Thoroughly washing and sterilizing every single thing you need to bottle-feed your baby is very important. Each bottle, screw cap, and teat must be cleaned and sterilized following each feeding. All of these should be carefully sterilized until your baby reaches 12 months old.
Why is it crucial to wash and sterilize the bottles I use for my baby?
It's crucial to properly sterilize your feeding materials because even if feeding bottles and silicone teats seem clean, they could still transmit germs to your baby. A baby's immune system is still developing, making it weak to fend off a variety of infections. Reducing the likelihood that they will become ill in the first place is a crucial step in helping them maintain their health.
Bacteria thrive in milk, which is the ideal growing environment. For this reason, it's crucial to sterilize all feeding tools and to keep formula cold right up until you're ready to feed your baby.
How to sanitize the feeding apparatus
Boiling, steam sterilization, and UV sterilization are the three major methods available. The boiling method might work well if you're nursing and only occasionally need to sterilize a bottle. A steam sterilizer might be your best bet if you're bottle-feeding. It is also very effective since the steam produced when the water reaches the boiling point kills the bacteria. Some steam sterilizers are built with microwave functionality.
UV sterilizers such as wabi uv sterilizer are widely used today. These are very efficient because they operate quickly and are highly effective. On the other hand, there are synthetic liquid and tablet antibacterial sterilization solutions available. They must be prepared precisely as instructed on the package.
Wash your hands before handling any sterile feeding bottles and teats
Before handling sterile bottles and teats, make sure to wash and dry your hands. Simply touching equipment with unclean hands can contaminate it. Even better, use sterile tongs.
