Until what age should bottles be sterilized: preparation, types and methods

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

How to sterilize bottles and up to what age? These issues are especially relevant for mothers whose babies are bottle-fed, since breast milk, unlike its counterpart, is sterile in itself, that is, it does not contain pathogens. Moreover, the natural product helps to strengthen the immune system due to the content of antibodies. Babies on artificial nutrition are deprived of such protection. That is why it is very important to carefully process the baby's dishes and nipples before starting the preparation of the mixture.

Why treat baby dishes before use

Before figuring out the age to sterilize baby bottles, it's important to understand the practical implications of the procedure.

The fact is that the remains of formula milk, like the remains of mother's milk expressed into a vessel, are an excellent medium foractive reproduction of microbes and pathogenic bacteria. Some of the most dangerous are Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Even a small amount of unused baby food can cause serious illness. That is why it is very important to thoroughly clean dishes and nipples before each use in order to prevent the penetration of microbes into the fragile body of a newborn baby, which can result in an acute intestinal infection.

Doctors' opinions

Many experts not only cannot give an exact answer to the question of up to what age it is necessary to sterilize baby bottles, but also completely deny the need for this procedure. Domestic experts are convinced of the need for the procedure. Doctors in Western countries are of the exact opposite opinion. They believe that bottles and nipples do not need to be sterilized. According to them, this will enable the child's body to independently develop immunity against harmful microorganisms.

Only parents can decide whether to sterilize or not. Doctors can only give advice and instruct on how to properly handle baby dishes, and recommend up to what age bottles and nipples should be sterilized, taking into account the developmental characteristics of the baby and his state of he alth.

Types of sterilization

There are many methods of sterilization. Everyone has theirAdvantages and disadvantages. It is worth mentioning the most popular and sought-after methods for processing children's dishes:

• boiling;
• hot steam treatment;
• using a special device - a sterilizer;
• microwave sterilization;
• processing bottles and nipples in a slow cooker on a suitable mode;
• using a solution specially designed for sterilizing baby dishes.

Parents have the right to choose the method that suits them best.

General sterilization rules

Regardless of which method parents choose, prior to sterilization, pacifiers and bottles must be thoroughly rinsed to remove formula or milk residues and plaque. Only hot water should be used. Do not use special detergents. The most universal and safest is the most ordinary laundry soap, the effectiveness of which has been proven by more than one generation of mothers. For these purposes, solid baby soap is also suitable. It is not recommended to use products with a fragrance and a strong aroma.

It is recommended to rinse the bottles immediately after the end of the next feeding to prevent the milk or formula from drying out. A special brush or brush for washing dishes intended for infants will greatly facilitate the task. You can buy items in almost any children's goods store or on sites on the Internet. Particular attention when washing children's dishes is worthgive the thread on the neck.

It is very important to completely remove the detergent from the surface of the bottle and nipple. To do this, the dishes and items for children's use must be rinsed at least three times with hot water.

Domestic children's doctors strongly recommend abandoning detergents in favor of baking soda and the most ordinary s alt. In their opinion, they are the safest and do not contain any chemicals. However, if parents decide to purchase a special gel or liquid for washing, you need to choose only products specially designed for this. You can also use the dishwasher to wash dishes for your newborn.

Boiling is one of the most popular sterilization methods

The method that was very popular with our grandmothers and even great-grandmothers is boiling. The oldest and easiest method for sterilizing baby bottles and pacifiers.

The whole procedure takes no more than fifteen minutes. After washing children's dishes, the disassembled bottles are placed in boiling water for five to ten minutes. After the specified time has elapsed, carefully remove the sterilized items and place them on a clean cloth surface: towel or sheet.

You can use an ordinary dish dryer. Plastic bottles must be handled very carefully in this way. Poor quality material may melt. In this case, the dishes for feeding the baby will become unusable. That's why,before you start sterilizing plastic bottles, you need to study the instructions that are attached to the pharmacy or baby store. To avoid the unpleasant consequences of the processing procedure, you need to give preference to high quality products. Feeding bottles of the Avent and Medela brands have proven themselves well.

Microwave bottle sterilization

A very popular method of sterilizing utensils for feeding babies in the microwave. The method is quite simple. Thoroughly washed and dried products should be placed in a container with cold water, covered with a lid and microwaved for several minutes. Six to eight minutes is enough to prevent the appearance of pathogens. Bottles must be unassembled.

There are also special packages for sterilization in the microwave oven. A huge advantage of such products is the possibility of reusable use.

Using special appliances

Time does not stand still. If earlier it was customary to treat feeding bottles with boiling water, today special devices are becoming more and more in demand - electric steam bottle sterilizers.

The action algorithm is the same as in the two previous versions. Bottles disassembled in parts are placed in the apparatus. Pour into a specially designed containerwater, after which the most suitable mode is set. As a rule, the whole procedure takes no more than ten minutes. A huge advantage of electric sterilizers is the ability to simultaneously process several products for feeding a baby with expressed milk or formula. The sterility of dishes after the procedure is maintained for several hours. Which is also an indisputable advantage of a special device.

Sterilizing bottles with pharmaceutical preparations

You can also treat children's dishes with the help of preparations with antiseptic properties. This is one of the most modern methods of sterilization. The procedure is carried out in cold water. The main disadvantages are the high cost of special preparations, as well as the duration of the procedure. It will take at least half an hour. The instructions must be strictly followed when handling bottles and teats. The drug is soluble in water. Bottles with feeding accessories are placed in the resulting solution. After thirty minutes, remove the baby feeding and care products from the solution and rinse thoroughly under running warm water.

Until what age should baby bottles be sterilized?

Parents can determine the method of processing children's dishes and accessories on their own. But not all moms and dads can answer the question of how old to sterilize bottles for a child. And the opinions of experts on this matter differ. Some pediatricians are convinced thatsterilization is needed only up to six months. Other experts insist that it is necessary to process dishes for feeding a baby up to the age of one and a half years. This opinion is due to the fact that it is at this point that the immune forces of the child can independently resist intestinal infections. Until this age, the baby needs additional protection.

That's why parents should decide for themselves how old to sterilize bottles.

When sterilization is indispensable

Newly-made parents need to know not only how to properly handle dishes and up to what age to sterilize bottles for a newborn, but also in what cases one cannot do without such a procedure. Thorough disinfection should be carried out immediately after purchasing products in the store, as well as in the case of long-term use of items. In addition, you need to process the dishes if the baby has recently had a disease. This will prevent reinfection.

Before sending breast milk for long-term storage in the freezer, thoroughly rinse and sterilize the container.

Conclusion

For parents, the birth of a baby is an important and responsible event. On the shoulders of the newly minted mom and dad lies a lot of responsibilities that ensure the safety of the crumbs. One of these duties is the processing of children's dishes and accessories.

Currently, there are a huge number of ways to sterilize bottles and pacifiers. Parents have the right to choose the method that is right for them.them. New parents should also decide on their own or with the help of a qualified professional whether to sterilize baby bottles up to six months old or up to one and a half years old. Parents can follow the advice of most Western pediatric doctors and refuse the procedure altogether.