What Age

[jadesh101]

So I know you stop sterilizing at a year old, but did anyone stop before, the reason I ask is, well back in the day they stopped at 6 months, and they say they only advise nowadays up to 9 months old, but the health visitors push it to a year old, yesterday I was a little unprepared and forgot to sterilize some bottles for keira who is 10 and a half months so while I was waiting for the microwave to ping and the water to cool I gave her an unsterilised bottle and some tap water, and she drank it fine with no problems and she already had a runny bum, so no difference there. Just wondering if anyone else did this realised their baby was ok after to continued to not sterilise ???

 

[IvyBaby]

I stopped a couple weeks ago, I wash her bottles in very hot soapy water and that's it. In USA they don't sterilize at all, I heard. Also in olden days the advice was to do it for 3 months. I think one year is exaggeration.

 

[jadesh101]

I stopped a couple weeks ago, I wash her bottles in very hot soapy water and that's it. In USA they don't sterilize at all, I heard. Also in olden days the advice was to do it for 3 months. I think one year is exaggeration.

Thanks babe, I was just wondering if it was still worth doing it as it didn't affect her yesterday and again this morning I tried it again with her and she seemed completely fine, going to keep her on follow on milk longer tho as the iron intake is vital

 

[blahblahblah]

Dylan hasn't dropped his daytime bottles yet, so I still make some up in advance. When he's dropped them and I can easily make them up as and when needed I will stop sterilising then. As long as the bottle is well washed (i.e. not by my DH!) it's fine after 6 months. Dylan has had tap water to drink since 6 months too, but I still boil water for making up bottles.

 

[jadesh101]

Dylan hasn't dropped his daytime bottles yet, so I still make some up in advance. When he's dropped them and I can easily make them up as and when needed I will stop sterilising then. As long as the bottle is well washed (i.e. not by my DH!) it's fine after 6 months. Dylan has had tap water to drink since 6 months too, but I still boil water for making up bottles.

Hmmm not just my OH that can't wash up proper then lol, pain in the bums, yeah she's been drinking tap water all day and no harm, not sure if to use boiled water for the milk or not hmm, I suppose there isn't really any point now she is on tap water

 

[blahblahblah]

If you're making the bottles up as and when needed then there is an argument for not boiling the water. Personally I wouldn't if it's being made ahead of time.

Bear in mind though that the powder seems to dissolve better if the water is at least warm, and the boiling is partly to kill possible nasties in the formula powder.

 

[jadesh101]

Hmmm ok then, so maybe boiled water in future, I make them when I need them now, where as when I sterilised I made loads at a time

 

[suzib76]

i stopped sterilising when Lana was about 4.5 months, i just assemble her bottles when they come out the dishwasher and pour in the milk when i need one

 

[Nic1107]

I stopped a couple weeks ago, I wash her bottles in very hot soapy water and that's it. In USA they don't sterilize at all, I heard. Also in olden days the advice was to do it for 3 months. I think one year is exaggeration.

It's true, we generally don't sterilize bottles here. Some women do buy a sterilizer, and certainly anyone with a premature baby or one who may have lower resistance to infection would sterilize them, but it's not just the done thing like it seems to be over there. We typically don't boil water for feeding either, everyone I know uses bottled water specifically marketed for babies. It would be a bad idea to use tap water here though, I remember the cryptosporidium outbreaks years back and wouldn't take the chance!

 

[Serene123]

We stopped at 6 months, being too clean can do more harm than good. Children need dirt (in moderation!)

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I don't agree, I will sterilise bottles for as long as Ruby has them. Their immune systems are still developing which is also why you don't give young babies things like shellfish, honey, etc because if they are going to get poorly, they are far more likely to get seriously ill than us. Babies are subjected to enough germs just by breathing in the air.
They don't need us to risk exposing them to nasty bacteria via formula milk in order to build their immune systems.

 

[jadesh101]

I only give Keira one bottle a day now and that is in the evening before she sleeps, any other time she has a beaker