[Perfect2]

Hi

I have been BF DD2 since birth. She is now 6 months and I am considering expressing so that I can leave her with her dad etc. Do I need to sterilise at this age? I have bought some bottles but am also wondering if I should go straight to a sippy cup (or do you think a bottle would be more comforting. Do you freeze your milk in the little bags or just use containers (do they need to be sterilised?) I guess I am reluctant to go out and buy a heap of equipment because I am not sure if I will be very committed when it comes to expressing. Would love to hear your thoughts and about your experiences.

[greenthumbs]

I'm a slacker who doesn't sterilise anything anymore. Bub is 5.5mths and I haven't sterilised for a month or two

Double check the ABA's website, but I'm pretty sure they say you just need to wash in warm soapy water and well rinse. If using breast milk that is, as it has natural antibacterial properties. Formula may be different.

Our little man chews, sucks and slobbers on everything now and rolls around so not much point sterilising

[mrsgm]

Do you have a dishwasher? If so you dont need to sterlise at any stage.

[hmmm...]

I stopped steralising everything at 6 months - MIL is a Community midwife and said this is the norm.

[Me n Marshmallow]

I stopped at 4 months. All you need to do is wash the bottles in hot soapy water. A bit a bacteria is really good for their immunity.

[Bel Rowley]

I have never sterilised a thing for my son. As well as BFing he drank tap water from an unsterilised cup from 6 months.

[librablonde]

I didn't sterilise bottles by 6mths of age.

[SeaPrincess]

I never sterilised anything. I either used the dishwasher or really hot water.

R

[CharliMarley]

If your baby is fully breastfed, he may not take a bottle. It would be a better idea to use a sippy cup and there will be no nipple confusion and him/her liking the bottle more, because it is easy to get. Mums usually freeze breastmilk in -ice-cube trays and then you can thaw out as many ice cubes as you think bubs will need and not waste any, which may not be finished by him. You can buy ice-cube trays with a cover, to stop any contamination in the freezer. EBM can be kept in the fridge at the back for 3-5 days and in the freezer part of the fridge for 3 months and 6-12 months in a deep freeze. If you do it this way, you won't have to sterilize anything.

[Guest_tigerdog_*]

I do it until 12 months, even though I've heard from other recent new mums that hospitals no longer recommend that you need to sterilise even from birth (no-one I've spoken to in person has taken this up, they've at least sterilised for a newborn and a few months beyond).

My SIL has never sterilised and wonders why her kids are always sick - I often wonder if this has something to do with it or it could be because they're always inside and never have contact with other kids to build up their immunity.