How to wash baby feeding bottles

How to Clean Baby Bottles

We know babies require a lot of stuff. And by a lot, we mean, a lot! All of those bottles, bottle parts, nipples, pacifiers, and sippy cups need to be cleaned. Over and over. Day after day. Here’s everything you need to know on how to clean baby bottles and parts, so you can worry less about all the “stuff” and spend more time with your little duckling!

How to Hand Wash Baby Bottles

It can seem daunting to have to hand wash your baby bottles, nipples, caps, and sippy cups after every use, but with the right steps you’ll find that scrubbing right away isn’t always necessary. So, you can pay more attention to tummy time and less on cleaning.

Here’s how to wash baby items by hand:

1. Things You’ll Need.

In addition to a sponge, we recommend purchasing a dedicated bottle brush with a nipple brush to clean all the hard-to-reach spots inside your baby’s bottles. For a gentle clean that’s free of dyes, use Dawn® Free and Clear.

2. Rinse Directly After Use.

As soon as you have finished feeding your baby, give your bottle a quick rinse with warm water, just to get rid of most leftover residue. You can come back to thoroughly wash a full day’s worth of bottles when you have more time.

3. Fill A Bowl with Hot Soapy Water.

Apply a squirt of Dawn® to a bowl of hot water. Dawn® works great for cleaning baby items because it does not leave a soapy residue on bottles when rinsed appropriately.

4. Separate the Bottle Parts.

It’s important to take apart every part of the bottle. Old milk can build up between the bottle, the ring, and the nipple.

5. Wash Bottle Parts Separately.

Place all of the bottle parts into hot, soapy water and wash them individually. Use a soapy bottle brush for the bottle and the nipple brush for the plastic nipples and rings. Next, gently squeeze soapy water through the nipple hole to flush out any trapped milk.

6. Rinse Bottle and Bottle Parts.

Rinse off the bottle and bottle parts thoroughly under running water to remove any remaining soap residue.

7. Dry Bottles and Attachments.

Place bottles and nipples upside down in the dish rack to dry. Your baby items are now clean and ready for another feeding. Prepare to do this several hundred more times, even in your sleep.

Handwashing Versus Dishwashing Baby Bottles

Baby bottles can pile up, especially with a newborn! It’s recommended to wash baby bottles after each use, especially during the infancy stage—but don’t worry! You do have a few options when it comes to protecting all those bottles from messes, so you can be more confident with every feeding. You can wash baby bottles and attachments in the dishwasher every few days, but make sure they’re dishwasher-safe before running the cycle. *

To clean baby bottles in the dishwasher:

Rinse baby bottles, nipples, caps, sippy cups and other attachments with warm water
Soak with warm water and a gentle dish soap like Dawn® Free and Clear, which is free of dyes
Rinse off bottles and attachments with warm water
Load into the top rack of your dishwasher
Set to a hot water washing cycle and heated drying cycle
Remove from dishwasher and place on a clean surface or baby bottle drying rack

In cases where your baby bottles aren’t dishwasher safe or your dishwasher is full, handwashing is also a great go-to when it comes to keeping bottles clean and safe for your little bundle.

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles

You’ll also want to consider using a baby bottle sterilizer during the early days. Sterilizing baby bottles and attachments helps remove germs and bacteria—especially if your little duckling is primarily bottle fed. If you’re using a bottle for the first time, you should always hand wash and sterilize it before giving it to baby. This helps ensure you’re starting off with a clean and sanitary bottle, every time.

Allow the baby bottle and parts to soak in warm, soapy water
Rinse off with warm water
Place in baby bottle sterilizer and follow the instructions provided for your particular brand of sterilizer
Once complete, store on a clean drying rack before use

You can also sterilize your baby bottles by placing them in boiling water—but be careful to not damage the nipple or any other attachments.

Can I Reuse My Old Baby Bottles?

When kept in good condition and thoroughly washed, you may be able to reuse your baby bottles with your next baby. However, it’s best to get new bottle attachments, such as nipples, as these can undergo wear and tear over time.

Whether new or used, always be sure to soak your baby bottles in warm, soapy water and sterilize before using.

Best Dish Soap for Baby Bottles

When it comes to ensuring your baby is getting the best, we understand that same notion extends to the dish soap you use as well. Here are our recommendations for top dishwashing liquids to use when cleaning baby bottles, bottle attachments, and first utensils:

For Soaking: Before sterilizing or running your baby’s bottles through a dishwasher, use a foaming dish soap like Dawn® Platinum Dishwashing Foam. Just one pump creates more than enough soapy foam to penetrate leftover formula and milk residue.
For Everyday Handwashing: Dawn® Free & Clear is powerful enough to tackle any leftover messes, including baby food and milk residue, and gentle enough to use on delicate items, while also being free of dyes and phosphates.

With Dawn® dish soap it’s So Dawn Easy to keep all your baby items clean, so you can feel more confident when feeding your cooing little duckling!

