Effective Ways To Sanitize Pacifiers And Bottles
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Every parent with a newborn will soon learn that the bottle and the pacifier is their best friend. One keeps your baby occupied and keeps them from screaming and crying the house down and the other is something you absolutely cannot do without. Regardless of if you decide to exclusively breastfeed or if your baby drinks formula, a bottle is a parent’s best friend. Not only is it convenient and easily accessible, they are easy to clean too. And cleaning them is absolutely mandatory considering how many bottles your tiny chugger will go through every single day. But at the same time, there’s always the daunting task of a sink full of dirty pacifiers and bottles waiting to be washed and sanitized. And these need to be tackled sooner rather than later. So, your best bet to stay afloat is to find a no-nonsense, efficient way of doing the same. And ensuring that the bottles and pacifiers are clean and bacteria-free for your baby to use. If you’d like to learn how to ensure the same, then keep on reading!
When To Sterilize The Bottles
Thankfully you need not sterilize bottles after every feed. Can you imagine how chaotic that would be? Regular washes and rinses will do the trick. However, certain situations require a thorough sterilization process:
1. Weakened Immune System
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you sterilize your bottles before every use in case of prematurely born babies or those with a weak immune system (1). Some medical experts also suggest regularly sterilizing bottles for newborns under 3 months of age to keep bacterial infections at bay. However, your child’s immune system will develop and improve after the 3-month mark. So, around this time, you can stop sanitizing the bottles after every feed after consulting with your pediatrician.
2. Sterilize If You Are Reusing Old Or Second-Hand Bottles
Sterilize the pacifiers and bottles before the first use if they are old or second-hand. This is mainly to ensure that any bacteria is killed off and that your baby can enjoy a germ-free pacifier and bottle without the threat of being infected by any harmful bacteria hiding in old plastic items. Also, ensure any pre-owned pacifiers and bottles are BPA-free.
3. After Your Baby Recovers From An Illness
Babies fall ill often, which is why it is important to sterilize the bottles and pacifiers and any other object they put in their mouth after they have recovered from the illness. This is to ensure that the same virus or bacteria does not infect them again. It will also help them make a full recovery faster.
Keep in mind that regular sanitization can cause wear and tear on bottles, pacifiers, nipples, etc. So, periodically inspect these items and discard them upon noticing any damages.
Boil Bottles And Pacifiers
This is an age-old technique that will never fail you. Not to mention that it is low-tech and highly effective. All you need to do is:
- Begin by washing bottles as usual with dish soap and water, and give the pacifiers a good rinse.
- Then add all your bottle parts and pacifiers into a large pot of clean water until they are completely submerged.
- Put the pot on the stove, letting it boil for about 5 minutes to facilitate the sterilization process.
- Turn off the stove and carefully remove the sterilized items.
- Place these items upside down on a clean cloth or straining surface and leave it to air-dry.
Try A Microwave Sterilizer
This may seem unconventional but it works like magic. Besides, a microwave sterilizer is a wonderful and budget-friendly alternative. It has the ability to completely enclose bottles and other items and trap steam to ensure thorough sterilization. The process is simple, just follow these steps:
- Fill water in the bottles until they are half full and place them in the sterilizer.
- Place it in a freshly cleaned microwave and heat it on a high setting for a minute or two.
- Carefully remove them from your microwave, drain out the water, and place the parts on a clean cloth or rack to dry.
Put Your Dishwasher To Good Use
If all else fails, using your dishwasher to sterilize bottles and pacifiers is the ultimate parent hack. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions beforehand. However, most bottles are sturdy enough to withstand the hottest washing and drying settings which is akin to the sterilization process.
Taking care of a baby and making sure that everything is safe for their use can be tiresome and overwhelming. We hope that these efficient ways come in handy as you sterilize your baby’s pacifiers and bottles. Happy parenting!
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