Based on CDC Recommendations
Welcoming a New Baby into a Family is Joyful, but it is also quite a big responsibility: Feeding Hygiene. Baby bottles should be cleaned, sterilized, and stored to avoid bacterial growth that might harm your little critter. Only a few milk residues can harbor harmful germs if not properly cleaned.
Proper hygiene should be observed before feeding in accordance with CDC practices to ensure each feeding is safe and worry-free. This practical guide contains everything you need on washing, sterilizing, and storing bottles, even while on the go, so you can worry about your baby's health with every bottle you prepare.
Why Baby Bottle Hygiene Is So Important
Germs, bacteria, and viruses thrive on poorly cleaned bottles and feeding accessories; newborns are particularly sensitive as their immune systems are still developing. Milk in the bottle spoils for a couple of hours and provides a breeding ground for organisms. Therefore, whichever cleaning method you choose is best performed on the bottle and accessories after every use for any formula or milk that the baby has finished, whether or not.
What Items Should Be Cleaned?
When cleaning baby bottles, it's not only the bottles that are being discussed. All baby items that come into contact with the milk should also be given attention. These are:
- Bottle Nipples
- Rings
- Caps
- Valve
- Membrane
- Bottle liners or inserts
The small spaces in these components can harbor small traces of milk, and if cleaning is not properly attended to, they will become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
How to Clean Baby Bottles: Step-by-Step
After Every Feeding
When provided as infant formula or breast milk expressed from the bottle, it is essential to rinse out the bottle parts thoroughly after every use. Discard milk liquid from a bottle that has not been consumed within two hours.
Dishwasher Cleaning
If the bottles say dishwasher-safe, this cleaning method is appealing and efficient.
- Disassemble the whole bottle, separating nipples, caps, valves, and inserts.
- Wash down each item in the dishwashing unit after a brief rinse under warm or cold running water to flush away any traces of milk.
- Place small items in a mesh laundry bag or a dishwasher basket to prevent them from falling and blocking the filter of your dishwasher.
- Hot cycle with heated drying; the heat kills any remaining bacteria.
- Let it air-dry completely on a clean towel or paper towel. Fully air dry and not pat dry using kitchen cloths, as these may carry bacteria.
Hand Washing Baby Bottles
A hand wash is just as good if done correctly, even if you do not have access to a dishwasher.
- First, clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before starting.
- Disassemble and rinse all parts under running water.
- Use a clean basin or tub (not your kitchen sink, which may harbor germs from raw foods) filled with hot, soapy water.
- Scrub each part with a designated bottle brush, squeezing soapy water through nipple holes and hard-to-reach places.
- Rinse thoroughly with fresh water or using a separate basin with clean water.
- Air-dry all items on a dedicated, clean surface. To avoid recontamination, stay away from cloth towels.
Remember to Clean Your Cleaning Tools
Your bottle brushes and wash basins also need to be maintained. Since these items are constantly in contact with the surfaces of bottles, they can also be a potential host for germs if not cleaned
- Rinse and air dry thoroughly after each use.
- Soak them regularly in hot, soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe.
- For hygiene purposes, it is also fine to steam or boil them every week, especially if the baby is less than two months old or under treatment for a compromised immune system.
Sterilizing Baby Bottles: When and How
Sterilizing eliminates most bacteria and other microbes, while cleaning merely removes visible dirt and many germs. Although sterilizing after every wash cycle is not always required, it is very important during the neonatal period or if your baby is at a high risk.
Those in need of daily sterilizing include:
- Your baby is less than 2 months old
- Your baby was born prematurely.
- Your baby has a weakened immune system.
- You do not have access to clean water for washing.
Generally, periodic sterilization—at least once per week or after an illness—is sufficient for older, healthy babies as long as daily cleaning is done well.
Standard Methods To Sterilize Bottles
Boiling:
This is the easiest way. Use a big pot to bring water to a rolling boil and submerge all disassembled parts for at least 5 minutes. Using sanitized tongs, remove articles and allow them to air-dry on a clean surface.
Electric Steam Sterilizers:
These plug-in machines kill germs with high-temperature steam. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions. They are quite fast and can be left unattended, unlike boiling water.
Microwave Steam Sterilizers:
They function just like the electric ones, but in this case, microwave heat creates steam. Add water as specified, and cool the contents before opening the lid.
Bleach Solution (as a last resort):
If nothing else is available, a bleach solution may be used. Mix two teaspoons of unscented bleach into 1 gallon (16 cups) of water. All parts are to be submerged completely for at least 2 minutes, removed with clean tongs, and air-dried. Don't rinse away; any bleach residue left on will decompose during the drying process and will be harmless.
Keeping Bottles Clean and Safe
After cleaning and drying your bottles and accessories, proper storage keeps them clean. Here is how to store everything until the next feeding:
· Always wash your hands before touching any clean objects.
· Ensure everything is properly dried before keeping it away from bacteria and mold growth.
· Put bottles back together loosely to allow free passage to dust inside.
· Store clean, dry containers or cabinets away from raw foods, cleaning products, or other contamination sources.
· Avoid drying racks or clothes that have not been properly washed.
Air-Drying
Cloth towels can hold bacteria; hence, it is much cleaner to air dry on a fresh towel or a disposable paper towel. Dryers are good to have; however, they should be limited to items associated with babies and cleaned very often to prevent mold.
What About Travel?
Although it might sound a bit intimidating, keeping bottles clean while on the go is achievable with a little planning:
· Always carry sufficient clean bottles for the whole day, thus avoiding washing while out.
· Use ready-to-use formulas to avoid mixing and reduce contamination risks.
· Travel-size steam sterilizers or sterilizing bags are helpful to bring if you have a microwave.
· If permitted, boil any feeding equipment in hotel kettles or camp stoves in emergencies.
· Always wash or sanitize your hands before handling any feeding parts.
Feeding time is a special bonding time for your baby. Keeping the feeding bottles clean protects their health, avoids any illness, and soon becomes second nature to you. Warmers and dispensers help make the feeding more convenient and safer.
