When it comes to caring for your baby, cleanliness is usually a high priority (along with sleep and sanity). A topic that comes up often is the proper sterilization of baby bottles. But how important is it? If sterilization is important, how long should you do it?
In this post, we’ll explore the reasons for sterilizing baby bottles, the different methods you can use, and how long it takes to do so.
Is sterilization necessary?
It is important to clean bottles well enough to remove harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause infections or digestive problems in babies. This is especially important in the first few months when their little immune systems are still developing.
However, sterilizing your bottles becomes less critical by promoting reliable water supplies.
Most experts recommend sterilizing bottles before their first use (you never know what they might have seen on the way to the store) and sterilizing them continuously if your baby is premature, has health issues or doesn’t have access to clean drinking water.
From then on, thorough cleaning and disinfection should suffice.
I had a bit of a debate when I wrote this post because “sterilization” and “sterilization” are technically two different things.
Decontamination reduces microorganisms at a safe level, while sterilization removes all microorganisms.
The problem is that most people Google “sterilize” when it comes to bottles, nipple attachments, pacifiers, etc., so I had to make that adjustment in a few places so people could find the information.
Bottle cleaning methods
There are many effective methods for cleaning baby bottles, each with advantages and disadvantages.
Boiling water
One of the simplest ways to sterilize baby bottles is to boil them and is often recommended before using the bottles for the first time.
Simply immerse the bottles and teats in water and let them boil for at least 5-10 minutes. (Check the manufacturer’s instructions for additional instructions.) This method effectively kills bacteria, but requires careful handling.
🟢 Advantages
- cheap
- it doesn’t take up extra space
🔴 Disadvantages
- it can be inconvenient when you have to remove the bottles
- time consuming – it’s not set and forget it
Warm soapy water
While not strictly a sterilization method, washing bottles with warm soapy water is still a great way to keep bottles clean. It’s important to note that the CDC recommends using a separate container and drying towels to ensure you don’t contaminate the bottles with anything handy in your sink — nothing like drying the bottles with the towels you used to dry the dog’s paws.
🟢 Advantages
🔴 Disadvantages
- time consuming
- you have to watch out for cross contamination
Dishwasher
- Many dishwashers have a sanitizing cycle that effectively sterilizes bottles, teats and other baby essentials such as pacifiers. Place bottles on the top rack and use a heated drying cycle to maximize cleaning. You’ll probably want to buy a dishwasher basket to keep track of all the small parts.
🟢 Advantages
- it uses something you may already have
- cleans and dries
- it does not take up extra space
🔴 Disadvantages
- washing with other dirty dishes (some people don’t like this)
- you need an extra basket to track small pieces
- there is some argument as to whether a dishwasher can actually sterilize or disinfect
Microwave steam sterilizer
Steam sterilizers or sterilization bags are designed for use in the microwave and can be a quick and easy option. Just fill them with water and the cleaned bottles, then microwave them for a while. A microwave sterilizer is inexpensive and microwave bag steamers are lightweight and ideal for on-the-go sterilization.
🟢 Advantages
- portable and light
- affordable
- space saving
- easy to use
🔴 Disadvantages
- you need access to a microwave
- The escaping steam can be very hot
- must be removed to dry
Bottle sterilizer
Electric sterilizers are specialized devices that effectively disinfect baby bottles and accessories using steam, heat or UV light at the touch of a button – sort of like a mini dishwasher just for baby bottles.
Products can often stay sterile for 24 hours in the closed sterilizer, which is a nice bonus if you’re worried about them staying clean before use. They are user-friendly and can sterilize multiple bottles at once, making them a convenient option for busy parents.
🟢 Advantages
- can sterilize multiple items at once
- can let the bottles dry inside
- set it and forget it
🔴 Disadvantages
- expensive
- takes up counter space
How often should you spay?
According to the CDC, if your baby is less than 2 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness (such as HIV) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer), you should disinfect food items daily (or more often ).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is surprisingly lax about bottle sterilization and places more emphasis on safe preparation and storage of the contents than on the bottles themselves. They find that washing the bottles in warm, soapy water and making sure there is no residue left in the bottles is enough.
It’s also worth noting that many pediatricians recommend sterilizing your bottles and pacifiers if your child is sick or has thrush.
How often should bottles be cleaned?
It is important to clean the bottles thoroughly rather than just rinsing them after each feed. Germs can multiply quickly in bottles that have breast milk or formula in them, so if your child doesn’t finish their bottle within two hours, it’s best to throw away any leftovers.
When to stop sterilization
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends sanitizing bottles until your healthy baby is over 2 months old. The UK National Health Service (NHS) recommends up to 12 months of age. (Like every 10-month-old snacking on something he found between the couch cushions.) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) isn’t too picky about sterilizing and suggests that daily sterilizing may not be necessary if bottles are cleaned properly.
Conclusion on bottle sterilization
Whether you boil, sterilize or wash your bottles by hand, making sure your bottles are free of harmful germs is especially important in the first few months. Most experts are more concerned with thorough cleaning rather than complete sterilization of bottles, which many parents find reassuring.
How you clean your bottles often comes down to time, budget and storage space, so it’s worth considering how much of all three you have when choosing a method.
The only thing that seems universal is finding an abandoned, half-full bottle behind the couch one day – you’re going to burn it on the lawn.
What method do you use? Would you recommend it?
See also: Formula Feeding Basics: What to Do and What You’ll Need
