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How to clean the baby feeding bottles


How To Clean A Baby Bottle Correctly In 5 Steps

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On an especially busy or exhausting day, you might be tempted to forgo cleaning your baby's bottle properly. But skipping this process may lead to bacteria buildup in their mouth and other risks. Use this step-by-step guide to learn how to clean a baby bottle effectively and keep your little one safe.

Risks of an Unsanitary Bottle

As Cleveland Clinic notes, babies younger than 3 months old are still developing their immune systems and are more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. The South Australian Women's and Children's Health Network also stresses the importance of sterilizing bottles to prevent sickness in infants up to the age of 6 months — or even up to a year. Unwashed or poorly washed bottles may expose your baby to certain risks, including:

Tooth Decay

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics states that tooth decay in babies can occur as the result of exposure to liquids for an extended amount of time, such as if you let them sleep with a bottle that contains juice. This allows acid-producing bacteria to build up in their mouth and cause decay. Additionally, according to the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency, formula milk may contain bacteria — which can multiply if a bottle is left at room temperature.

Rotavirus

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that this stomach bug can spread from touching contaminated objects or surfaces. That's why the Government of Western Australia Department of Health advises parents to wash their hands frequently, including before preparing baby bottles.

Cronobacter Infections

  • The CDC notes that Cronobacter germs can contaminate dry, powdered foods, such as infant formula and, subsequently, baby bottles. This type of bacteria can cause a very rare but potentially life-threatening blood infection called sepsis, particularly in infants.

How to Clean a Baby Bottle Correctly

To avoid these risks, here are five simple steps to get your baby's bottle squeaky clean and ready for use. Remember to clean the bottle immediately after every feeding to prevent any bacterial contamination.

  1. Properly Wash Your Own Hands

    You might be surprised that many people forget this crucial first step. In fact, 97% of people aren't washing their hands correctly, according to a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This opens up the potential for cross-contamination. If you're out and about, a squeeze of sanitizer or finding the nearest restroom to wash your own hands thoroughly with soapy water can save you from transmitting germs onto the bottle or nipple.

  2. Take Apart Bottle Parts

    No matter the type of bottle you're using, the CDC recommends separating all the components to ensure you clean each part properly.

  3. Rinse Under Running Water

    The CDC notes that you can rinse your bottle parts under cold or warm water, whichever you prefer. The key step here is to keep them under running water and not let them sit in the sink.

  4. Scrub in Soapy Water

    After rinsing the bottle parts under running water, the CDC recommends filling a separate basin with hot water and soap. This should be a dedicated container you use to clean the baby bottle. Scrub each part individually with a dedicated brush only used on bottles. Then, rinse the parts under running water again.

  5. Dry on a Rack or Clean Space

    Place all the bottle parts on a clean paper towel or dish towel, and store them in a dust-free, clean space. Allow them to air dry rather than patting them dry, as the CDC explains that patting them dry can transfer germs from the towel to the newly cleaned bottle.

How to Sanitize a Baby Bottle

The CDC recommends fully sterilizing all feeding items at least once a day to rid them of all microorganisms that can spread disease. Sterilizing is especially important for babies under 3 months old, those who were born prematurely or those with weakened immune systems. Here are three sterilization methods you might use:

  • Wash by hand: The CDC recommends placing all feeding components in boiling water for five minutes.
  • Use a dishwasher: If your baby bottle is labeled as dishwasher-safe, the CDC advises choosing a hot-water cycle and heated dry or a sanitizing setting to kill more germs.
  • Use a microwave tool: You might also be interested in using a steaming tool with your microwave. Follow the instructions on your individual product and be sure to clean the steamer after each use, as recommended by the Women's and Children's Health Network. Glass bottles should not be put in a microwave steamer.

Now that you know how to wash a baby bottle correctly, follow these tips every day to ensure your child stays healthy and happy.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

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Cleaning and sterilising baby bottles

Cleaning and sterilising baby bottles | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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It’s essential to properly wash and sterilise the feeding equipment when you’re bottle feeding. You'll need to clean and sterilise each bottle, teat and screw cap after every feed. It’s important that you continue sterilising everything until your baby is 12 months' old.

