How to Clean, Sanitize and Store Baby Bottles
You’ve brought your little bundle of joy home from the hospital. The room is set up and the onesies bought. You’ve painstakingly thought of everything you and they need. Except possibly the everyday stuff, like how to really clean and sanitize your baby’s bottle. Here are the basics:
Cleaning
- Before washing, separate all your baby bottle parts and give them a rinse under running water
- Fill a large clean basin with hot water and mild dish soap. It’s best not to wash baby’s feeding items directly in the sink because it may contain germs that could contaminate.
- Scrub items using a bottle brush only reserved for cleaning infant items
- Remember to squeeze water through nipple holes to ensre they get clean
- Rinse again under running water and allow to air-dry. Place bottle parts and bottle brush on a clean unused dish towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. By air drying, we are trying to minimize the possibility of transferring germs back on to the item, which may occur with a dish towel.
For extra germ removal, sanitize feeding items at least once daily. This step is particularly important when your baby is younger than 3 months or was born prematurely. Daily sanitizing of feeding items may not be necessary for older healthy babies, if cleaned carefully after each use.
Sanitizing
- Only sanitize clean items
- Place disassembled feeding items into a pot and cover with water
- Put the pot over heat and bring to a boil. Boiling items for 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove items with clean tongs
- Allow sanitized items to air-dry thoroughly before storing to prevent germs and mold from growing
- Once the items are completely dry, put them back together. Store them in a clean, protected area to prevent contamination, such as inside a closed kitchen cabinet that is only used to store clean dishes.
For tips on cleaning your child’s car seat, check out this blog.
