stop sterilising

Bianca - posted on 07/28/2010

I have a steriliser where you just put the bottle is and press a button, it takes the same amount of time or less as if you were to wash them out. My son is eight months old and I will continue to use it until he dosn't have bottles anymore, I also did the same with my first son till he was just over 1 :)

Nicole - posted on 07/28/2010

I stopped at six months. Your children need to be exposed to some germs or they will not have a strong enough immune system for more serious illnesses. Sterilizing once a week to keep bacteria build up from happening is wise but not every time. Just be sure to wash them extremely well.

Gabriela - posted on 07/27/2010

My baby was premmie, and in the Special Care Baby Unit, all moms used sterile pump kits to express. However, I have to point out that we would use a sterile kit and wash it over and over again for 24 hours, then a new sterile kit would be used. However, I've used a nipple shield with my baby (she had a hard time attaching because she was soooo small) and I would only sterilize it every couple of days, just wash and dry with paper towels after each use.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/27/2010

I sterilized with my first child for like a week until her doctor said it was not needed. Only time that sterilization is NEEDED is new bottles, bottle's that have not been used in a while, new sippy cups etc.

Cara - posted on 07/27/2010

I never sterilized my daughters bottles, cups, etc except when they were new. I know there's gonna be several moms thinking how horrible I must be, but that being said. My daughter was very rarely sick. On the rare occasion she did get sick it was a little bit of a cold or something like that and only during cold season. I think it just depends on the mom and what she prefers. Oh and I boiled the binkies at first too. Tho as she got older there were times I'd just use them right from the package and she has still never had any problems

Nicole - posted on 07/27/2010

I think all I ever sterilized was the bottles and pacifiers when they were new and then only with my first born. I have 3 now and I have always put their stuff in the dishwasher. I have never had a problem and have actually been in a store with a screaming baby and used the pacifier or bottle right out of the pack.

Sarah - posted on 07/27/2010

I had stopped sterilizing by then, I just soaked the in hot water (from the tap) and used soap, and when I rinsed them I used pure hot water rinsed them out 3 or 4 times, my cousin did it the same way with both her boys, if they smell like soap then rinse them again

Amanda - posted on 07/27/2010

i sterilized the bottles once before he was born and now i throw them in the dishwasher to sterilize everyone once in awhile. other than that i wash them in warm, soapy water.

Cassie - posted on 07/27/2010

I stopped at 6 months, thats when they have an immune system...

Jackie - posted on 07/27/2010

I never sterilized any of my sons bottles, pacifiers, or toys. He's hardly ever sick. I did wash them in hot water though since we had a house dog at the time. Now bath toys are a totally different story. They arfe a breeding ground for bacteria that is washed off in one bath and given right back in another. I do advise you to soak them in bleach water once a week and if they're the type that are squirtable then be sure you fill them up and squirt them alot since these are the ones kids seem to put in their mouths alot. They do grow mold on the inside.

Kristen - posted on 07/27/2010

i have always used bio degradeable dish soap and hot water for my sons toys since birth, always rise the soap off with hot water, and dry right after is possible, and if there is a dish washer at home, and if some toys are dish washer safe, put them in seperatly from dishes. that should also do the trick. hope this was help full.

Synquis - posted on 07/27/2010

I only used bottles for a few weeks and in that time i only sterilized them once. My son is in great health and happy. I wouldn't worry about it. I hear that germs are bad but at the sametime babys need them so that when they get older they don't sick as much. I think as long as you done it at least once and your baby is happy with a full belly, they should be fine.

Tracy - posted on 07/27/2010

The booklet I got from the health unit says you can stop steralizing at 4 months. But I steralize the bottle nipples for as long as my children are on bottles. I just simply wash them in hot soapy water then pour boiling water over top of them in a bowl, let sit for 5 minutes then drain. I wash the bottles themselves in hot soapy water, and every once in a while boil them in a big pot of water to give them a really good clean.
Hope that helps

Laura - posted on 07/27/2010

I never sterilized any of my kids bottles...I'm a nurse and tend not to be over germaphobic! Over sterilizing only leads to a weakened immune system and more allergies! My kids are 10, 2 with twins on the way...all healthy with no allergies and rarely even get a cold. My nephews on the other hand, are sick with colds and tons of allergies all the time! They're mother sanitizes their hands like every 5 minutes and freaks over ever little germ around! You need some form a bugs around to help you develop that immune system!

