A few years ago it was quite normal to see parents sterilize their babies' bottles and pacifiers. As I just said, it is something that was done many years ago and that is still being done today.
However, there are parents who wonder if it is really worth sterilizing a feeding bottle or a pacifier or it is just as effective with a simple wash. Then we will explain to you if it is really necessary to sterilize baby's pacifiers and bottles.
Is it necessary to sterilize pacifiers and bottles?
There are many studies that indicate that today, there is not a big difference between sterilizing a bottle and washing it with soap. Experts in the field point out that it is more than enough to wash both bottles and pacifiers with a little hot water and soap. With water, viruses and other germs that may be present are killed. Although years ago sterilizing the baby's objects was more than an obligation, due to poor hygiene conditions and lack of resources, today it is not necessary at all.
Experts advise sterilizing bottles and pacifiers for babies who are in danger of having a stomach problem. This would be the case of premature babies or those born with a lower weight than normal. Of course, sterilization is also necessary, the first time the bottles and pacifiers are to be used.
Hygiene measures to take into account
Apart from sterilization, it is good to follow a series of hygiene measures whenever the baby's bottle is handled:
- It is important to wash your hands before handling the bottle. It is very easy to infect said bottle with dirt accumulated on the hands.
- The area where the bottle is to be prepared, it must be virus-free.
- When washing the bottles it is very important to use hot water with a little soap. Sometimes there are traces of milk that are really difficult to remove. Given this, it is good to get some brushes that get all the dirt present in the bottle.
- When drying the bottle, many parents make the big mistake of using the kitchen towel. The used cloth must be clean and germ-free.
Other questions about cleaning pacifiers and bottles
Apart from the aforementioned sterilization, there are other doubts about the cleaning of baby objects such as pacifiers and bottles. Many parents wonder if the water used should be from the bottle or from the tap. Either of the two is going to be useful to prepare the bottle for the baby.
As for the question of whether it is good and advisable to boil water, it must be said that the answer is yes. When adding formula milk, it is good that the water temperature is not below 70 degrees. This is key to being able to kill all kinds of germs that may be in powdered milk.
Another question that must be clarified is whether you can keep the remaining bottle in the fridge and thus use it later. Experts recommend in any case, discarding all the leftover milk and making a bottle again. Despite being in the refrigerator, certain viruses can proliferate that can cause an infection to the child.
Ultimately, the sterilization of pacifiers and bottles is not necessary as if it was done a few years ago. Today it is enough to clean them with soap and water to leave them free of possible viruses.