How to sterilize baby bottles?

How to sterilize baby bottles? This question is asked by every mother whose baby is breast-fed. All pediatricians unanimously recommend thoroughly washing and sterilizing items intended for feeding a small child. How to do it right? To what age does it make sense to sterilize children's dishes?

Why sterilize bottles?

Children who are breast-fed receive a mixture of special baby bottles. Every mother knows that the immune system of the newborn is not yet formed and any interference with his body can be fatal. That is why Russian pediatricians advise cleaning and sterilizing all items used to feed children. Also, do not forget about the pacifiers and nipples that the baby uses in the first years of life.

Not all doctors in the world share the opinion of Russian pediatricians. In Europe, by contrast, doctors do not advise sterilizing bottles and soothers for babies. According to Western doctors, the child should grow in vivo, and not get used to sterility from birth. What should I do? The only true answer to this question is not provided. Each mother should choose the best tactics for herself and adhere to it when feeding her baby.

Women who are breast-feeding breast-milk can also benefit from the skills to sterilize dishes for newborns at home. Sometimes young mothers have to go home for their business, and then dad or grandmother can feed the baby. It is only important to prepare clean bottles in advance and express milk there. How to prepare and sterilize dishes for a child?

Sterilization preparation

Before sterilization, thoroughly wash all children's dishes. Bottles must be washed to the bottom and cleaned of food debris. Experts recommend using baking soda or special cleaning products to clean dishes. Reliably get rid of the remnants of milk or mixture will help brushes that penetrate to the bottom of baby bottles for feeding. Before washing, the pacifier must be removed and processed separately.

Children's dishes can also be washed in the dishwasher. Pediatricians recommend doing this separately from washing the cups and plates of the rest of the family. In the dishwasher, you also need to use special mild detergents.

4 ways to sterilize bottles

• Boiling.

Sterilizing boiling water feeding bottles is the most affordable and well-known way to disinfect dishes. Pediatricians advise boiling bottles and soothers of a child from birth to the age of 1.5 years. The boiling scheme is simple and accessible to every young mother. A bottle without a nipple is placed in a container of boiling water. Boil for at least 5 minutes, after which all items are removed from the pot with water and laid out on a clean, dry towel. When the sterilized dishes have cooled, they can be used to feed the baby.

Tip

Remember that not all bottles can be boiled. Use only high-quality children's dishes!

• Microwave.

At home, it is not necessary to constantly boil bottles for a child. You can clean dishes and make them safe for feeding using a conventional microwave. Bottles and pacifiers are placed in a pot of water and tightly closed with a lid. Before starting microwave sterilization, the nipple must be removed and put separately.

How long does sterilization take? As practice shows, 5-7 minutes in the microwave is enough to destroy all pathogenic bacteria and make dishes for the newborn perfectly clean. Many parents like this method, and more and more often modern mothers and fathers prefer microwave sterilization. In addition, many bottle manufacturers produce their products ready for such a procedure. You no longer need to lower the children's dishes in a pot of water, just put the bottles in the microwave and press the "start" button. During sterilization, they do not deform and do not lose their properties.

Tip

Read the instructions for children's dishes before starting disinfection.

• Electric steam sterilizer.

Thinking about how to sterilize the bottles, many parents prefer to entrust this process with “smart” technology. A steam sterilizer is the most modern way to quickly and efficiently clean baby bottles and soothers. You no longer need to boil the dishes and worry if they deteriorate under the influence of high temperatures. Sterilization takes place in a special apparatus. Before starting work, pour water into the sterilizer and set the desired mode. Sterilization time is about 10 minutes.

A steam sterilizer is not only simple, but also very convenient. At one time, the device allows you to disinfect up to 6 items. After completing work, children's dishes can be left under the sterilizer lid. All bottles and nipples will remain sterile for 6 hours after turning off the device.

• Antiseptic pills.

Sterilization with antiseptic tablets takes place in cold water. The method is quite simple: you just need to dissolve the drug in a container of water and put all the children's dishes there. The pacifier from the bottle must first be removed. Sterilization lasts half an hour under a closed lid. The spent solution can be used during the day. All this time, antiseptic tablets retain their properties and effectively destroy dangerous bacteria. After the procedure, rinse all the dishes with clean boiled water.

Many parents are wondering: at what age should baby bottles be sterilized? The opinions of pediatricians on this issue were divided. Some doctors argue that boil and process the dishes should be up to 5-6 months. Other experts are inclined to think that it is necessary to sterilize nipples and bottles for at least 1.5 years. Most parents prefer to sterilize all the time while the baby is using bottles and dummies.