Let's Breastfeed

Do we need to sterilize in 2010?

Why did we start sterilizing bottles and do we still need to sterilize today?

As Robert Steele MD Paediatrician points out, it was necessary part of milk preparation in the early 17th and 18th century infant mortality rates were high amongst cow’s milk fed infants. However, with the progress of technology, milk was pasteurized and infants were offered sterile condensed milk.

As with most things, it seems that when one problem is solved, another pops up and during this time, public water supplies remained unmonitored. Formula milk, though produced in sterile conditions then became contaminated with unsafe bacteria infected water, made in batches and then not stored in proper conditions or simply left unrefrigerated. It was therefore recommended and common place to wash and sterilize all bottles and teat. Thankfully by the 1950s, city water supplies were better monitored and free of bacterial contamination, however mums continued to sterilize all equipment.

“Studies were done back in the 1950s, which showed that babies could be safely fed formula made with clean (not sterile) bottles/nipples and tap water. However, by then, sterilization was so commonplace that it was difficult for doctors to stop recommending the practice to their patients, and it was also difficult for grandmothers to stop recommending it to their daughters.” says Dr Robert Steele.

I guess it is only natural for breastfeeding mums to be given the same advice when offering their baby a bottle, even though the milk inside the bottle is mother’s milk, rather than formula. Breast milk has many incredible properties, so it is not surprising that many paediatrician from the likes of Dr Robert Steele to the much loved and highly respected Dr Sears, recommends that provided your baby is a healthy full term baby with no medical concerns, washing bottles with hot soapy water, rinsing and drying with a paper towel is safe.

If you are suffering with thrush, travelling or if your baby becomes unwell, it would be advisable to sterilize your expressing and bottle feeding equipment, until your baby is back to his/her normal self.

For top tips on Expressing have a look at my Expressing eBook.

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