Sterlisation necessity?

[northlou]

My 6.5 month old puts pretty much everything she can find in her mouth to taste it. I don't have a problem with this unless of course it is something dangerous (unknown paint) or harmful etc.

With this in mind, I still wonder why it is that I still continue to sterlise bottles and teats so strictly.

Does anyone no longer sterlise?

Is there a more inherenant risk of bacteria with bottles, teats and formula?

I don't bother to sterlisie her spoons or water cups.

[Lochie]

I stopped sterilising at 6 months with my son, this was under my HV's advice who said 'you can stop sterilising between 6-12 months'. He is now nearly 3 and hasn't suffered as a consequence!

My daughter is 3 months old and I just wash her dummy I don't sterilise it as I figure my son is sticking his fingers in her mouth so much there is no point.

I think the main emphasis with sterilising is on bottles of milk for under 6 months old

[Strawbs]

I was wondering the same, my son is almost 8 months and on a recent visit to oz my sister in law no longer sterilises for her 9 month old. I was his bottles in the dishwasher so they are definitely very clean!

[Saffron]

Some countries are no longer recommending sterilising feeding bottles at all, even from birth. In Western countries our water is clean, and modern detergents are powerful antibacterial agents. Soap and hot water is all you need. A run through the dishwasher would be more than sufficient. xx

[jennyh]

I always understood the need to sterilise as being more to ensure there is no trace of milk left as that can be the harmful bacteria, as long as they have been thoroughly cleaned then that should be fine. Although I continued to sterilise for a year out of laziness to wash up and not having enough bottles to put them through the dishwasher and not wanting to put the dishwasher on every day!

[etta166]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Some countries are no longer recommending

> sterilising feeding bottles at all, even from

> birth. In Western countries our water is clean,

> and modern detergents are powerful antibacterial

> agents. Soap and hot water is all you need. A

> run through the dishwasher would be more than

> sufficient. xx

I got a lot of my baby kit from other European countries, and the bottles and breast pump that I have recommend that sterilizing is not necessary for healthy, full-term babies. I mostly breast-fed both my children and consequently don't know a huge amount about sterilizing bottles for formula. However, I rarely bothered sterilizing my bottles or breast pump parts, and washed in the dishwasher instead. Hot, soapy washing up water is supposed to be just as good.

[Convex]

i don't think sterilisation gets rid of milk, its the washing bit thats important for that.

I'm still sterilising and will probably continue to for now. i am not sure why!

[GSJ57]

I stopped sterilising when I found my then 5 month old chewing on the dogs chew toy!

[MichelleT]

I stopped when he started crawling - think the steam from the dishwasher does the job.

[jimbo1964]

Dishwasher defo the simplest way.

[dulwichgirl2]

I have my doubts about it and think a lot of it is making work for yourself but... Who is going to take the risk with a small baby when milk bugs can actually kill. (hence the whole recommendation.) We did it for a long time mostly it of habit and a misplaced lazy view that it saved on stringent washing!

[SBot]

I am a nanny (now a mummy) and in a previous nanny job they had a 9 month old, on day 1 of the job I asked where is the steriliser, the mum said, he licks the soles of my shoes so I don't bother anymore! And she used water from the tap, not boiled from the kettle!!

[fapl]

Did anybody else come on here expecting something different after reading the 2 children or 3 thread? :))

[Convex]

Ha ha

[Helen GV]

( puts hand up)

Doctor says I'm too young!

[Mathilda]

fapl I thought that too :)

We didn't bother much with sterilising bottles, just washed them thoroughly, ie separating all the bits and turning teats inside out. One of the books I had, What to Expect in the First Year, advises no need. Also gave tap water as a drink from quite young (although used freshly boiled water to make formula obviously).