hi everyone i was just wondering my son is 3months and i just wanted to know when i should stop sterlizing his bottles

Niki - posted on 02/28/2009

I was told to sterilize until the child becomes mobile and is crawling... thats when they become exposed to more germs making the sterilizing of bottles somewhat useless. They are all over the floor and touching things, putting all sorts of stuff in their mouths... So in our case he was about 9 months old.  I still continue to wash his bottles separtely from the rest of the kitchen dishes but only sterilize once in a while for piece of mind. He is 16 months old now. Hope that helps =)

Tania - posted on 02/28/2009

they do say to sterlise untill baby is 1 but to be honest my 7 month old is just startin to crawl so she on the floor and so are her toys and u cant sterilize carpet!?any thing she finds goes straight in the mouth so as long as u clean the bottles thouraly i think there more likely to get i'll off the floor!!!LOL!!!!

Michelle - posted on 02/28/2009

To all those who need to know. You should boil babies water for as long as possible. Its cleaner and safer and contains less magnesium and sodium. I still boil my daughters water and shes 13 months. And you should only give cow's milk after the age of 1 as it contains too much milk protein for thier stomachs to handle.

Michelle - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Alex:

hi everyone i was just wondering my son is 3months and i just wanted to know when i should stop sterlizing his bottles

Hi.

From a childcarer's point of view:

You should stop sterilising his bottles at the age of 1. You can stop sterilising bowls and spoons at around the age of 8-9 months.

Please do not do it too early as milk and food harbour bacteria especially when left throughout the day. Babies will suffer from more colds and infections if sterilisation stops too early.

If he was prem at all, you should add this time to the length of sterilising his bottles.

Hope this helps.

x

Leanne - posted on 02/28/2009

Hi my daughter was about 5-6 months, i stopped sterilizing bottles because she was on the floor moving around picking things up and putting them in her mouth (as babies do). When your little boy starts to move around on the floor their immune system is strong enough to handle little amounts of germs (which babies need to build up their immune system, especially if your little one is going to nursery because you will find he will pick every illness.)

I work in a nursery and find that doing it this way does help them. :-)

All the best, leanne x

Amanda - posted on 02/26/2009

Hi, i just stopped sterilizing about 3 weeks ago, and my boy will be 6 months in about a week. He seems fine to me! I also heard its 6 months you stop boiling, but all packages for bottles and nipples just say to sterilize after opening. I've actually been wondering myself when to stop boiling, so im glad you asked this question! lol I think what i did was i got fed up with it, time consuming and all, i just decided hot soapy water was enough! but i still and always will while my baby is on formula, boil the water i add with the formula. Well when you think of it, babies play with toys and shove them in their mouths, and when you buy them, they say just to wash in hot soapy water, so whats the difference? They both go in the mouth! Hope this helps, coming from a chick that wanted to know the same thing for SOOO long!!

By the way, nice tips from all the ladies:)

Jenni - posted on 02/26/2009

In our birthing classes we were told you do not need to sterilize bottles, etc.  The dishwasher or hot soapy water is good enough.  You do not want to leave milk standing in bottles, you should rinse with water until you are able to wash them.  Playtex directions just say to sterilize for first use and no need after that.  I do not even sterilize my breast pump equipment.  I have a family member who has always sterilized for their 17 month old and she is sick more than any kid I know.

Alex - posted on 02/26/2009

thanks girls xx

Jessica - posted on 02/26/2009

well i stopped steilizing my sons bottles at 6months its not a huge thing they just recommend that you do it!

Danialle - posted on 02/26/2009

Wow I am a horrible mom! I have never sterilized my sons bottles or anything. He is fine. I put them all in bleach once because they stunk, but other than that I just wash them in hot soapy water. I don't buy baby water either, He gets warm tap water! He is happy and healthy so I guess it is ok! :)

Samantha - posted on 02/26/2009

Quoting Alex:

hi everyone i was just wondering my son is 3months and i just wanted to know when i should stop sterlizing his bottles

hi im 23 got three kids i wouldnt stop untill they was one. but sum oeople say you can stop at 6 months. i would wait till hes one.

Sarah - posted on 02/26/2009

I agree with you Kristina. If you live in an area where the water is clean enough for you to drink then you don't have to sterilize anything. It was done in the past because the water was not as safe as it is now. Hot water and soap is good enough, you are supposed to sterilize the first time you use them though (out of the package). Also, if you have a dishwasher it does sterilize them on its own. I have 4 children and all of them are just fine :)

Joanne - posted on 02/26/2009

Hi...I think you should be fine...I stopped sterilizing now it's been about a month...so my daughter was 4 1/2 months but i have a friend who switched from breastfeeding and she doesn't sterilize her son's bottles and he's fine...and neither of us have ever sterilized the cutlery...I hope this helps.

Kristina - posted on 02/26/2009

I find it absolutely hilarious when reading everyone's answer b/c honestly I have never sterilized my son's bottles or spoons. Now I've sterilized my breast pump accessories, but never his bottles. I only hand wash everything in hot soapy water. This is my first son, and he seems fine! lol oops.

