Sterilizing Bottles - Tucson,AZ

I would sterilize the brand new bottles for the first time use and then use the dishwasher. The little basket that goes in the dishwasher is a must for not loosing the nipples and rings.
I did use bottles with liners and it was wonderful not having to clean them!!!
But after 4 kids I've learned you dont need to sterilize everything and my kids are as healthy as can be.
P.

Congratulations Ann on becoming a new mom in a few weeks!
I would take the advice of the mother who suggested breastfeeding. It has so many benefits for the baby and for you; baby receives your antibodies, less ear infections, less prone to allergies, formula is expensive and may actually CAUSE asthma and other allergies. Also mom's who breastfeed are less likely to get breast cancer. These are just a couple of reasons to breastfeed. There are a ton more that are just too numerous to name.

To find out more, go to www.llli.org.
Also you can speak with a lactation consultant at the hospital where you deliver or take breastfeeding classes.

If you decide not to, make sure you buy bottles that are BPA free. This harmful chemical is banned in California. I just wish the rest of the country would catch on too! BPA may cause early puberty and cancers that are "hormonal" such as breast, ovarian, and testicular cancers. Do NOT sterilize bottles that contain BPA, as heat causes the chemical to leach into the liquid that is given to the baby. Also if you decide to breastfeed, don't take in any of these liquids yourself as they are passed through breast milk.

The healhthiest and least expensive and least time consuming way is breastfeeding; the safest way to go as far as bottles is BPA free.

To finally answer your question, you only need to sterilize the bottles the first time, after that, just handwash and air dry.

Good luck and Congrats!!

I always sterilized the bottles that I pumped into. I also think sterilizing is a good idea for newborns -- especially if they are in any way extra fragile. Breastmilk has terrific antibodies but formula has none. If I were feed formula, I'd be very vigilent about sterilizing (especially for newborn).

Boobies don't have to be sterilized! :) Just breastfeed!! :) Sooo much easier, soooooooooooooooooooo much! Well, it's harder in the beginning, but way easier in the long run, and cheaper :)

Anyway, most people agree that they don't have to be sterilized nowadays, but most people also still do it! The dishwasher should be fine. But if you find yourself in a time crunch, medela makes microwave sterilization bags. Good luck with the new baby!!

I've always heard that it was actually harmful to continue sterilizing bottles in boiling water after the initial once-over. I too had a bottle sterilizer gadget, I think it was Avent brand. Fabulous!

I found a really great gadget after I had my fourth. It's the Avent microwave bottle sterilizer. They average about $30 (compared to $90 for the plug-in model which is no more effective). You just put some water in the bottom, add your cleaned bottles (washed in a sink with dish soap is fine), add the cover, and turn on the microwave. The heat boils the water and steam sterilizes all of the bottles in the dome, and it takes just a few minutes.

At this point I can't count how many bottles I have dealt with over the years, and this is the easiest way I have found. It is on my list of necessities for my sixth, due this month. Here is a link to it:

http://www.nextag.com/avent-bottle-sterilizer/search-html

I wish you the best! :)

Congrats on the baby to come! Sterilizing is usually a one time thing then you can put them in the dishwasher for regular use.
I don't know if you were planning to breastfeed or just bottle or both... I will chime in with the others who say breastfeeding is best... BUT I will also say that even just a little breastmilk is wonderful. I had planned to breastfeed my first but didn't have enough breastmilk... some people have this issue others have completely the opposite. After 3 kids and having to supplement to some degree every time I have been able to relax and know that even a little bit of breastmilk helps them even if its from a bottle. My first daughter didn't get really sick till she was 14 months old. So those antibodies from the little bit of breastmilk she got really helped her.
Good luck and God bless with your pregnancy and your new little one come September.

Congrats on your upcoming arrival!! I wish I had known with my first baby (now 3) about the Medela Quick Clean micro-steam bag (I now have a 4 month old). Now, after I pump or feed the baby, I do a quick brush of the parts, and put the parts in the bag. Two minutes in the microwave, and it says it kills 99.9% of most harmful bacteria and germs. They come 5 in a pack, and you get 20 uses out of each bag. They are about $5.00/pack at Babies-r-us (I haven't seen them elsewhere). My thought is this gets the parts cleaner than the dishwasher would. Have fun! BTW, I agree with the BPA-free - didn't know that first time around either, but all my bottles are the 'safe' ones now.

For newborns, and for at least the first 6-8 months, you should sterilize EVERYTHING, after every use. The dishwasher will leave a residue that can make your baby sick--and so can anti-bacterial dish soap so you should switch to regular for a while. It is a PAIN, but worth it. My niece got really sick from dishwashered bottles/nipples and from the anti-bacterial soap. Check out the microwave steamers out there--you can find one pretty cheap and they make the porcess soooo much easier.
Good luck and best wishes!

Good morning,

I have a 17 month old daughter and I always put all bottle parts in the dishwasher followed by boiling all parts as the dishwasher soap can leave a residue in addition to any food particles that may still be left behind! The boiling process is done in a blink of an eye!

Good luck!

Hi A.,

You will only need to do it once! The dishwasher gets them sterile enough during the dry cycle! I use to do mine every once in a while just because it made me feel better, but after my first I stopped! Good luck!

Regular washing will be fine here on out. If using a dishwasher top rack only.

Something to think about before you open everything. I wish I had know this. Are these plastic bottles? If so, are the BPA free? If not, I would consider doing a little research and deciding if these are the bottles for you. I found out about it a little late and now we are making the decision to go out and buy all new bottles. Pain in the butt!!! Here is an article. It was one that came up when I googled bpa in bottles. Congrats and best of luck!

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/114/bpa

Not necessary after the first time. I used the dishwasher at first, but soon realized for me that hand-washing was just fine (with OK from pediatrician). Lots of HOT soapy water, and a very thorough HOT water rinse, then air dry.
Congratulations!

Hi my name is H., and I just had a baby girl in February. Another mom had suggested to me to forego the boiling of the bottle parts in a pot, and buy the microwavable steam bags at Babies R Us. There are 5 bags to a box for about $5, but you get 20 usages to 1 bag. The idea of it is to put your bottle parts (I also put baby spoons, and pacifiers, etc.) in the bag with 2 oz. of water and put in the microwave for 3 mins. on high. Use caution- the bag comes out steaming hot! The parts come out cleaned and sterilized. The down side is is you cannot put the actual bottles in the bag- I hand wash mine, and you do have to rinse your bottle parts before putting them in the bag. I love it, and I hope it works for you!

Bottles need to be sterilized after each washing until baby is at least 3 months, 6 months is better.