Can you boil glass baby bottles

Glass, Plastic, Disposable, and More

Written by Wendy C. Fries

Reviewed by Renee A. Alli, MD on February 07, 2021

Baby Bottle Basics: Plastic Vs. Glass

You've got four basic choices:

1. Plastic

Pros: They’re lightweight, strong, and unbreakable.

Cons: Plastic baby bottles may not last as long as glass. And if you’re using older, secondhand bottles, they may have bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make hardened plastic. The FDA banned the use of BPA in 2012 from baby bottles and sippy cups, but older ones may have it.

2. Glass

Pros: They last a long time, and you can boil them for a deep clean.

Cons: They’re heavier than plastic and may shatter if you drop them.

3. Hybrid

Hybrid bottles have a glass liner to prevent chemicals from coming into contact with the formula, with a plastic outside that keeps them from breaking.

Pros: They're lightweight, safe, and won't discolor or retain bad smells.

Cons: They may be more expensive than plastic or glass.

4. Disposable

Pros: These reusable plastic bottles have a disposable sterilized liner for each feeding. They’re very convenient because clean-up is quick.

Cons: The disposable inserts may not be great for the environment, and the bottles are usually more expensive than regular plastic or glass. You also need to have a supply of liners, which can be costly.

Which kind should you choose? Ask for advice from friends, family, or your baby’s pediatrician. Experiment. Try a few and see which you and your baby like best.

Once you pick a specific bottle, buy at least a dozen of them. Even if you’ll be breastfeeding, you may want some extra baby bottles for pumped breast milk storage.

Nipples for Bottles

Baby bottle nipples are usually rubber or silicone. They can be rounded, wide, flat, or shaped to mimic a mother’s nipple in the baby’s mouth. Depending on the size of the nipple hole, they also have different flow rates, from slow to fast.

As with bottles, your baby may prefer a certain nipple type. The only way to find out is to try them out. To get started, ask friends, family, and your baby’s doctor about which types and brands they recommend.

Get at least 12 nipples and covers. Remember, these nipples crack and leak with use, so you may need to buy more over time. And the sizes change as baby grows.

Baby Bottle Gear

There are lots of accessories to choose from, including brushes, carrying cases, sterilizers, and dishwasher bottle baskets.

Pediatricians and parents generally agree that the following items are helpful:

1 baby bottle brush
1 nipple brush
6-12 bibs
1 breast pump with storage bottles (if you’re breastfeeding)
12 burp cloths, receiving blankets, or clean cloth diapers

Are Plastic Baby Bottles Safe?

If you’re buying brand new bottles, you can rest assured that they’re safe. Since the FDA banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups, those for sale today shouldn’t have this chemical.

6 Dos & Don’ts

1. Don’t sterilize glass baby bottles and nipples before every use. That practice was only necessary in the past, when local water supplies were not as reliably clean as they are now.

You may want to sterilize new glass baby bottles and new nipples by putting them in boiling water for 5 minutes After that, you can wash bottles in the dishwasher, which cleans better than hand-washing them, or wash by hand with hot, soapy water and rinse well.

2. Do replace baby bottles and nipples if you find a certain set just doesn’t agree with your baby’s needs.

3. Do replace a glass baby bottle if it’s cracked or chipped.

4. Do replace a plastic baby bottle if it’s cracked, leaks, is discolored, or smells bad.

5. Do replace a nipple if it’s discolored or isn't in good shape (a damaged nipple can be a choking hazard), or if milk comes out too fast.

To test the flow, turn the bottle upside down. Only a few drops should come out. If more do, the hole is too big, and your baby may get more formula than they can handle. Nipple packages should state the flow rate on them.

6. Do label breast milk bottles for storage.

7. Don’t buy a baby bottle warmer unless you really want one. Standing a baby bottle in a glass of hot water for a few minutes is easier and less expensive. Also, don't heat your baby’s bottle in the microwave. That can create hot spots in the liquid because microwaves don't heat evenly.

8. Don't feed baby the rest of a bottle started earlier, even if it was refrigerated.

9. Never microwave bottles.

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles the Easiest, Safest Way

So what’s the deal? Do you really need to sterilize baby bottles after every use? Find out how often to do the deep clean, plus get step-by-step directions.

