baby bottles how long

The same goes for bottles that have been used for older siblings in your own home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , sterilization is particularly important if baby was born prematurely or has a weakened immune system. How often to sterilize baby bottles is really up to you, so do what feels right for your family. Otherwise, for extra germ removal beyond standard washing, the CDC says you can sanitize bottles at least once daily.

You should also stop sterilizing baby bottles and accessories if you notice any damage, Ganjian says. Glass bottles with cracks or chips should be tossed out, as should plastic bottles with splits, cracks, strong odors or any warping.

Bottle nipples that have sustained noticeable wear and tear should always be replaced, since they can be a choking hazard. So when it comes to deciding how to sterilize baby bottles, choose an approach that works best for you and your budget. Read on for step-by-step instructions for how to sterilize baby bottles using various techniques. No special equipment required here! To sterilize baby bottles using boiling water, all you need is water and a pot.

Another super-easy approach to sterilizing baby bottles? Another option is to purchase a microwave baby bottle sterilizer. This type of sterilizer also harnesses the power of steam, but it encloses the bottles in a plastic casing to give them a more thorough cleansing.

These handy sterilizers are widely available and typically cost about half as much as the better-known electric baby bottle sterilizers. Steam sterilization can reach higher temperatures than boiling water, so it can kill more bacteria and mold, Ganjian says. Simply follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Plus, they can be used to sanitize bottles, bottle parts, nipples and more. Many moms even use these for small plastic toys and teething rings once baby outgrows the bottle stage.

Food-grade, chlorine-based sterilizing tablets are just as effective at removing all the same microbes as the other sterilization techniques above. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging to ensure proper sterilization. Are your baby bottles dishwasher safe? As a health and safety investigator for ConsumerSafety. She earned her medical degree from St. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, in and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, a designation given to just 10 percent of American physicians.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such.

Find out more about expressing breast milk and how to make up formula feeds. Page last reviewed: 24 September Next review due: 24 September Sterilising baby bottles. Before sterilising, you need to: Clean bottles, teats and other feeding equipment in hot, soapy water as soon as possible after feeds.

Use a clean bottle brush to clean bottles only use this brush for cleaning bottles , and a small teat brush to clean the inside of teats. You can also turn teats inside out then wash them in hot soapy water. Do not use salt to clean teats, as this can be dangerous for your baby. You can put your baby's feeding equipment in the dishwasher to clean it if you prefer. Putting feeding equipment through the dishwasher will clean it but it does not sterilise it.

Make sure bottles, lids and teats are facing downwards. You may prefer to wash teats separately by hand to make sure they are completely clean. Once prepared, the formula is ready to feed to your baby immediately without additional refrigeration or warming. Formula that's been prepared should be consumed or stored in the refrigerator within 1 hour.

If it has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour, throw it away. And if your baby doesn't drink all the formula in the bottle, throw away the unused portion — do not save it for later. Formula may be prepared ahead of time for up to 24 hours if you store it in the refrigerator to prevent the formation of bacteria.

Open containers of ready-made formula, concentrated formula, and formula prepared from concentrate also can be stored safely in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Some babies may actually prefer cold or room-temperature bottles to warm, especially if you start serving them that way from the get-go which can make things easier for you in the long run.

But if your baby does prefer a warm bottle, remember that the microwave can create dangerous "hot spots" in bottles, so you should never microwave formula. Whichever way you choose to heat your baby's bottles, be sure to shake the bottle vigorously. Then test the temperature of the formula by squirting a drop or two on the inside or your wrist before feeding your baby. It should be lukewarm barely warm not hot.

Some parents opt to make a bottle just before each feeding, but many others choose to pre-make and refrigerate enough to use for the day. If you know your baby eats every hours, for instance, you can make six to eight bottles to last you all day. If your baby is staying with a caregiver for a long period of time, you may want to prepare just one or two bottles and leave instructions and supplies bottles, nipples, formula, and water, if necessary so the caregiver can prepare bottles as needed and not waste any formula.

After all, you'll need to throw away any mixed formula that is not used after 24 hours. You should always refrigerate any bottles you fill for later feedings to prevent bacteria from growing, as well as any open containers of ready-to-feed or concentrate formula. Throw away any mixed formula after 24 hours and any open ready-to-feed or concentrate formula after 48 hours.