Cleaning and Sterilising Baby Bottles, Step by Step

Milk left in a bottle is a good place for germs to grow, and a baby's immune system is still developing, so bottle cleaning deserves a few careful minutes after every feed. Start as soon as the feed ends: take the bottle apart into teat, ring, cap and bottle, and rinse in lukewarm water before the milk dries. Then wash in warm water with a detergent made for baby things, using a bottle brush and a small teat brush, and squeeze water through the teat hole to make sure it is clear. In the early months it is advised to sterilise after washing, at least once a day. The simplest way is boiling: cover the parts with water in a pan and boil for five minutes, or use a steam steriliser and follow its instructions. Glass takes boiling well; teats wear out sooner with frequent boiling, so check them often. Let the parts air dry on a clean rack instead of wiping them with a kitchen towel. Replace a teat at the first crack or change in colour or feel. If your baby has a particular health condition, ask their doctor which method suits best.