Breast milk or formula? Glass bottles or plastic? We, as mothers, can’t help but be extremely paranoid about what goes into our babies’ mouths—especially when they’re brand new. And for good reason. Immune systems are at their weakest at birth and slowly strengthen as the growing child is exposed to bacteria, both good and bad. (source) So it stands to reason that in those first three months we do have to take some extra precautions—not just with the milk they drink, but also how we sterilize baby bottles.

With that in mind, this article will discuss:

How to sterilize baby bottles
How often to sterilize baby bottles
Plus, the surprising reason you could be overdoing it

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles

It’s easy to get caught up in baby accessory mania, but there are quite a few gadgets out there that just take up unnecessary space. A bottle sterilizer is one of them. All you need to sterilize baby bottles, whether glass or plastic, is a pot and boiling water. A simple process indeed, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started.

Use the Stovetop

A stovetop is a safe and simple way to sterilize baby bottles. Here’s what you need to do:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Make sure the pot isn’t cover in teflon or other toxic materials. (Learn how to choose safe cookware.) You need your pot to also be large enough to cover all of your bottles and their parts. (This is a nice, large one that’s made with safe materials.)
Take the bottles apart. Separate all of the pieces—the top from the bottle and the nipple from the top.
While you’re waiting for the water to boil, clean the bottles in soapy water. I know this may sound redundant, but you want your bottles cleaned of milk and other substances before you begin the sterilizing process. If you skip this step, the milk may crust onto the bottle.
Submerge bottles and bottle parts for 3-5 minutes in the boiling water. Use stainless steel tongs to avoid burning yourself.
Carefully remove bottles using tongs and set out on a clean, dry dish towel to air dry. Note: Air-drying on a clean dish towel or paper towel is a better option than a drying rack. Those “grass” drying racks can trap moisture, making them a hot bed for mold and germs. If you prefer a drying rack, use a stainless steel one and make sure to wash and sanitize it on a regular basis.

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Use the Dishwasher

In a hurry? Glass bottles can also be sterilized in the dishwasher, but you need to hand wash first if there was milk in bottles. Here’s how to wash bottles in the dishwasher:

Take the bottles apart. Separate all of the pieces—the top from the bottle and the nipple from the top.
Rinse the bottles in soapy water. I know this may sound redundant, but you want your bottles cleaned of milk and other substances before you begin the sterilizing process. If you skip this step, the milk may crust onto the bottle.
Place small parts (rings and nipples) in a dishwasher-safe basket. If your dishwasher has a top rack for utensils, this space works, too.
Place bottles with the rest of your glasses. In some models, this is the top rack; in others this is the middle rack.
Run this dishwasher on a hot water cycle, complete with a heat dry. Some dishwashers even offer a sanitizing cycle.
Remove bottles from the dishwasher. If bottles are still wet, let them air dry on a clean dish towel or stainless steel drying rack before reassembling and storing.

Don’t Use Plastic Microwave Bags or Electric Steamers

Plastic steam bags and electric steamers promise to sterilize baby bottles in mere minutes. Sounds like a dream, right? Manufacturers boast that these products are made without BPA, that doesn’t negate the fact that heating plastic to high temperatures can increase the risk of harmful chemicals leaching into the bottles.

The AAP recommends parents avoid heating plastic bottles or food in the microwave when possible. Why would microwaving a glass bottle in a plastic bag or heating glass bottles in a device made largely of plastic be any different?

How Often to Sterilize Baby Bottles

Before the first use

Always sterilize baby bottles before first-time use. You never know what bottles come into contact with during production, or what other hands have touched the bottles. Sterilizing them right away ensures a fresh, clean start.

Beyond the first use

The CDC does recommend sterilizing baby bottles at least once a day for the first three months, but most pediatricians agree that daily sanitizing is not necessary—as long as bottles are thoroughly cleaned between each use.

Experts say water that’s safe enough to drink, is safe enough to clean with. Using this as a guideline, you don’t have to sterilize baby bottles on a regular basis.

There are two exceptions, though:

Illness: If your little one is sick, you should go back to being extra diligent about how often you sterilize baby bottles—consider sterilizing after every use during illness.
Compromised immune system: Babies with compromised immune systems or certain medical conditions may receive special advice from their pediatrician. Talk to your own healthcare provider to find out what’s right for your child.

Don’t Go Overboard…

Though sterilizing is important, don’t take it to the extreme. While it’s important to use clean bottles for baby, over-sterilizing isn’t good either and can compromise the amount of good bacteria in baby’s gut. In fact, there’s some evidence that the shortage of microbes babies are exposed to explains the sharp increase in childhood allergies.

