Sterilizing bottles for newborns: procedure, proven methods and advice from experienced parents

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

With the advent of a newborn in the house, the chores associated with his care only increase. Mothers try to completely protect the baby from the influence of pathogenic microflora that can harm his fragile body. It is important to monitor the hygiene of the baby and his necessary supplies for feeding. To avoid the negative impact of intestinal infections on the children's body, it is necessary to properly sterilize bottles for newborns. The article will discuss the proper organization of the process, its stages, proven methods and methods.

Should bottles be sterilized

Pediatricians insist on the correct conduct of this process. After all, milk mixtures are a nutrient medium for the development and reproduction of microbes and E. coli. They contain a large amountsugars, lactose, yeast and lactobacilli. If you leave formula on the table, it will become moldy faster than all other products and will emit an unpleasant odor.

In the last century, there was virtually no need to sterilize baby bottles, due to the fact that almost every woman breastfed her baby up to 1 year and older. Modern life, accompanied by stress and the negative impact of the environment, leads to the fact that many babies need artificial feeding. A woman's breast milk is not enough or it is completely absent. This negatively affects the body of the newborn.

But with mother's milk, he gets a lot of vitamins and essential enzymes that strengthen the baby's immune system. At the same time, the children's body can fight some of the bacteria.

E. coli can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and its effects include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and dehydration.

To avoid this, moms should sterilize baby bottles, nipples and teething rings.

Among foreign pediatricians, there are many opponents of the disinfection of children's dishes and supporters of the theory of the development of the body's protective functions through its interaction with pathogenic microflora. Among them, and the famous pediatrician Komarovsky. He is sure that it is enough to wash the children's dishes with detergent and then rinse them with water. Sterilization, boiling and other methods lead to the developmentallergic reactions in children who grew up in a germ-free environment.

On the other hand, a baby who is beginning to crawl puts everything he finds on the floor into his mouth. Therefore, for the development of the immune system, microbes abound.

Sterilized bottles, nipples and other utensils protect the baby's weak body from the influence of E. coli and other microbes.

Parent Tips

Until when should bottles be sterilized? As the baby grows, this question disappears by itself. After 5-6 months, they begin to feed him, and the children's dishes are not sterilized. Just wash thoroughly.

At about a year, the need for milk mixtures will disappear, so it is not necessary to sterilize bottles for newborns. By this time, the children's body will get stronger, will be able to resist microbes from the immediate environment.

Baby's dishes should be washed with special detergents and rinsed thoroughly.

Preparation for the sterilization process

Before buying baby bottles, moms need to decide how to process them:

1. Glass perfectly tolerate all types of heat and microwave treatment, do not change shape and serve for a long time. But at the same time, such bottles can be beaten or cracked on impact.
2. Plastic do not break, but can change shape under the influence of high temperatures. Also, such products may darken.

Sterilization of plastic bottles for newborns is somewhat different from glass ones. This is to reduce the timeprocessing.

When the baby starts to hold the bottle on his own, the plastic bottle is safer in this case. It won't break or hurt the baby. Most materials tolerate basic processing well.

Prepare newborn bottles for home sterilization immediately after feeding. Preliminarily, food remains are removed from them. Do not leave formula in baby dishes for a long time, this can lead to the rapid multiplication of pathogenic microflora.

How to wash baby bottles before sterilization? They are treated with natural means (soda, s alt, mustard). You can use ready-made dishwashing detergents - "Eared Nanny" and others.

Processing steps include:

• wash and rinse the bottle;
• using a brush to clean the entire surface of children's dishes, especially the bottom and neck;
• wash thoroughly.

Next, choose the most convenient way to sterilize baby bottles. After the procedure, children's dishes are dried.

Steam treatment

This method of sterilizing bottles for newborns - is one of the most famous and affordable. He has several options.

The easiest way is to hold the dishes over the spout of the kettle. The washed bottle is held with an oven mitt above the steam jet with the neck down. The nipple is filled with hot water from the same kettle.

Keep baby bottles over steam for a long timetime, so you can use another method. Put a pot of water on the stove, put a wire rack for hot pans on the bottom and place children's dishes on it.

The steamer is also great for sterilizing baby bottles at home. It will also fit all the pacifiers, dental rings.

The right amount of water is poured into the steamer, grates are installed and children's dishes are placed. Processing time - 10-15 minutes.

