https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 14:46:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109897 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:32:10 +0000 SugarplumsMom 109897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read you only have to sterilize when you first buy them. I plan to boil them the first time and hand wash/dishwasher after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109883 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:19:25 +0000 looch 109883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sterilized for about 8 months, but honestly, it was more out of habit than anything else. I'd rinse out the bottles, wash them and then plop them in the sterilizer and run it every night. Since we have limited space, the sterilizer just hung out on the counter and I wasn't filling up my tiny dishrack.</p> <p>I didn't do the dishwasher because we have really hard water and use a lot of chemicals so the glassware gets clean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109843 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:08:14 +0000 mrstilly 109843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sterilized bottles right after buying them (boiled in water) and that was it. We used bottles of breastmilk from 2 months to 7 months and then formula from then to the present (12 months). I wash bottles by hand. They soak in hot soapy water, then I use a bottle brush. We use Dawn antibacterial soap. I've never put bottles in the dishwasher because we don't run it daily. We've never had a problem. </p> <p>Everyone commented when DS was itty nifty that I would get over sterilizing stuff by baby number 2 so I figured why bother now then? My mom never sterilized stuff and neither did my sister for my niece after the first few months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109680 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:31:00 +0000 banana 109680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cchoi14: I sterilized the whole time too. I just felt "better" about doing it. I read on Babycenter that it's recommended you sterilize after every use for 1 year so that's what I did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109676 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:28:04 +0000 chopsuey 109676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. I only sterilized when I first bought them. Just washed with soap and hot water! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109603 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:20:40 +0000 Cchoi4 109603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh wow ladies! I thought we were supposed to sanitize after every washing! I guess I can stop sterilizing so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109557 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:25:30 +0000 lemondrop 109557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only when we first bought them, with one of those microwavable Ameda steam bags. Other than that, I've never really bothered, I handwash the bottles. I run them through the dishwasher occasionally, it has a sanitize setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109544 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:12:35 +0000 Sweet T 109544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sanitize them when I first get them. After that, they go through the dishwasher. When I do handwash, I sanitize the nipples. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109532 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:05:02 +0000 Andrea 109532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never really. Our pediatrician just told us to run them through the dishwasher every night. I probably boiled them the very first time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109486 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:26:44 +0000 T.H.O.U. 109486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooops, we stopped that a few months ago (maybe around 5 months). We still do it about once a month but not on a regular basis. Bottles get rinsed out immediately and then washed in the dishwasher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109485 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:26:18 +0000 heffalump 109485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only sterilize when I get them. We hand wash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109477 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:24:03 +0000 banana 109477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure when the recommended timeframe is. But I stopped at around 12 months when we switched over from breastmilk to whole milk. Before that, I was a sterilizing maniac! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-stop-sterilizing-bottles#post-109474 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:22:52 +0000 Cchoi4 109474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still sterilize bottles (LO is 11 months). When can you stop sterilizing bottles? </p>