When can I stop sterilizing my baby's bottles?

my baby is 3 and a half months old and I have been sterilizing his bottles since he was born. when can I stop sterilizing his bottles?

Hi,

The short answer to your question is you can stop now. It is not necessary to sterilize bottles, nipples, or formula.

To understand recommendations on whether to sterilize or not, it is important to realize the history of why sterilization was necessary in the past. In the 17th and 18th century there was a very high mortality rate for infants fed cow's milk. When pasteurization became available, technology allowed for sterile condensed milk to be used for infant feeding. However, during this time, the public water supplies remained largely unmonitored and formula was usually made in batches and left unrefrigerated, Thus, bacterial contamination tended to be a problem.

Therefore, it became commonplace to sterilize the water, bottles and nipples. However, by the 1950s, city water supplies became much better monitored and free of bacterial contamination.

Studies were done back in the 1950s, which showed that babies could be safely fed formula made with clean (not sterile) bottles/nipples and tap water.

However, by then, sterilization was so commonplace that it was difficult for doctors to stop recommending the practice to their patients, and it was also difficult for grandmothers to stop recommending it to their daughters.

In summary, formula prepared with city-treated tap water in the U.S. is as safe as sterilized formula. United States water from wells, cisterns or other sources should probably be sterilized by boiling for at least 10 minutes, plus one additional minute for every 1,000 feet of your city's elevation.

HI I THINK ITS BEST NOT TO STOP STERILISING YOUR BABYS BOTTLES UNTIL HES A YEAR OLD , I DID THIS WITH MY TWO CHILDREN AND THINK IT WAS THE BEST OPTION BY A YEAR OLD YOUR BABY HAS BUILT A BETTER IMMUNE TO THE BUGS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN WATER ETC/IT IS A LONG OLD DRAG BUT YOU WILL GET THERE

Why not stay on the safe side - sterilize.

Dear shawnamarie,
During their first year of life, babies are at their most vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and parasitic infections, which can lead to anything from a mild attack of thrush to the more serious condition of gastroenteritis. This is an illness similar to food poisoning, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and subsequent dehydration.
Before sterilization was the norm, thousands of infant deaths were caused by this condition. The cases we see now, which are rarely as serious, are often connected to inadequate sterilizing procedures. It is not possible or practical to create a totally germ-free environment for your baby but you can reduce the risks during his vulnerable first year.
Sue...good luck

From the moment the 'sterilized' bottle come in contact with the air, it is once again, not sterile. Unless the bottle is taken into a 'clean room' where EVERYTHING has been sterilized including yourself. Cleaning with hot, soapy tap water is plenty adequate for your baby and the dishwasher also does the job. My sons are very healthy and have super immune systems. I didn't 'sterilize' their bottles, I washed them. I didn't boil his water either because I wanted to make sure he got the flouride in the water for healthy teeth. 12 years old and no cavities yet! I have a two year old that has not had any ear infection and rarely even gets a cold. Sterilizing bottles and water TODAY is NOT necessary and you are being a tad over-protective. Especially if you continue to do it for a year! I know, sometimes we just wish we could put our babies in a germ-free bubble! Protect them from the big bad world. Relax. You are a good mommy!

let someone else do it 4 a couple days

Sterilizing bottles and water TODAY is NOT necessary and you are being a tad over-protective.

That is not true.
If there is a problem with a water source, it takes a few weeks to receive a notice, most problems will not effect adults, but it will a child / infant.

Most dishwashers have a sterilization at the end, or high steam / heat function but you have to watch out for chemicals 'Jet Dry' in ALL new dishwashers, it will line the bottles, you will also cross contaminate.

Monicacharlene,

You boil the wather to kill parasites and bacteria. IT DOES NOT take out flouride, nor will it take out any other chemicals. this is why you should have your water tested, or use filtered water.

sterilizing bottles is over rated now. Dishwashers are the easiest thing to use.

The real answer to the question is... what did they do before fire and all this sterilization nonsense... breastfeed. And what did they do before dishwashers? Hand wash. Quit being so damn paranoid and use distilled water from the store for your babies bottles, it's less than a dollar a gallon. And quit being lazy, wash the bottles and nipples thougholy with soap and water and rinse in a heavily diluted bleach water solution (99% water and 1% bleach) followed by a clean water rinse. Gramas recipe, and we are all still here to talk about it.

Why would you want to quit sterilizing? Quit being lazy, and start doing everything you can to insure your baby is healthy and happy EVERYDAY.

chill people!!! I stopped being paranoid about sterilising my sons bottles a month ago, he is now 10 months old and he has never been ill or shown any signs of it! I clean them thouroughly obviously with dish washing liquid and a bottle brush and rinse thouroughly, and we're ready to go!! it takes two minutes and everyones happy!!! there is NO such thing as a lazy mother!!!

My baby is 7 months now...going to stop steaming the bottles...I also think it is unnecessary from say around about 4 months. They in anyways put everything into their mouths!