Dishes can be taken out not immediately, but gradually. If you process the bottle caps, then they can be closed. Sterility is maintained for 6 hours.

How to boil dishes

Sterilization of baby bottles can be done with a simple and quick method. Boiling is carried out in a pot with a wide bottom, where all the children's dishes can fit.

It is most convenient to choose a pallet that will protect plastic bottles from deformation when touching the hot bottom and walls of the container.

The boiling process is as follows:

• pour water into the pot;
• put bottles in it, completely filling them with liquid;
• cover and put on fire;
• after boiling, stand for 10 minutes;
• Use a large spoon to remove the dishes from the pan and spread on a towel.

Bottles should be handled separately from teats. The saucepan must be usedonly for processing baby utensils.

Microwave

The main rule that is important to observe when processing in the microwave is the absence of any shiny rim on the dishes.

Microwave sterilization of baby bottles "Avent" and other manufacturers is carried out in several ways. It must be taken into account that the liquid is heated under the influence of waves.

Sterilization method in glass pan:

• pour into a container of water;
• fold the bottles without leaving any air in them;
• cover;
• set the intensive heating mode - 5-7 minutes.

The following processing method is designed to heat water poured into the dish itself, without using an additional container:

• pour into bottles of 40 ml of water;
• put them inside the microwave;
• turn on the heat for 10-15 minutes.

The bottled water will boil and sterilize them. After the process, they should be completely hot. If any part is not warmed up, you need to repeat the procedure. It is impossible to close the bottles with caps so that they do not burst when the water expands.

Using a multicooker

Sterilization of bottles for newborns at home is carried out as follows. Water is poured into the multicooker pot and dishes, and the soup or porridge mode is turned on, and sometimes stewing.

Using the second method, plastic bottles, nipples and pacifiers can be processed:

• pour 400-600 ml of water into the multicooker;
• set grid;
• bottles are placed upside down on it;
• turn on the appropriate mode.

If the dishes cannot be placed standing up, they are placed sideways. It takes 20-30 minutes to process it.

In the oven

Sterilization of baby bottles is carried out in the oven as follows:

• dishes are placed sideways on the sheet;
• set the temperature for plastic bottles to 80-90 degrees, and for glass - 100-110 degrees;
• the timer is set depending on the material of the dishes for 10 or 20 minutes.

The bottles are taken out with an oven mitt and placed on a dry towel. Cold water must be avoided as glass may break as a result.

You can use another method. Water bottles are placed on the grate, just like in a microwave. They are placed in a cold oven, turn on the heat to 50 degrees, and then increase the temperature.

Special Bottle Sterilizer

This way of processing children's dishes is the most convenient. Manufacturers have tried to provide families with newborns with the most necessary things in everyday life. Well-known brands include devices from Philips Avent, Chicco and others.

The principle of operation is similar to sterilizing baby bottles in the microwave. The required amount of water is poured into its lower container, and the dishes are placed with their necks down. Expose the necessarythe mode during which the bottles are processed.

Using antiseptic tablets

This method of handling bottles is quite new and is used by active mothers who are forced to travel for a long time. The action of antiseptic tablets is no less effective than other types of dishwashing.

You can buy them at a pharmacy or a specialized store. Several tablets are dissolved in water, where baby bottles, nipples and pacifiers are placed. Soak for 30-40 minutes, then rinse with antiseptic and dry.

This type of processing of bottles beats off the smell of milk from them. This should be taken into account, because children in such a situation may refuse to take the mixture. In addition, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for preparing a solution for disinfection.

Pediatrician opinions on sterilization

Some of the children's doctors do not support procedures that ensure the sterility of children's dishes. Many pediatricians do not believe that newborn bottles should be sterilized.

They believe that such antiseptic conditions lead to the development of allergies in the child, and also provoke the body to react acutely to viruses and bacteria, which are much more difficult than in ordinary children.

At the same time, pediatricians are sure that this is not a reason for a complete lack of hygiene, since ordinary cleanliness is the key to the he alth of children and adults. However, to sterilize containers that have contained formula or breast milk,required.

The remains of the mixture that the child has not finished eating are not subject to further storage. They must be poured out, and the bottle washed and sterilized.

The process of processing baby dishes is very necessary for a newborn, especially in the first months after birth. Mom can use the sterilization methods that are most convenient for her.