Why is it important?

Your baby’s immune system isn’t strong enough to fight off some infections. Milk is also a very good breeding ground for bacteria, which can make your baby sick. Cleaning and sterilizing all bottle-feeding equipment reduces your baby’s chances of getting sick. It is important to clean the bottle after every feed, this includes the bottle, teat and screw cap. If you do not have time to clean the bottle directly after use, rinse it with warm water in the meantime, as this makes it easier to clean later on. You must clean all the equipment prior to sterilizing each piece. 

What equipment is needed: 1. Clean and 2. Sterilize 

1. Clean : You must separate each piece of the bottle. Warm sudsy water can be used to rinse out the remaining milk in the bottle. Push clean water through the teat to clean any excess milk that may be stuck. Rinse the bottle, cap and teat out with cold water after and leave to air dry. 
2. Sterilize : Although a bottle may look clean, bacteria may still be present so it is essential to sterilize the equipment, cleaning is not adequate. Three types of sterilization are; boiling, steam and chemical sterilization. Regardless of the method of sterilization you choose, it is important to wash your hands both before and after sterilization in order to avoid contamination.

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