Why is it important to clean and sterilise my baby’s bottles?

Babies have immature immune systems so they aren’t strong enough to fight off a range of infections. One important way to support them in staying healthy is to reduce the chances of their getting sick in the first place.

Milk is the perfect medium in which bacteria can grow. This is why it’s important to sterilise all feeding equipment and keep formula cold until just before feeding your baby.

What equipment needs cleaning and how often?

You need to clean and sterilise all bottle parts, teats and screw caps.

  1. Separate all parts of the bottle and pull the teat out of its screw cap.
  2. Use hot water and dishwashing detergent.
  3. Clean all areas of the bottle with a bottle brush, including the thread where the cap screws on.
  4. Remove any milk still sitting in the teat or the hole with a teat brush.
  5. Squeeze hot, soapy water through the teat hole, then do the same with clean water to rinse the teat.
  6. Make sure to rinse the bottles and equipment well.

Get a new bottle brush once the bristles are worn. They need to be stiff enough to remove all the milky residue from the inside of the bottle.

How to sterilise feeding equipment

Even if bottles and teats look clean, they might still carry germs to your baby so it’s essential to sterilise your feeding equipment properly.

There are 3 ways to do this: boiling, steam sterilisation and chemical sterilisation.

If you’re breastfeeding and only need to sterilise a bottle occasionally, the boiling method may be good enough. It’s also cheaper than buying a steam steriliser. If you’re expressing and/or bottle feeding, then a steam steriliser might be the best option.

The boiling method

  1. Put all parts of the cleaned bottle, including teats, in a large saucepan.
  2. Cover the equipment with tap water.
  3. Make sure all air bubbles are out of the bottles and that they are fully submerged under the water.
  4. Bring the water to the boil.
  5. Boil for 5 minutes.
  6. Let the feeding equipment cool in the saucepan before taking it out.
  7. Place all the feeding equipment in a clean container and put it in the fridge. Make sure the container is covered firmly with a lid.
  8. You can store everything in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

The steam sterilisation method

Steam sterilisers are popular because they work quickly, are cheap to use and are very effective. They heat water to boiling point and the steam kills the bacteria. Some steam sterilisers are designed to operate in a microwave.

  1. Place the clean bottles and feeding equipment in the steriliser.
  2. Make sure there’s enough room between each bottle, teat and screw cap for the steam to circulate around all surfaces.
  3. Follow the manufacturer’s directions about how much water to add.
  4. Turn on and push the button to start. If you’re using a microwave steriliser, place the steriliser in the microwave and turn on for the correct time.
  5. Wait until the sterilisation cycle has finished and the light goes off.
  6. Store all sterilised feeding equipment in a clean, lidded container in the fridge.
  7. Sterilise all equipment again if you haven’t used it within 24 hours.

The chemical sterilisation method

Be careful when using chemical sterilisation. Many methods use bleach, which can also bleach clothing and surfaces, and irritate the skin, if spilt.

Antibacterial chemical sterilisation solutions are available in liquid and tablet form. They need to be prepared exactly as directed on the container.

  1. Make sure you have a container that’s large enough to hold your baby’s bottles and feeding equipment.
  2. Use the recommended amount of tap water to prepare the sterilising solution.
  3. Submerge all bottles and feeding equipment in the solution. Make sure there are no bubbles left in the bottles.
  4. Leave the equipment in the solution for the recommended time – there’s no need to rinse the solution off after sterilisation.
  5. Throw out the solution after 24 hours and wash out the container before preparing a new batch.

Wash your hands before handling sterilised feeding equipment

Make sure you wash and dry your hands before you handle sterilised bottles and teats. It’s easy to contaminate equipment just by touching it with unclean hands.

Sources:
Child and Youth Health (Feeding your baby), Raising Children Network (Bottle feeding: cleaning and sterilising equipment), Karitane (Bottle Feeding)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2020


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  • Feeding your baby with formula
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Need more information?

Bottle-feeding: cleaning & sterilising | Raising Children Network

Bottle-feeding your baby? Find out what equipment you need – bottles, teats, rings and caps – plus how to clean and sterilise it all.