Always wash and clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water before using a baby bottle.
Sterilizing and cleaning baby bottles are important because breast milk and prepared formula are susceptible to bacterial contamination if not handled properly.
Before you use a baby bottle for the first time, it is recommended that you submerge the bottle in boiling water for about 5-7 minutes. However, once that's done, there are many other methods to safely clean a baby bottle.
Here is one way to clean a baby bottle:
- Fill sink with hot water and add dishwashing liquid.
- Disassemble the bottle and then pre-clean bottles, nipples, caps, rings, preparation utensils and other supplies.
- Pour hot, soapy water into bottles, and rotate a baby bottle brush inside until the bottle is clean. Wash away all soapy water under running water.
- Use a nipple brush to wash nipples and nipple holes. Squeeze the hot, soapy water through the nipple hole to flush out any trapped milk.
- Thoroughly rinse all utensils under running water to wash away all traces of soapy water.
- Use sanitized tongs to remove bottles, nipples and other utensils and place them in the dish drainer to dry.
Even if you use disposable plastic bottle liners and ready-to-use formula, you still need to make sure the bottles and nipples are clean.
How about cleaning a baby bottle in the dishwasher?
Washing and drying in a dishwasher is completeky safe. It is important though that you clean the baby bottle in the dishwasher only with hot heated water and a hot drying cycle. But before doing so, check the manufacturer label to make sure items are dish washer safe.
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How To Gear Up For a Newborn Baby
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Breastfeeding Basics For Mom