How to sterilise equipment

The following instructions apply to all feeding equipment you use for your baby, whether you are using expressed breast milk or first infant formula.

Things you should do before sterilising

Before sterilising your bottle feeding equipment, make sure you do the following.

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water.

2. Clean the work surfaces with hot, soapy water.

3. Check that the bottle and teat are not damaged. Then clean the bottle and teat in hot, soapy water using a clean bottle brush – a dishwasher will clean the bottle-feeding equipment but will not sterilise it.

4. Rinse all your equipment in clean, cold running water before sterilising.

Different ways of sterilising

Steam sterilising – electric steriliser or microwave

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure the openings of the bottles and teats are facing down in the steriliser.

Cold water sterilising

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Change the sterilising solution every 24 hours.
Leave feeding equipment in the sterilising solution for at least 30 minutes.
Make sure that there is no air trapped in the bottles or teats when putting them in the sterilising solution.
Keep all the equipment under the solution with the floating submerger.

Sterilising by boiling

Never leave hot pans and liquids unattended.
Make sure that whatever you sterilise in it is safe to boil.
Boil the feeding equipment in water for at least 10 minutes, making sure that all items stay under the surface of the water. You may need to use a small plate to keep bottles in the water.
Remember that teats tend to get damaged faster with this method.

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