Keeping your home clean and maintaining a high level of hygiene takes on a new meaning when there’s a new baby in the house. With the arrival of your little one you’ll need to make sure they don’t develop any nasty infections that could cause them to become seriously ill.

When it comes to baby bottle feeding equipment, sterilisation is essential. Your baby doesn’t have a fully developed immune system yet and the only protection the little bundle of joy has comes from the short-term immunity passed on in the womb. Without the necessary anti-bodies to stave off bacteria and parasites, baby is susceptible to illnesses such as gastroenteritis - a dangerous condition that causes vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.

Breastfeeding can pass on enhanced immunity to a baby through nutrients in the breast milk but a baby fed mainly using bottles and formula milk will not receive the same level of immunity. However, both feeding methods still require proper sterilisation of breast pumps, bottles and teats to help keep mum and baby safe.

Before using any of the sterilisation products available, first wash baby feeding equipment in hot soapy water and ensure you’ve removed any residues of baby milk or detergent. Once you’re happy they’re clean, place them into a suitable baby steriliser.

Sterilisers

The traditional method of sterilising baby bottles and teats was to boil the equipment in water for at least ten minutes. Luckily, modern baby sterilising equipment provides other alternatives for sterilisation that are quick, economical, portable and safe.

Electronic steam sterilisers

Electronic steam sterilisers are the popular, efficient and natural way to sterilise baby feeding equipment and typically take under 10 minutes to fully sterilise.

Tommee Tippee Electric Steriliser Kit

If you’re out with baby in the car and need a quick way to heat a bottle before feeding, the Summer Infant Express Bottle Warmer and Steriliser offers the perfect solution as well as dual-functionality. This product comes complete with a standard plug for use at home or an adapter for use with a car cigarette lighter. Perfect for the hungry baby on the move.

Summer Infant Express Bottle Warmer and Steriliser

Microwave sterilisers

Microwave sterilisers are a lightweight and compact alternative to electronic sterilisers. Although not suitable for any baby equipment with metal components, these sterilisers combine the convenience of a microwave with steam sterilisation.

Microwave steriliser

If you’re at your holiday home or travelling, microwave bag sterilisers provide a perfect solution when space is at a premium. Reusable up to 20 times and able to hold two bottles and teats, the Lindam Microwave Steriliser Bags offer a quick, reliable and natural way to kill bacteria with the convenience of taking up just a small amount of space in your bag.

Lindam Microwave Steriliser Bags

Cold Water Sterilisers

Occasionally a microwave or power source isn’t available so you’ll need a cold water steriliser to take care of bottle duties. There are a number of dual function sterilisers that can sterilise a bottle within 30 minutes without the need for power. Steam/Cold water sterilisers use cold water and a sterilising tablet or sterilising fluid to kill harmful bacteria.

Lindam Microwave and Cold Water Steriliser

Keep your baby safe with proper sterilisation

Once you’ve removed your baby’s bottle and teat from a steriliser you should fill it with milk as soon as possible, this will avoid the possibility of contamination. Once bottles and teats show signs of wear and tear, replace them immediately as cracks within the plastic may become difficult to sterilise.

Current health guidelines state that sterilising baby bottle feeding equipment should continue for the first year of your baby’s life.

Related articles:

A guide to formula feeding

Guide to essential breastfeeding products

When to start expressing