We need to clean and sterilize all bottle parts, teats, and screw caps.
-Separate all parts of the bottle and pull the teat out of its screw cap.
-Use hot water and dishwashing detergent.
-Clean all areas of the bottle with a bottle brush, including the thread where the cap screws on.
-Remove any milk still sitting in the teat or the hole with a teat brush.
-Squeeze hot, soapy water through the teat hole, then do the same with clean water to rinse the teat.
-Make sure to rinse the bottles and equipment well. We should get a new bottle brush once the bristles are worn. They need to be stiff enough to remove all the milky residue from the inside of the bottle.
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How to sterilize feeding equipment
Even if bottles and teats look clean, they might still carry germs to your baby so it’s essential to sterilize our feeding equipment properly.
There are 2 ways to do this – Boiling, Steam Sterilization.
If you are breastfeeding and only need to sterilize a bottle occasionally, the boiling method may be good enough. It’s also cheaper than buying a steam sterilizer. If you are expressing or bottle feeding, then a steam sterilizer might be the best option.
The Boiling Method
-Put all parts of the cleaned bottle, including teats, in a large saucepan.
-Cover the equipment with tap water.
-Make sure all air bubbles are out of the bottle and that they are fully submerged under the water.
-Bring the water to a boil.
-Boil for 5 minutes.
-Let the feeding equipment cool in the saucepan before taking it out.
-Place all the feeding equipment in a clean container and put it in the fridge. Make sure the container is covered firmly with a lid.
-We can store everything in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
The Steam Sterilization Method
Steam sterilizers are popular because they work quickly, are cheap to use, and are very effective. They heat water to boiling point and the steam kills the bacteria. Some steam sterilizers are designed to operate in a microwave.
-Place the clean bottles and feeding equipment in the sterilizer.
-Make sure there is enough room between each bottle, teat, and screw cap for the steam to circulate around all surfaces.
-Follow the manufacturer’s directions about how much water to add.
-Turn on and push the button to start. If we are using a microwave sterilizer, place the sterilizer in the microwave and turn it on for the correct time.
-Wait until the sterilization cycle has finished and the light goes off.
-Store all sterilized feeding equipment in a clean, lidded container in the fridge.
-Sterilize all equipment again if you have not used it within 24 hours.
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