Can you boil nipples

Sanitizing is an extra step to kill more germs on items that have been cleaned. Sanitizing feeding items provides more protection against all infections.

Bottles should be cleaned after every feeding. If your baby does not finish drinking a bottle within 2 hours, throw away the unfinished formula.

Germs can grow quickly if breast milk or formula is added to a partially used bottle, or if a used bottle is only rinsed, rather than cleaned. If your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness such as HIV or medical treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer , sanitizing feeding items daily or more often is particularly important. You can clean brushes and basins in a dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe, or by washing by hand with soap and hot water.

If you steam an item, be sure the entire item fits in the steamer. Why should I air-dry infant feeding items on a clean towel instead of using a drying rack? Air-drying infant feeding items on a clean dish towel or paper towel is probably more hygienic than using a drying rack.

Drying racks may trap moisture, allow mold and germs to grow, and be difficult to clean. Every few days or at least daily if your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system , be sure to wash it, sanitize it, and allow it to dry thoroughly to reduce contamination.

No studies have shown that babies have become sick from contamination on the outside of an infant formula container. Also, powdered infant formula is less likely to become contaminated if it stays dry. Avoid using liquid cleaners on infant formula containers to help prevent contaminating powdered formula inside the container.

If you want to clean the formula container, use a disinfectant wipe or paper towel sprayed with disinfectant to clean the outside of the container and lid before it is opened for the first time. Parker has experience writing on a variety of topics such as health, parenting, home improvement and decorating. She is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in organizational communication.

More Articles. How to Boil Baby Bottle Nipples. If it has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour, throw it away. And if your baby doesn't drink all the formula in the bottle, throw away the unused portion — do not save it for later. Formula may be prepared ahead of time for up to 24 hours if you store it in the refrigerator to prevent the formation of bacteria.

Open containers of ready-made formula, concentrated formula, and formula prepared from concentrate also can be stored safely in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Some babies may actually prefer cold or room-temperature bottles to warm, especially if you start serving them that way from the get-go which can make things easier for you in the long run.

But if your baby does prefer a warm bottle, remember that the microwave can create dangerous "hot spots" in bottles, so you should never microwave formula. Whichever way you choose to heat your baby's bottles, be sure to shake the bottle vigorously. Then test the temperature of the formula by squirting a drop or two on the inside or your wrist before feeding your baby. It should be lukewarm barely warm not hot. Some parents opt to make a bottle just before each feeding, but many others choose to pre-make and refrigerate enough to use for the day.

If you know your baby eats every hours, for instance, you can make six to eight bottles to last you all day. If your baby is staying with a caregiver for a long period of time, you may want to prepare just one or two bottles and leave instructions and supplies bottles, nipples, formula, and water, if necessary so the caregiver can prepare bottles as needed and not waste any formula.

After all, you'll need to throw away any mixed formula that is not used after 24 hours. Clean bottle nipples -- along with the bottles, rings and tools that you use to make baby formula -- with dishwashing soap and hot water rather than sterilizing them in boiling water after each use.

You can also run the bottles and nipples through a cycle in the dishwasher, notes the HealthyChildren. Place the nipples on the top rack or inside a basket that will keep them from falling to the bottom of the dishwasher. Instead of sterilizing the nipples on the stovetop, you can buy an appliance sold at baby supply stores designed to sterilize bottles and nipples.

Versions include electric countertop models or units that you can heat inside a microwave oven.