When did you stop sterilizing bottles?

[Nip]

Simple as the subject suggests...when did you stop sterilizing bottles?

I have no idea, i've heard rumour that its about 12 months... is this right?

[LadyTophamHatt]

With ds1 I carried on until about 14 months.

Ds2 about 10 months
Ds3 when I found him with hands virtually down the dog throat at about 6months.


As long as the bottles at washed in hot soapy water they'll be fine.

[Nip]

My DS is 9 months, crawling and picking up anything horrid that he shouldnt... it almost feels a bit silly to then go OTT with the bottles!

[funnypeculiar]

With ds1 went onto cup from about 8 mths - never sterilised that.
DD2 currently 10 mths and starting to feel daft when she eats mud off the carpet
Think the 'proper' advise was 12 mths when ds was little...

[Beabea]

With DD it was 8months and with DS I will do it until he is 6months. I dont want to take it all on holiday with us. Also by then everything else will be in his mouth. In fact it almost is and he is just 4months

[soph28]

about 6 months with ds and 3 months with dd. Just make sure you wash them well and rinse them soon after use so milk not sitting in them for long periods of time.

[asleep]

6 months

[SickJealousandWorried]

I stopped at 6 months but to be honest if I was to have another I wouldn't bother at all.

A good scrub in hot soapy water ir in the dishwasher really is fine.

Nobody sterilises in the States.

[welshmum]

never started
On advice of microbiologist in neo-natal unit, just washed in hot soapy water and air-dried. No probs with either child, so I'd guess the exact month isn't too much of an issue.

[hana]

i just take a clean one from the dishwasher for dd3 , dont actually sterilize
once they are crawling there isntany point!

[RTKangaMummy]

take a look at this thread

[Nip]

Excellent - thats exactly what i wanted to hear.... THANK YOU everyone once again.

[RTKangaMummy]

you're welcome

[tinkerbellie]

i stopped at 12 months with both lo's but was a lot less paranoid with dd and just rinsed dummies and toys after she was six months
also had no probs with either a bit of dirt is good for their immunity

[nannynickers]

It is reccomended that you sterelise for 12 months. But... I was told by my MW that dishwashers being what they are nowadays there is very little chance of a bug surviving and that once your LO is crawling you have little chance of protecting them from the bugs that they pick up all on their own! Also (dont quote me on this but) I heard somewhere that USA don't recommend sterelising at all just thorough washing up??

I did always carry milton wipes with me for dummy cleaning and any dodgy looking high chair trays at restaurants and sport centre cafes!

I also had to prize a bluebottle out of my dd's clenched jaw when she was about 7 months after she decided it was tastier than anything else she's ever come across, I was MORTIFIED!