How to sterilise your feeding equipment
- It's important that all of the equipment you
use is first cleaned well in hot, soapy water, and then sterilised.
- Even if you are expressing breastmilk and using
a bottle to feed, you should sterilise your bottles and teats.
- It is important to wash your hands, and prepare
infant formula in a clean area.
Cleaning
- When feeds are finished always discard the leftover
formula, and rinse bottles and teats with clean, warm water.
- Turn teats inside out to remove milk residue.
- Wash the bottles, teats and caps In hot, soapy
water. This helps in breaking down and removing the milky film
on teats and bottles.
- Use a bottle brush to clean the inside of the
bottle thoroughly, and a teat brush to clean teats.
- Thoroughly rinse all equipment with cold water
before sterilising.
Sterilising
The Boiling Method
- Place bottles, caps and teats in a large saucepan.
- Cover completely with water.
- Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes.
- Turn off heat and allow to cool.
- Remove bottles etc with tongs. Invert teats into
bottles and seal cap and disc.
- Allow bottles to cool.
- Boil equipment every 24 hours, whether used or
unused.
The Chemical Method
There are a number of sterilising solutions available.
It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Discard solution every 24 hours, and scrub container
with hot soapy water, then renew the solution.
- Put cleaned bottle, teats and caps into the sterilising
solution, ensuring there are no air bubbles and that everything
is covered.
- Leave in solution for the required time before
using equipment.
- It is not necessary to rinse equipment before
use, just shake off any excess liquid.
- Keep solutions well away from children.
The Microwave Method
Steam sterilising units create steam in the microwave
which sterilises bottles and teats in 8-10 minutes.
- It is important to follow the manufacturer's
instructions, especially concerning the correct amount of water
to use.
- This method is not suitable for glass bottles,
as glass retains heat and can become extremely hot in the time
it takes to sterilise.
- Teats should be placed upright not laid flat,
as this allows the steam to circulate to all areas of the teat.
- Clean sterilisers as per manufacturer's instructions.
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