Tamara - posted on 02/26/2009

remember that a child needs to get use to the environment around them. if you just sterlize the bottles and not the bowl and spoon, whats the difference? it all goes in the mouth. if it comes from the dishwasher then you should be find or if wash by hand then wash baby items first. my son is 3 1/2 months old and i rinse under hot water after use and refill with formula then cap it and put in fridge. hes fine and my 2 yr old is fine. get them use to your environment cause not all hands, hugs and kisses are sterlized!

Christiena - posted on 02/26/2009

Yes you need to sterilize bottles because milk has so much bacteria in it that can grow really fast into bad bacteria

Christiena - posted on 02/26/2009

Hey, I think they say at 3 months you can stop boiling the water if you’re on a good water supply but should keep sterilizing the bottles because of the bacteria that is in milk products

Davina - posted on 02/26/2009

Hi I used the playtex nibbles and on the box it says only to boil them once and from then on to only was them in the sink with hot water and some soap. my son is almost 6 months and everything is perfect with him> Hope this helps 

Gem - posted on 02/26/2009

if he`s an early weener do it then, as u dont sterilize bowls and spoons! all mine needed weening by 2/3 months and didn`t come 2 any harm! my oldest is 12.

Melissa - posted on 02/26/2009

My boys are 1 and I still sterilize their bottles, sippy cups, etc. It only takes a few seconds extra to add water and turn the sterilizer on so I figure why not!

Deborah - posted on 02/26/2009

I would do it for the year!

Louise - posted on 02/26/2009

you always have to sterilise babys bottles dinlows

Jowan - posted on 02/26/2009

HI THERE U CAN STOP STERILLSING BOTTLES FROM 6MONTHS THATS WHAT MY HEALTH VISTOR AND BOOK SAY BUT I CARRIED ON TILL MY SON WAS 1 HOPE THIS HELPS U

Adrienne - posted on 02/26/2009

My dr said it was ok to stop when i asked her around 4months. but thats totally up to you. i was fine with it by then

Jessica - posted on 02/26/2009

I only sterlized the bottles when they came out of the package and once every few weeks.. my daughter is 4months. I do use the diswasher and I think this water gets hot enough to clean the bottles well. I never did this with my other children either and they are now happy, healthy 5&7 yr olds.

Corrie - posted on 02/26/2009

i did until she was about 8 months, given that now i put them through the dishwasher, i still streilize the nipples and soothers once in a while, just to keep them clean, especially if she has been sick. as for spoons and bowls, i did it once, when i took them out of the package, and that was that.

Michelle - posted on 02/26/2009

you should always sterilise bottles but do not need to sterilise bowls spoons and cups from start

x

Kelly - posted on 02/26/2009

I did it till my daugher was about 6 months.  And at that i was only doing the nipples.  The bottles i did till she was about 3 months.  I just bought a few extra nipples so that i wasnt sterilizing all day long!!  My daughter is 13 months now and she is fine!!!

Hillary - posted on 02/26/2009

I never steralized my sons bottles. I put them in the dishwasher, and that water was pretty hot. My son will be 2 in May and he is perfectly fine. I honestly believe it is a waster of time and water. =)

Joanna - posted on 02/26/2009

hi the recommendation is 1 year but you dont need to sterilise their spoons, bowls ect. next time you go to hv ask for birth to five book has all info in there/or have a look on babycentre website has loads of info hope this helps

Crystal - posted on 02/26/2009

I stoped when my son was 4 months...but i still do it every 2 weeks or so..just to be safe so he doesn't get sick and stuff.

User - posted on 02/26/2009

hiya,i stopped sterilsing when my little boy was 1.x

Nadine - posted on 02/26/2009

Honestly you will get a lot of nswers saying 6 months, one year, etc.  I only did it with my daughters bottles before the first use out of the package, then after that I just washed them in the sink with hot soapy water and rinsed them in hot water.. She is almost 3 now and perfectly fine :)  I hope this helps, becuase doing that each time for 6 months and up will begin to be a huge annoyance for you lol..

Francesca - posted on 02/26/2009

Hi, I stopped sterlising at around 6 months as by then both my boys had been weaned and I thought well you dont sterilise the bowls etc they eat from so they should be fine and they were!

Claire - posted on 02/26/2009

Bottles until they one but from about 10 mnths its ok to not sterilize 1 bottle a day to get them used to it. But spoons and bowls you can stop from about 9 mnths. Hope this helps x x

Zoe - posted on 02/26/2009

i sterilized all bottles til my daughter was 10 mths as thats when she started drinking cows milk.

Katie - posted on 02/26/2009

bottles need to be sterillised until ur son turns 1! bowls and spoons only need to be sterillised until ur child turns 6 months. hope thats of some help to u.

Kirsty - posted on 02/26/2009

i was told to stop at 6months! thats what i did wiith my first son x

Laura - posted on 02/26/2009

i did it untill my son was about one i remeber having to do all his bowls and cutlery so id wait.

Vicky - posted on 02/26/2009

Hi, ive heard that you have to keep sterilizing bottles and cutlery until there one x