How To Clean A Baby Bottle Correctly In 5 Steps

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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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What and how to wash baby bottles

The body of a small child is only learning to resist the pathogenic microflora of the surrounding world, therefore, in this case, mother's help is indispensable. One of the main tasks of mothers at the stage of breastfeeding is to provide the baby with not only healthy, but also safe food. If the child eats only the breast, then additional measures other than the personal hygiene of the mother are not required, however, if feeding bottles have firmly entered his life, you cannot do without special measures to care for the dishes.

What to wash with?

Finding baby bottle detergent is easy, as you can find it in most home improvement stores. Choosing the right option is a little more difficult: the purchased product cannot contain fragrances, and dyes must be exclusively natural and approved for use in the food industry. A big plus will be the presence of disinfectants, which significantly increase safety. Many parents are happy to buy options marked "ECO", which are based on natural ingredients.

Detergent for children's dishes must be completely rinsed off not only with hot, but also with cold water. However, even the most harmless products must be washed off repeatedly with running water.

If parents do not want to leave their money in the pockets of manufacturers of household chemicals, then they can successfully use a popular folk remedy - dry mustard. This brown-yellow powder is completely safe for the human body, so accidentally remaining grains on children's dishes will not harm the baby in any way.

Dry mustard perfectly removes any dirt and grease from any surface and is very easy to rinse off. True, this tool has a certain drawback - if you take it directly with a sponge, then too much powder sticks and it is simply washed out with water. Ordinary salt shakers with holes that can be found in every home, as well as ready-made gruel in old bottles from household chemicals, will help solve this problem.

Another popular option is soda. Soaking children's dishes in a warm baking soda solution (especially overnight) makes it easy to remove even the most serious stains.

Laundry soap and homemade soap-based detergent also help keep baby bottles clean, but the soap leaves a thin film on the surface of the dishes, so rinsing in this case must be very thorough. For the comfort of mother's hands, a little glycerin can be added to detergents from laundry soap. A pleasant aroma to such products gives ordinary lemon juice.

How to wash?

Under no circumstances should you use sponges that clean dishes and cups for the whole family to care for children's dishes. The baby should have its own brushes, brushes and sponges.

Modern brushes, specially designed for washing "milk" bottles, are very convenient and functional. The bristles in such products are quite elastic, so it cleans the walls of the bottles well and does not scratch their surface. Many brushes are equipped with a soft sponge that perfectly rinses the bottom. Thanks to the suction cup on the bottom, the brush can be installed in a vertical position, thus protecting it from contact with not very clean surfaces.

An important point: no matter how convenient and expensive a baby bottle brush may seem, after a while it inevitably turns into a breeding ground for bacteria. Careful disinfection (for example, with vinegar) slightly extends the life of the product, but it still needs to be replaced periodically with a new one.

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How to wash baby bottles? - ServiceYard - the comfort of your home is in your hands.

How do I clean my feeding bottles?
Bottle sterilization
How to wash baby bottles when traveling?
Footage

Anyone with a small child in their family is no doubt familiar with feeding bottles, nipples, diapers, pacifiers and probably knows how and with what to wash baby bottles and other items around the baby. Absolutely all young parents need such knowledge, because wrong actions regarding the cleaning of children's household items can not only damage the things themselves, but also entail a negative reaction of the child's body. The thing is that a newborn baby has not yet had time to fully develop its immune system, and this makes it more susceptible to bacteria that are on improperly treated surfaces.

Important! When buying plastic baby bottles, make sure the plastic does not contain the chemical Bisphenol-A. It is very toxic and can lead to serious health problems for the baby. Many countries have already banned the production and sale of children's items with an admixture of this chemical. Unfortunately, our country is not included in this list yet. Therefore, parents need to be more vigilant when buying children's products.

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How to wash feeding bottles?

For perfect care of feeding utensils, you need to know the detailed instructions on how to wash baby bottles. It looks like this:

Rinse the bottle in the sink immediately after feeding:
- Even if you don't have time for a more thorough wash, just rinse the dish. This will prevent dried milk and dirt from accumulating on the walls and bottom of the bottle.
- Use hot water for rinsing. In this way, rinsing will be more effective.
To get the most out of your washing process, you need to know the best way to wash baby bottles. When buying a feeding bottle, immediately purchase the following products:
- Brush for washing baby dishes and a special brush for cleaning rubber pacifiers. Some bottles are difficult to clean near the bottom and in the neck area, a brush will help with this. Teat brushes have the ability to collect bacteria from their surfaces.
- Specially formulated for washing baby bottles. It differs from the usual dishwashing detergent in a more gentle and mild action. It is hypoallergenic, non-toxic and, no less important, does not leave soap residues on the surfaces of the container after rinsing in hot or cold water.
To eliminate the possibility of foreign bacteria and chemicals getting on children's dishes, it is recommended to wash the sink itself before washing it.
For best results, use a hard sponge, baking soda, or other natural disinfectant.
After cleaning the sink, fill it with hot water of the highest possible temperature and soap.
Feeding bottles must be completely disassembled before washing. Each of their parts - a bottle, a nipple, a ring, a cap - are washed separately.