Gina - posted on 07/27/2010

I would sterilize my bottles before their first use and then never did it again aftre that. I have 3 kids and babysit a baby and no problems at all with any of them. as long as you wash them good everything will be fine.

Rachael - posted on 07/27/2010

When I was an infant my mother asked my pediatrician the same question. He asked her if she sterilized her nipples before she breast fed me. When my father was around 6 months old his mother caught him offering his bottle to the family dog for a few licks before putting it right back into his own mouth, she stopped sterilizing then. The medical world has found that over sterilizing a baby's environment could lead to increased risk for the development of allergies and asthma. When a doctor friend asked what I still needed off my baby registry and I requested a steam sterilizer she asked if I wanted her to get the inhaler prescription now too. So I haven't sterilized anything. I wash all of his things in the dishwasher the same way I do my plates and cups. It is quick and easy. =)

Tammy - posted on 07/27/2010

I think you should be okay to wash them now....I washed my bottles after the 5th month! They should be okay!

Brianna - posted on 07/27/2010

I have never sterilized my sons things. They also have never been sick, either of them, even my youngest who was a preemie.

Sylvia - posted on 07/27/2010

Do you have a dishwasher? I never used anything but my dishwasher and ofcourse I used a bottle brush first to make sure there was nothing in the tubes. The water in the dishwasher is hot enough to make the bottles sterile. Also, if you don't have a dishwasher: I asked my doctor when I could stop sterilizing my pacifiers and he said that it was never really a neccesity as long as I was washing them.

Megan - posted on 07/27/2010

Well my daughter is 6 months now and I breast fed up until she was about 2 and a half months. When I transitioned her too bottles I sterilized them and soaked them in boiling water. Then after that I just hand wash them with a bottle brush and hot water. Then set them on a clean towel to dry. She perfectly fine and never had an issue and her doctor says shes okay and growing at a very good rate :)

Christine - posted on 07/27/2010

we stopped sterilizing our twins bottles at 3 months and just use antibacterial dish soap to wash them and use separate cloths/bottle brush etc. It has worked just fine.. my twins are 7.5 months old and just now have gotten their first cold.. the very first time being sick, so I figure that is pretty darn good

Meaghan - posted on 07/27/2010

I never sterilized my child's bottles, binkies, or anything. She is just fine and healthy.

Megan - posted on 07/27/2010

I never really sterilized my son's bottles or anything. I did when he was a newborn before the first use, but after that I just washed them separately from everything else. Now, a lot of his stuff gets put in the dishwasher with everyone else's stuff. (He is 13 months) He has been extremely healthy throughout his whole first year- so I personally don't think it is that extremely important. I also work at a daycare, and we sterilize everything after it is washed- I'm sure that is more for regulations than necessity but I really don't think it matters either way what you do.

Tamara - posted on 07/27/2010

i stopped at one, however i thought i would have once he started crawling and eating things off the floor. lol but my son crawled early and ate things off the floor early so i decided to do it till he was one. he is now 15 months and is fine :) i think it would be fine now but like i said i thought it would be safe but continued creating more work for myself :)

Stacey - posted on 07/27/2010

i stopped sterilising my sons bottles when he was 6 months old as i found it pointless carrying on when he was just picking things up and putting them in his mouth anyway my daughter is 5months 1 week and i will be stopping with sterilising as soon as she hits 6 months as she uses spoons and bowles that i havent sterilised.

