Sterilizing is particularly important for the first three months of a baby's life, especially if they were born prematurely or have a weakened immune system.
Sterilizing their bottles, nipples, milk storage containers and soothers - which we know always end up on the floor! - using UV light, steam or specially designed sterilizing tablets is crucial. This means that they're free from harmful bacteria and germs that could be passed onto your baby when they feed, and potentially cause tummy upsets and infections.
Read on to learn about when you can stop sterilizing your baby's feeding equipment.
When can you stop sterilizing baby bottles?
As your baby grows, their immune system gets stronger, and eventually, you'll no longer need to sterilize their feeding equipment.
It's recommended that you wait until your baby is at least 12 months old before you phase out sterilizing. It's important to keep using your sterilizer until they're one year old to protect them from illnesses like sickness and diarrhoea caused by bacteria that can form in lingering breastmilk or formula.
Can I put baby bottles in the dishwasher to sterilize them?
No, a dishwasher may clean your baby's nipples and bottles, but it won't sterilize them. During their first year, it's very important that you thoroughly sterilize your baby's feeding equipment after initially cleaning them by hand or in the dishwasher.
What happens if you don't sterilize bottles?
If you stop sterilizing your baby's bottles before their first birthday, there's the potential for bacteria to develop on any un-sterilized feeding equipment. This will put them at an increased risk of falling ill and catching an infection like diarrhoea and vomiting. This is because their immune system may not be strong enough to fight off these illnesses.
Do I need to sterilize my baby's cups or beakers?
From six months old, you may want to encourage your little one to drink water from a cup or beaker. These don't need to be sterilized, because they're easier to clean with fewer nooks and crannies than baby bottles (which should be sterilized until your baby is one year old).
Simply wash all cups well using warm soapy water or place them on the top shelf of the dishwasher and then dry them with a clean tea towel.
When weaning from six months onwards, your baby's bowls, bibs and cutlery don't need to be sterilized either. They - like cups used to serve water - can be washed using warm soapy water.
