Buzz
During the first 6 months of life, a baby's digestive system is not fully developed, so for bottle-fed babies, sterilizing baby bottles is crucial. But how to sterilize baby bottles? And at what temperature to ensure sterility and the longevity of the bottle's quality is not compromised, not every mother knows.
Why sterilize baby bottles?
Nutrients in breast milk or formula milk are prone to bacterial growth, so cleaning and sterilizing baby bottles will help eliminate bacteria and protect the baby's immune system from bacterial attacks.
There are many ways to sterilize baby bottles, mothers can choose traditional sterilization methods like boiling or using a multifunctional baby bottle sterilizer, both methods are equally effective. Traditional sterilization is simple but time-consuming, while using a sterilizer can save time and effort. Depending on needs and financial capability, mothers can choose the best baby bottle sterilizers for their babies.
How often should baby bottles be sterilized?
Before and after using bottles for feeding newborns, it's necessary to sterilize them, boiling them in hot water for 3-10 minutes each time. If not in use, sterilization should be done every 3 days.
For bottles used only for water, rinsing with boiling water once before use is sufficient. Over-sterilization should be avoided as it may make the baby's digestive system resistant to other foods. Sterilizing bottles should be done continuously from birth until 5-6 months of age.
What is the optimal temperature for sterilizing baby bottles?
Typically, mothers use simple sterilization methods such as boiling in hot water, microwave, or using specialized baby bottle sterilizers. These methods are straightforward, and the recommended sterilization temperature is usually above 100 degrees.
This means that after boiling water at 100 degrees, mothers should not turn off the stove immediately but continue boiling for about 5 more minutes before turning off the stove.
As experts have proven, most insects die at 100 degrees, but some stubborn types may not be completely killed. Therefore, to ensure 100% sterilization, you should follow these steps:
Safe Baby Bottle Sterilization Methods
- No matter which method you use, all utensils must be thoroughly cleaned, from hands, bottles to pots, microwave, or specialized sterilizers.
- Disassemble the parts of the baby bottle and put them in a pot if boiling, in a covered container if using a microwave, and stack them up on a rack if using a sterilizer. Pour enough water to cover the bottles, while for steam sterilizers, pour the specified amount of water into the tray.
- Boil for about 5 minutes, after boiling, don't take them out immediately, instead cover the pot and let it sit until ready to feed the baby, then take them out to drain. For microwave sterilization, it's sufficient to sterilize for about 4 minutes, but remember to keep the bottles in the container until close to feeding time. As for steam sterilizers, the process takes up to 50 minutes.
At temperatures above 100 degrees combined with boiling water, mothers need not worry about the longevity of the bottles being significantly reduced because most reputable baby bottle brands like comotomo, pigeon baby bottles, nuk... are designed with premium materials that are BPA-free and heat-resistant, ensuring the safety of babies' health. Therefore, sterilizing baby bottles is crucial for ensuring the safety of children.
We hope that the experience we shared above will help mothers gain more knowledge in caring for and protecting the health of their beloved children.