Samantha - posted on 07/27/2010

I read somewhere that unless your child is a preemie or has some kind of immunodeficiency problem you really dont need to completely sterilize any of their things. My child is perfectly healthy but me being me I still sterilize everything, his bottles, his toys, his pacifiers, in bleach water about twice a week. My son is seven months old and I still do this, and dont know how old he will be before I dont feel like I need to do this anymore. I say its up to you as the mother, whenever you feel comfortable with stopping.

Kaleena - posted on 07/26/2010

not until 12 months of age

Maureen - posted on 07/26/2010

I never did any of my little guys stuff.
He is & has been perfectly happy & healthy!!!

Holly - posted on 07/26/2010

The dishwasher sterilizes them for you. Also, my kids pedi said that there is no point in it. Sure it's sterile when you get it out but the moment it touches anything it's not sterile anymore. Soap and water are perfectly safe to use.

Amber - posted on 07/26/2010

6 months is a good age!!!!!!

Erika - posted on 07/26/2010

I am prob never gonna stop considering I use the dishwasher and it sterilizes them for me washing bottles by hand is a waste of time

Erica - posted on 07/26/2010

if your kids can sit up on their own (w/out support), then they should start using sippy cups. And you can throw everything into the dishwasher at that point (sterilizes b/c of the highheat!) then you don't even need to worry about nipples. just a thought.

Amanda - posted on 07/26/2010

my twins were about that age when i stopped sterilizing. I would wash them really well and sterilize them about once a week after that.

Morgan - posted on 07/26/2010

I never used a sterilizer. Just the dishwasher. My daughter is 16 months old and health as a horse.

Serena - posted on 07/26/2010

about 2 months ago : )

Kylie - posted on 07/26/2010

I was breastfeeding for 3 months and occasionally using a bottle but I always sterilized them. When she was around 5/6 months, I just stopped doing it, shes been perfectly fine, only just got her first throat infection at 13 months! I think they make a big fuss over nothing but I'd defintely sterilize when they are a newborn

Jessica - posted on 07/26/2010

i setalized my daughters bottles when i bought them and hand wash them from then on once every three months i boil them or if i didnt get it washed fast enough and it started molding id boil them before using them again

Jessi - posted on 07/26/2010

never sterilized my son's bottles...just washed them by hand and not in the dishwasher.

Kari - posted on 07/26/2010

The only time I sterilized bottles was before the first use. Then I put them in the dishwasher. Both my kids are healthy

Amanda - posted on 07/26/2010

i just used hot soapy water, never actually sterilzed with either of my kids

Radhika - posted on 07/26/2010

I didn't knwo you were supposed to sterilizie after each use, I usually just do that the first time before they're used and then just wash them, I sterilize them all like once a month.. is that bad

Luschka - posted on 07/26/2010

I never sterilised, just washed in hot water - the chemicals in sterilising tabs can cause asthma in babies prone to it, so I never bothered.

Lacee - posted on 07/26/2010

I think my son was about 7 months old when i stopped. He's been healthy and fine.

Daria - posted on 07/26/2010

I barely sterilized but when I did it was 5 minutes in hot water in the microwave then wash

Nikki - posted on 07/26/2010

I only sterilized my bottles before the first use. That was it. My daughter is 18 months old and hasn't had any real problems or anything. She's perfectly healthy :)

Racheal - posted on 07/26/2010

i just use the dishwasher

Brittany - posted on 07/26/2010

I never used one. I just washed them by hand in hot water with a mild soap, same for the pump equipment. I was always told that washing by hand was just as good as using one.

Tyneisha - posted on 07/26/2010

lol after the first time you sterilize the bottles and nipples, you don't have to anymore. I think the last time I sterilized was around that time also. i did it just because I wanted to. I use antibacterial detergent as a precaution, but yeah you don't have to continue to sterilize.

Danielle - posted on 07/26/2010

The health unit in my hometown said 4 months. I stopped at 5.

Camille - posted on 07/26/2010

After 6 months of age. Also, if tap water is good in your area you can give them tap water too. My pediatrician gave me the ok after 6 months of age. I had the Avent Sterilizer and it recommended until 1 year of age. I personally believed it was better to sterilize until the year and continue giving bottled water.