Important! Separate washing is recommended because a large amount of milk tends to accumulate between the ring and the nipple, which contributes to the rapid growth of bacteria.

Immerse each part in hot soapy water.
Use a bottle brush and a nipple brush that can also clean the ring.
If the instructions for use of the feeding bottle say that it can be washed in the dishwasher, then use this method, which will save you a lot of time.
Place the bottle upside down on the top rack of the dishwasher, away from the heating elements.

Important! Today, children's goods stores can offer their customers a special basket for washing rings and nipples that are installed in the dishwasher.

To get rid of soap residues on the surfaces of the bottle and its elements, after washing, they should be thoroughly rinsed under running water at the highest possible temperature.
Place all parts of the newborn bottle on the drying rack.

Important! Dry the bottle in a well-ventilated area so that it dries completely quickly. Otherwise, fungus and mold may begin to develop on its surfaces.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling a dry bottle to feed your baby.

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Sterilizing bottles

This method is very effective in killing all possible bacteria on the surfaces of baby dishes. If earlier, after each use, the bottle was advised to sterilize it, but now this process is considered not so necessary.

Important! Recent studies by the medical community have shown that washing feeding bottles with hot, soapy water is sufficient to clean them. The main condition is the purity of water and its suitability for drinking.

However, sterilization is indispensable in the following cases:

Before using the baby dish for the first time immediately after purchase.
After each washing of the bottle with water from a well or well.
After the child's illness.
After prolonged use.

Electric and microwave sterilizers

The principle of sterilization in these devices is the treatment of dishes with steam at a temperature of +100 C. Steam with such a high temperature kills all bacteria and microbes on the surfaces of the bottle. To use these devices correctly:

Electric sterilizer should be filled with a small amount of water. Place rings, nipples and bottles inside at some distance from each other. Sterilization takes approximately 10 minutes.
With a microwave sterilizer, the steps are essentially the same. Once all items to be sterilized have been placed, place the instrument in the microwave oven. Set the microwave to full power and turn it on for 4-8 minutes.

Important! The operating time of a microwave oven depends purely on the power of the device itself.

Sterilization in a steamer

A steamer is a fairly common item in the kitchen of a young housewife. With it, you can not only cook healthy and tasty food, but also, if necessary, sterilize children's dishes. For this:

Pour water into the bottom compartment of the steamer.
Place bottles upside down.
Other parts of the baby bottle can be placed on top of the steamer.
Switch on the appliance in the “cooking” mode for 5 to 15 minutes.
Wait for the steamer to switch off and cool down.

After that, children's dishes can be used for their intended purpose.

Multicooker sterilization

Multicooker sterilization is very easy:

Pour 1 liter of water into the main container of the multicooker.
Place all baby items that require sterilization on the steam rack.
Turn on steam mode by setting the time to 7-10 minutes.

Microwave sterilization

For this process in the microwave, it is better to use special bags or additional containers with a lid.
Children's dishes are placed in a container or bag and filled with cold water.
After 7-8 minutes of microwave operation, the baby bottle will be sterilized.

Boiling

Mothers, grandmothers and their predecessors were not familiar with microwave ovens or sterilizers in their youth. And yet, they took care of their children no worse than modern mothers. Today, a large number of young parents use the old and proven method of sterilization - boiling.

This is very easy to do:

Pour water into a large pot and bring it to a boil.
Place all parts of the feeding bottle into the boiling liquid.
Cover the pot and boil the items for at least 3 minutes.

Important! This sterilization method is most suitable for glass bottles. If the plastic bottle does not contain the above harmful component - bisphenol-A, then it can also be processed in this way.

Cold water sterilization

This process can be carried out with cold water and a special preparation that has antiseptic properties. In this case, to wash baby bottles, in order to get the effect of sterilization, it is necessary to use products such as Milton or Bebe Comfort. They are sold in pharmacies. According to instructions?

Dissolve them in cold water and place children's dishes in the solution.
After half an hour, the dishes are removed from the solution and thoroughly washed with boiled water.

Important! This method well protects children's dishes from germs without damaging them.

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How do I clean baby bottles while traveling?

Children never let their parents relax. Therefore, while traveling, you need to be prepared for various minor troubles. To solve the problem of how to wash baby bottles during a trip, you should always have a small container of soap and a brush with you.

Important! It is best to place the brush in a sealed zip bag. So you will protect it from external bacteria that you do not need.

How to proceed:

If you have bottle and brush detergent, you can wash your baby's dishes in any sink.

Important! Remember the rules on how to wash baby bottles. Strictly follow them, even if you are far from home.

Disposable sterile bottle inserts come in handy when traveling. With their help, you can get by with one bottle throughout the trip and wash it only once a day, for example, in the evening.