Stick to the guidelines: Sanitize before the first use, but then ease up—unless baby is sick or you’ve received different advice from your pediatrician.

How About You?

How do you sterilize baby bottles? Any tips or tricks for making the process more efficient? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

How to sterilize baby dishes | Agu-baby.by

How to sterilize baby dishes

You can argue about the need to sterilize baby dishes, pacifiers and nipples for newborns. Some mothers say that an extra microbe in the body will not hurt, because very soon the baby will have to face bacteria in reality, outside the home. Others believe that cleanliness is above all and carefully process all objects that have fallen on the floor.

To sterilize or not to sterilize? nine0003

We are for the golden mean. While the body of a newborn is weak, it is very easy to catch an intestinal infection from a poorly washed bottle, stomatitis or a number of other diseases, and getting sick with these diseases in infancy is much more dangerous than, say, in a year. Therefore, at first, you should protect the child.

There are also circumstances when sterilization is indispensable:

immediately after purchasing a new bottle or pacifier; nine0007
after an illness of a child;
if the mixture remains sour. Bacteria multiply very quickly in a dairy environment, so it is impossible to store the finished mixture for a long time. Wash dishes immediately after feeding!

Until what age is sterilization necessary?

Pediatricians consider - up to 4-6 months. Then the decision is made by the parents themselves. Most mothers extend the sterilization procedure up to 1.5 years, gradually reducing it to rinsing a dropped nipple in soapy water or pouring boiling water over a bottle. nine0007

How and with what to sterilize?

It is necessary to sterilize clean dishes, so you must first wash it with baby, laundry soap or soda.

Boiling

Put bottles and pacifiers in a pot of water, cover, boil for 4-10 minutes. Glass bottles can be boiled for up to 10 minutes. On modern plastic products, manufacturers themselves indicate the temperature and method of disinfection. nine0007

Then drain the water and wait for the items to cool down.

There is a drawback in this method: not all accessories can withstand boiling. For example, low-quality plastic bottles can be deformed. Quickly become unusable and nipples. Latex and silicone are processed for only 4 minutes, but they are somehow deformed and cracked. More wear-resistant are rubber tips (they can be boiled for 10 minutes). nine0007

Steamer and multicooker

In a double boiler, the destruction of microbes occurs under the influence of hot steam. Putting the bottles upside down, it is enough to process them for 5 - 15 minutes. For this purpose, turn on the multicooker in the “Steamer” or “Cooking” mode.

Microwave.

Put food items in a regular microwave bowl, pour water and turn on for 7 minutes. You can use bags for sterilization, in which the bottles are folded and sent to the oven. And finally, you can buy a special microwave sterilizer. nine0007

Cold sterilization

In pharmacies, you can buy special tablets, from which it is easy to prepare a solution for disinfecting dishes (treatment 30 minutes). Such tablets are convenient to use on the road.

Sterilizer

And, finally, the most reliable method of sterilization is with the help of steam and electrical appliances. They are easy to use and guarantee a high quality of disinfection - objects remain sterile for several hours. Multiple bottles can be sterilized at the same time. Processing dishes in steam machines completely destroys unwanted odors. nine0007

Holding time - 10 minutes.

Dear mothers! Choose the methods and methods of sterilization that are most suitable for you, but do not forget that excessive sterility leads to weak immunity in a child.

HOW TO STERILIZE PHILIPS AVENT BOTTLES

Teats and bottles harbor millions of microbes. They are not afraid of boiling water, soda and detergents. The only thing that kills them is hot steam, which literally dissolves bacilli with a probability of up to 99.9%. Porridge and milk keep longer. A formula-fed baby is less likely to get sick.

So, mums, end your feeding with poorly washed bottles and learn how to disinfect them the way our grandmothers did. Only in a new way.

How to sterilize baby bottles

Washing with a brush or sponge is a must after every feeding. And it is better to sterilize in the evening or in the morning, in order to get rid of all pathogenic bacteria and not worry about the cleanliness of children's accessories. nine0007

When doing this, you must follow the safety rules: otherwise you can inadvertently scald or deform plastic dishes.

Below are three general guidelines for sterilizing baby bottles.

