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A guide to washing, sterilizing, and storing baby bottles
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Sterilizing baby bottles removes germs and bacteria that can make your baby sick, ensuring that your little one has a safe, clean way to get the nutrition they need. Baby bottles stay safe and sterile for 24 hours when you store them in a clean, closed cabinet, a sealed container in the refrigerator, or a sterilizer. Keep reading to learn more about how to store sterilized baby bottles, as well as how to properly clean and sanitize them.
Storing Sterilized Bottles
Store sterile baby bottles in a clean cabinet or set them in a clean, sealed container and place them in your refrigerator. If you’re sterilizing your bottles with a sterilizer, simply keep them in the machine. Store sterile bottles for up to 24 hours before sterilizing them again.
Steps
Section 2 of 4:
Preparing to Store Baby Bottles
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Wash your hands before touching the sterile bottles. Use soap and water to wash your hands thoroughly before handling sterile baby bottles. [5] X Expert Source Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. This helps prevent the transfer of bacteria and germs from your hands to the bottles. [6] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source- As an extra precaution, handle the baby bottles with sterilized tongs instead of your washed hands. [7] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
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Let the sterile bottles air dry completely on a clean dishcloth. [8] X Expert Source Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. Remove the baby bottles from the pot, sterilizer, or dishwasher you sterilized them in and place them on a clean dishcloth. Spread out all the parts, including the nipple, attachment rings, and bottle, and let them air dry completely. [9] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source- Air drying the sterilized bottle parts helps prevent germs and mold from growing in any crevices.
- Do not dry the parts with a towel, as this can spread germs and bacteria onto the bottles.
- If you’re storing the baby bottles inside the sterilizer, skip this step.
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Reassemble the sterile baby bottles. Once the baby bottle parts are completely air-dried, put the bottle back together for easier storage. Or, if you prefer to store the parts separately, leave them disassembled. [10] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
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Sanitize the cabinet or container you’re storing the bottles in. [11] X Expert Source Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. Before storing the sterilized baby bottles in a cupboard or drawer, thoroughly clean the cabinet with sanitizing wipes or disinfecting soap and a clean cloth. If you’re storing the baby bottles in a container in the refrigerator, wash the container with dish soap and hot water or run it through the dishwasher. [12] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source- If you’re storing the baby bottles in a sterilizer, skip this step.
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Section 3 of 4:
Cleaning Baby Bottles
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Take apart the bottle and rinse the pieces with water. Before you sterilize baby bottles , it’s important to completely clean them out. Separate the bottle, nipple, screw cap, and lid and run them under warm water to remove any leftover milk or formula. [13] X Research source
- Note : Wash your hands thoroughly before washing the bottles.
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Scrub the bottle parts with hot water, dish soap, and a bottle brush. Fill a clean container with hot water and several drops of dish soap. Then, add the bottle parts and use a clean bottle brush to scrub each part. Make sure to squeeze the hot, soapy water through the nipple, too. [14] X Research source
- Only use the bottle brush to clean baby bottles; do not use the same brush that you clean other dishes with.
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Rinse the bottle parts with clean water. Run the bottle parts under cold or warm water to remove the soapy water. Squeeze clean water through the nipple to ensure it’s free of soap, too. [15] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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Dry the bottles on a towel if you’re not sterilizing them immediately. Lay down a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area that’s free from dirt and dust. Then, place the bottle parts and bottle brush on the towel to air dry. [16] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat mistakes can I avoid when sterilizing my baby's bottles?Mor Levy Volner is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant based in Southern California. She earned a BS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis in 2009 and finished her Lactation Consultant course from the University of California, San Diego Extension Program in 2013, which included 300 hours of lactation consulting experience from Kaiser Permanente. She also has an MS in Dietetics/Nutrition from the California State University - Northridge in 2014.Make sure not to go to either side of the extremes, meaning you should avoid either cleaning your baby bottle too much and too little. If you're over boiling plastic or heating up the bottle too often, that could be a risk. You don't need to boil it for an hour, but you also should avoid not cleaning it all. You still want to make sure that it is cleaned adequately. Try learning balance and understand that these tasks don't need to correspond to any extremes. As new moms, you may get really anxious and feel like things must be done just right. Try to take a deep breath and realize everything is going to be okay.
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QuestionWhat is the best way to sterilize a baby bottle?Mor Levy Volner is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant based in Southern California. She earned a BS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis in 2009 and finished her Lactation Consultant course from the University of California, San Diego Extension Program in 2013, which included 300 hours of lactation consulting experience from Kaiser Permanente. She also has an MS in Dietetics/Nutrition from the California State University - Northridge in 2014.There are so many ways you can sterilize a baby bottle. You can use a microwave, boiling water, warm soapy water in the sink, and the dishwasher. Just make sure you clean correctly and avoid any shortcuts.
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Tips
- Use the stored sterilized bottles within 24 hours to ensure your baby’s safety. [22] X Research sourceThanks
- If you store the baby bottles for longer than 24 hours, re-sterilize them to kill any germs and bacteria. [23] X Research sourceThanks
- The CDC recommends sterilizing baby bottles every 24 hours if your baby is under 2 months old, born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system. [24] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/sterilising-bottles/
- ↑ https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20220407/49fc135ad4b245f29deeae7000294b1e.pdf
- ↑ Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/sterilising-bottles/
- ↑ Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/sterilising-bottles/
- ↑ Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/sterilising-baby-bottles/
- ↑ https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20220407/49fc135ad4b245f29deeae7000294b1e.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Health_Promotion_Services/docs/resources/PreparingArtificialFeedsAmendedSESLDMay2018.pdf
- ↑ ​​ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html
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