Sterilising Baby Bottles: Is It Really That Important?

It was my grandmother who took care of me and my siblings when we were young, while our parents were out working. I have seen my grandma and my mum putting milk bottles in boiling hot water and I remember where my jaw was – on the floor. Of course, as I grew older, I learned that what these ladies did was simply “sterilising the bottles so that they are safe to be used”. In our current time and age, some doctors are now saying that it is no longer necessary to sterilise baby’s bottles as our drinking water is so much safer than our grandmothers’ time. However, with modern living comes modern problems – industrialisations and pollution can contaminate our water supply. Unless you are assured of your water filtration system at home, whether or not our water is safe and contamination-free is still a question mark. Thus, it is advisable to sterilise baby bottles and feeding equipment like teats, bottle parts, and pacifiers until your baby is 12 months old. It is especially crucial when your baby has a weakened immune system, like that of a premature baby’s, or is not feeling well, or is under 3 months old. Sterilising effectively kills bacteria and protects your baby from germs and infections that may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and possibly more serious complications. Disinfect baby bottles. How Often is Often Enough? The general rule of thumb is that bottles should be disassembled and washed out with gentle soap after every use; making sure to scrub with a bottle brush to remove milk build-ups, fats, stains, and of course, saliva on the teats – all these are great stuff that encourages germs to grow and multiply. Now, deep sterilising is important and should be done on a regular basis. Some parents may prefer to sterilise every time after use, every day, or every other day, while some would do so once a week. While there is no hard and fast rule, the key remains – that baby bottles must be sterilised regularly. Sterilise baby bottles Storing Sterilised Bottles For busy parents who hardly have time for anything, you may consider gathering all bottles at the end of the day when the baby goes to bed, and sterilise them at one go, place them on a drying rack (preferably one with a lid, so you can leave them out overnight), and then, store them appropriately. Yes, that means acquiring more containers to store the sterilised bottles, which spells – more stuff to keep, more space taken up! Bottles need to be completely dry before being put away. Assembling bottles and keeping them in a cabinet or container while they are still wet – no matter almost-dry they are – can trap moisture and foster microbial growth. So, what can we do without having to wait for the bottles to drip dry on a rack? Well, modern problems call for a modern solution, of course! Philips Avent Baby Bottle Sterilizer Philips Avent is a well-loved, established brand recommended by mums from all over the world. A forefront baby products innovator, Philips Avent understands mums’ needs and strives to offer the safest, time-saving solutions to ease this journey called motherhood. Convenience is Key The Philips Avent Baby Bottle Steriliser takes just 10 minutes using powerful steam-sterilising method to make sure all your baby-feeding paraphernalia are safe for next feeding and then, dries them in 30 minutes with a focused jet of filtered air – all within a sleek container and by just a tap of a button. The steriliser automatically shuts off at the end of every cycle for a fuss-free experience – perfect for busy mums! Safe for Silicone and PPSU Plastic The premium steriliser offers a fast, safe, and chemical-free sterilisation for up to 24 hours with the lid on to safeguard babies from unwanted germs. The process does not degrade silicone and plastic parts and it is recommended by the US CDC that steam is safe to sterilise all conventional baby milk bottles. Thoughtfully Designed While the steriliser is a powerful workhorse that kills 99.9% of germs, it is also a stylish addition to the kitchen countertop. Its compact, space-saving design is fully flexible and adaptable; its integrated drip tray protects the heating plate from milk droplets – preventing burning smell, and unpleasant odours, too. Motherhood Gets Better with Philips Avent A multipurpose solution to sterilise, dry, and store up to 6 Philips Avent Baby Bottles and all the essentials – teats, soothers, and breast pump parts! Can we get any better than this?! I would have another baby just so I can find a good reason to own and use such a cool steriliser again! Now, while I wait on the stork to send me a baby, you may head on over to Philips Avent Official Store at Motherhood.com.my or Philips Avent Official Shopee Store to find out how you can lighten the load of your house chores and redeem more time with your child!

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