The utensil must not be immersed in boiling water, otherwise it will soften and melt.
Glasses and bottles are placed with their neck down: so that the steam cleans the inside, and the condensate flows down the walls into a bowl.
Bottles must not touch the sides of the pan as they may melt and stick to them. nine0018

After sterilization, it is better not to remove the dishes from the container for about ten minutes. It should cool down to a comfortable temperature. And if you really need it, you should use tongs, oven mitts or a kitchen towel folded in several layers.

By the way: Baby utensils: how to choose - 4 key parameters to help

How to sterilize nipples for children?

Teats are sterilized in the same way as bottles, but with the base down - to steam not only the outer, but also the inner walls. And let the moisture drain. nine0007

Types of sterilization

Two types of sterilization are used for the treatment of children's utensils - steam and dry heat.

In the first case, the vessel is steamed.
In the second, washed and still wet bottles are heated in the oven, sterilizer, microwave, multicooker and even in the dishwasher, which supports steam treatment at 80+°C.

Life hack: how to steam bottles and other things with sterilization bags (such as Nuvita NV1087)
- Put dishes in food bags.
- Pour 60-70 ml of water into them.
- Microwave for 2-3 minutes.

The sterilization process is as simple as a copper penny. Evaporating moisture destroys pathogenic (and not only) microbes from various surfaces. Materials exposed to hot air and steam do not creak from cleanliness, but are sterile and safe for health.

Not only teats and bottles are disinfected in this way, but also brushes, bowls, thermoses and cups like Avent SCF796/01 and more.

An interesting article: When the first baby stroller appeared: 10 facts from history

In the microwave

There are 3 sterilization options in the microwave oven. Not all of them are suitable for processing nipples.

Place the bottles in a glass or ceramic dish → fill it with water → cover with a lid → put the microwave on maximum power for 5-7 minutes.
Pour water into the bottle 1-1.5 cm from the bottom → microwave for 3-5 minutes. The nipples will have to be washed separately. nine0018
In the Nuvita type microwave sterilizer (NV1085), it is enough to put the container → pour water → click on the valve → set the device to work for 5-8 minutes.

Picking up a hot dish is easier with tongs or oven mitts.

Sterilization in the microwave gives its advantages and disadvantages, described in the table: the inner bowl of the multicooker. So that the saucepan does not smell like food, otherwise bottles or children's dishes will take over this smell. nine0007

The subsequent sterilization process in the multicooker is similar to microwave.

Pour ≈ 1-1.5 liters of water into the bowl.
Place the steam rack and place the bottles upside down.
Seal the steam device hermetically.
Set "Steam" mode to 15 minutes or "Sterilize" mode.
Remove the dishes and cover with a towel to cool completely.

This method also has its pros and cons. nine0007

Sterilizer

Children's sterilizer is an electrical device for cleaning utensils. Works carefully, the bottle will not crack due to overheating.

In the steam sterilization method, everything is calculated with medical precision. The device holds up to 6-8 bottles and the same number of nipples. A great example of such a device is the Philips Avent 3-in-1 steam sterilizer. It is ideal for a family with several kids.

The principle of operation of the device is nowhere simpler. It consists of step by step actions. nine0007

Pour cold water into the tank (how much is indicated in the instructions).
Place the pre-cleaned bottles in the special niches. This should be done upside down.
Close cover.
Switch on the sterilizer for 7-15 minutes.
Let the device “cool down” for 5-7 minutes. This is necessary so that you do not accidentally burn yourself with steam.

If the use of the bottles "does not burn", then they can be left with a closed lid - so they will be sterile for another 4-5 hours. If you need to get one of the bottles, take only it, and close the rest of the clean bottles with lids. nine0007

Before putting the dishes into the sterilizer, make sure they are clean. The device removes germs and odor, but does not cope with pollution.

Read: Top 5 Best Convertible Strollers

Avoid Sterilization Mistakes: 4 Common

Many parents make basic mistakes that are best addressed in advance.

1. Unwashed or poorly washed utensils
Leftover food provokes the reproduction of microflora and can cause stomach problems in a child. And sterilization does not wash out food residues - only cleaning can do this. nine0007

2. Pot boiling
You can't boil! The maximum allowable temperature for children's utensils is 110 ° C. And often it is even less. Otherwise, the bottles may melt.

3. Installation in a steamer and microwave without water is contraindicated
The device will burn, and the dishes will melt.

4. Sterilization of dishes with visible chips and cracks
Microbes accumulate and multiply in them, which can cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and not only. nine0007

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