new moms...do i need a bottle sterilizer or just a waste of time?

redhead0525 · September 2009

I got the advent microwave steam sterilizer for my shower but at my prenatal class they said it was easiest to use the basket for the dishwasher for bottles and nipples.....any preferences from new moms?

Thanks!

christin3580 · September 2009

I seem to be at the point where I want some kind of sterilizer... or something.. i have the basket for the dishwasher.. but sometimes the diswasher isnt ready to be ran and I end up hand washing the bottles 2 times a day anyways...

dmogmo · September 2009

Honestly, we just throw everything in the pink hospital bucket and soak in warm soapy water. But if I didn't do that I would do the dishwasher basket. I wouldn't bother with the sterilizer.

ntnylizard · September 2009

I say it's a waste. You can use the basket in the dishwasher, and when the dishwasher isn't full, use the microwave steam bags from Munchkin for sterile stuff in less than 2 minutes. Each bag can be used 20 times, and our Target/Walmart sells a box of 10 or so bags for around $5.

b.heather · September 2009

I was researching this yesterday and the medical consensus seemed to be that serilizition is unnecessary unless you have a sick (hospitalized) baby or a premature baby, or your water supply is unclean. Also, boiling, using a steam sterlizer, or a bleach solution will break down your plastic bottles and nipples faster.

Here's a linky: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/should-you-sterilize-your-babys-bottles

eml569 · September 2009

I hand wash all of the bottles, nipples, and pump parts in hot soapy water and use the sterilizer for the nipples. I don't like throwing them in the dishwasher, for the simple reason that I have way too many to fit into the basket. We EBF, but I work 2 days a week so he gets bottles on weekends. Our bottles are too big to fit into the dishwasher basket but I don't like just throwing them in there. We also are on well water and it make me feel better to sterilize.

That being said, it isn't a necessity. We also have the Avent sterilizer and it does whatever job it is supposed to do. I wish it had a handle on the top though. Most girls on here will say not necessary, and it isn't. But in our house it has been nice to have. (especially if someone else bought it and you don't need to return it!)

lisap921 · September 2009

I have the microwave sterilizer and really like it. I tried the dishwasher baskets, but we have the playtex ventaire bottles and they just don't fit in there right. I would need like 5 of those baskets just to wash 8 bottles. But the microwave sterilizer works great for me. I do one cycle with the smaller parts, and one cycle with just the bottles. I only do this once a week though.

Aliliv · September 2009

I sterilize everything everyday and I just do it with a pot, water, and the stove! I had the microwave sterlizer, but it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. It can be a lot faster though.

angelina477 · September 2009

We use the pink bucket too! Too funny.

DarcyLongfellow · September 2009

I love my microwave sterilizer. I almost returned it because I kept hearing it was unnecessary, but I'm glad I didn't. We only use bottles occasionally. I hand wash them then put them in the sterilized. I also sterilize pacifiers, pump parts, etc. It's way easier than boiling a giant pot of water (which takes a long time and is hard to time with a newborn -- she kept having to eat again right as the water would boil!!)

grinsandgiggles · September 2009

If you have a dishwasher I don't think you need one for the microwave. It'll be nice to have if your LO develops thrush (like mine did) and you want to sterilize after every wash...but unless that happens, once a week in the dishwasher is fine.

cedens · September 2009

our water gets really really hot- like scold ur hand hot- so rinse out the bottles with hot water then place them in a mixing bowl by the sink- then at the end of the day, i fill up the mixing bowl with that scolding hot,soapy water then let them sit for a few minutes- then i soap them up and place in another mixing bowl so i can rinse them piece by piece- this seems to have worked so far- i am hoping that's enough- was thinking of getting the avent sterilizer for once a week sterilizing- right now i dont sterilize once a week unless the nipple or paci's fell on the floor or the dog sniffed or licked it then i will sterilize before giving it to her again

schmoodle · September 2009

Honestly, we never use our sterilizer, just put all bottles and parts in the dishwasher every night. If we need something quickly sterilized we use the Munchkin microwave sterilizer bags.

CalinsBride · September 2009

It's a must for us. We didn't have one the first month then went out and bought one.

jklatka · September 2009

I have a preemie and I thought I would def. need a steralizer. ..boy was I shocked when at the hospital the nurse showed me how to clean my breast pumping accessories. .just a little warm water and palmolive. ....no steralizer at all. . .since then I have just washed all her things the same way. ...

Mrs.C042807 · September 2009

I sterilize (boil for 2 minutes) before first use. After that I hand wash in hot soapy water or run everything through the dishwasher a couple of times a week.

KatGapp · September 2009

hijoi:
Honestly, I sterilize once a month, and that's just in a pot of boiling water on the stove. I wash everything in really hot water after each use though.

Ditto!!! IMO spend your money else where.

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new moms...do i need a bottle sterilizer or just a waste of time?

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