Sterilising bottles and equipment
Expressed breast milk and bottle feeding
To ensure that your baby is protected from bugs and bacteria when feeding, it is important to always follow these procedures:
Preparation
Start by washing your hands before expressing breast milk or preparing infant
formula. All equipment used in preparation and feeding must be sterilised
before use in the first three months of the baby's life.
If you are using formula, make it up directly before feeding it to your baby.
Be sure to heat the milk just prior to feeding.
After the feed
Use the contents of the bottle within one hour, and discard any leftovers.
Infant formula powder should not be frozen, as there is the potential for
moisture to cause spoilage. Thoroughly clean the equipment used for preparation
and feeding.
How do I sterilise bottles and equipment properly?
Young babies have not had a chance to build up a resistance to
bacteria. That's why it is essential that any bottles and other equipment used
to feed your baby is properly sterilised.
Sterilising is the only safe way to make sure that the bottles and equipment
you use for bottle feedings are free from harmful bugs and bacteria.
Some important points about sterilising:
- Clean bottles, teats and utensils inside and out using warm water and detergent. Make sure you rinse all residual milk off before sterilising.
- Rinse the equipment in running water, then sterilise it using either the sterilising solution method, or the boiling method.
Sterilising solution method:
This method of sterilisation involves using a sterilising solution, such as
Karicare sterilising tablets.
Prepare the sterilising solution according to manufacturer's instructions.
Completely submerge bottles, teats and utensils for the time specified (this is
30 minutes for Karicare sterilising tablets). Drain bottles and teats, but do
not rinse them. The small amount of residue left in the bottle will not harm
your baby. Discard and replace the sterilising solution as per the
manufacturer's instructions.
Boiling method:
Completely submerge all feeding equipment in boiling water and leave it to boil
for 5 minutes.
How do I store my sterilised bottles?
You can leave the bottles in the sterilising solution until you are ready to
use them. Remember to change the sterilising solution after use as per
manufacturer's instructions. Karicare sterilising solution needs to be changed
every 24 hours. Store the sterilised bottles on the bench with the teat
inverted, or covered with protective cap, until ready to be used.
Once sterilised, bottles can be filled with expressed breast milk or cooled boiled water and stored in the fridge until ready to use for a feed. Make up each feed fresh as needed, and do not store made-up formula for later use, as bacteria can contaminate the feed and make you baby very ill.
Sterilising equipment for expressing breast milk
When expressing milk, make sure that the breast pump is also sterilised. You
can use one of the two methods recommended above. It is important that the
container the expressed milk is stored in is also sterile.
For further information, see the Safe Bottle Feeding Guide>
