Bottle sterilizer- necessary?

TarheelsInNJ · September 2009

Hello! I can't decide if it's necessary to have a bottle sterilizer, and I'm wondering if any of you can shed some light. We do NOT have a dishwasher, so we'll be hand washing the bottles.

Thanks!

jillianfries · September 2009

I don't have a dishwasher either. I just put some water in a pot to boil, wash the bottles and put them in the water, and then I finish washing the rest of the dishes. I've only used the sterilizer once.

sasa625 · September 2009

Maybe I'm a bad mommy, but we only sterilize the bottles before we use them for the 1st time. Otherwise, we just handwash them. DD seems to be doing fine

SWMcFarland · September 2009

Tarheels!!! I am so happy to see a post from you!! :-)

We have a microwave one that we've used a ton. We went to just sterilizing every couple of days, but then Lily got thrush. So I boil every piece (yes, I know, she is almost 6 months old!!) after they are done being washed.

The microwave Dr. Brown's sterilizer is what we have and I'm glad we got it.

Leila'sMommy · September 2009

Nah. I've hand-washed DD's bottles and boiled the nipples since she started using them. No worries.

Mrs*Lauren*and*Justin · September 2009

We do have a dishwasher, and everyone told me I didn't need a sterilizer because I could run it in there....

We don't have to run our dishwasher every day, and I think it is such a waste to run it just for some bottles.

So dishwasher or not, I love our sterilizer. It takes 4 minutes to sterilize our bottles, and it is super easy to use. I highly recommend getting one!

We have the Munchkin brand one. We also use sterilizer bags for smaller loads of bottles and for my pump parts. These are very easy to use as well.

lzbflogrl · September 2009

i use the dishwasher and sterilize the bottles everyday. i use the dr brown's one

mags507 · September 2009

sasa625:

Maybe I'm a bad mommy, but we only sterilize the bottles before we use them for the 1st time. Otherwise, we just handwash them. DD seems to be doing fine

This.

We sterilized in the dishwasher before the first use. Now I handwash if I don't otherwise have a full load of dishes. I use the dishwasher if I can for convienence. Since you don't have a dishwasher, I would just boil before first use then handwash afterward. If you think about it, the bottles don't STAY sterile once you handle them.

grinsandgiggles · September 2009

It's not necessary. You can boil water and do it that way. We prefer the sterilizer because we sterilize after every wash (including pacifiers) and it only takes 3 minutes. No waiting for water to boil and having to be careful with tongs.

He had thrush really bad at one time so that's why we sterilize after every wash, we hope to avoid him getting it again.

DarcyLongfellow · September 2009

Not necessary, but I love ours. I have born free bottles, so I have the born free micro sterilizer. Takes 5 minutes. So much easier than boiling a pot of water. And I hand wash even though I do have a dishwasher.