How to sterilize bottles in the microwave?

Few young parents know that there are several ways to completely disinfect a baby’s dishes. In this article we will talk about how to sterilize bottles in a microwave, slow cooker, ordinary pan, and even in cold water.

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How old are baby bottles to be sterilized?

Sterilization of feeding bottles, as well as other items that are in direct contact with the baby, is very important in the first months of any baby’s life. This is due to the fact that the baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed, so the body cannot fight harmful microbes on its own.

The task of each parent is to protect the child as much as possible from possible troubles such as infections and viruses. For responsible mothers and fathers, this nuance is not a special problem, but during its solution, another question constantly arises: how old should bottles be sterilized?

This procedure should be carried out at least until the baby reaches 6 months, and even better - until his first birthday. It is at the age of one year that the child’s body is already strong enough to independently resist pathogens.

Important! Even after the child reaches 1 year, his dishes and toys should be kept constantly clean, but simple washing with a special detergent will be enough.

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How often to sterilize bottles?

Regarding the frequency of this procedure, it can be noted that it should be carried out regularly, but not after each feeding of the baby.

Important! Studies by the medical community have confirmed that washing your baby’s dishes clean with hot soapy water, provided you use clean drinking water.

Sterilizing the bottles in the microwave or in any other way is mandatory in the following cases:

• Before the first use of purchased dishes for a newborn.
• After each washing of the bottle with water from a well or well.
• After any illness of the baby.
• After prolonged use of the dishes.

With a question, to what age to sterilize the bottles, we successfully figured out, but how to conduct the process itself? Really in the modern world have come up with nothing better than boiling? Of course, there are plenty of options for today, but first we’ll look at how to prepare children's dishes for this procedure.

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Preparing children's dishes for sterilization

Do not start sterilization immediately after using baby bottles. Before it begins, it is imperative to wash all elements of the dishes thoroughly from food debris.

Important! For effective washing of children's dishes, experts recommend the use of special cleaners or baking soda.

Recommendations for washing the bottle:

• For better penetration into containers and cleaning of food residues, use a brush. It will easily remove food leftovers from the bottom of the container.
• The pacifier must be washed separately from other parts of the bottle.
• Subject to the use of mild detergents, children's dishes can be washed in dishwashers.

Important! According to the recommendations of pediatricians, when using the dishwasher, only elements of the dishes of the newborn should be inside.

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Sterilization methods

Sterilization of household items has been implemented for a long time. Unfortunately, only a couple of ways to do this were available to our mothers and grandmothers. But the modern parent can already choose a method convenient for him in every sense:

• Boiling.
• Steam treatment.
• Sterilization of baby bottles in the microwave.
• Sterilizing bottles with a multicooker.
• Cold water disinfection using chemicals.

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Boiling

This method gives a 100% result and has been tested for more than one century. It is convenient in that you do not need special tools, equipment or tools for carrying it out. But before you start boiling baby containers, you should definitely make sure that your bottle can be exposed to such a high temperature.

Important! When buying a plastic bottle for feeding a newborn, make sure that the composition of the material does not have Bisphenol-A component. This substance, under the influence of high temperature, emits toxic fumes that can harm a child. Only in the absence of Bisphenol-A in the composition of the plastic can the bottle be boiled.

Procedure for boiling:

1. Fill the pan with cold water.

Important! It is better for these purposes to single out one saucepan in which you will constantly carry out this procedure.

2. Place in cold water all previously washed items of children's dishes, so that the water completely covers all surfaces of objects.
3. Bring water to a boil and boil the dishes for 3-10 minutes.
4. Cool objects and can use them for their intended purpose.

Important! This sterilization method is suitable only for really high-quality bottles for newborns, otherwise the plastic may melt and the rubber elements deteriorate.

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How to sterilize baby bottles in the microwave?

A microwave oven can be used not only for cooking and heating food. In it, you can successfully sterilize any dishes, including a newborn. To do this, you can purchase a special sterilizer that is placed in the microwave and thus carries out disinfection. But if you do not have such a device available, then do not be discouraged. Sterilizing bottles in the microwave can be done without it.

How to sterilize baby bottles in the microwave? - Procedure:

1. Pour a small amount of water into a special bag or glass pan.
2. Place the washed children's dishes in the prepared container and close the bag or use the lid if using a pan.
3. Place the container with children's dishes and water in the microwave, set the mode with the maximum possible power of the device lasting 7-8 minutes.

Important! Microwave sterilization of bottles for newborns is possible only if they do not have metal elements.

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How to sterilize bottles in a multicooker?

Sterilization of a bottle for a newborn in a multicooker is quite easy and is based on steam processing of items.

Important! In modern models, there is often a sterilization function, with such devices it will be even easier to disinfect baby bottles.

Procedure:

1. Pour 1 liter of water into the main capacity of the multicooker.
2. Spread all the cutlery items that require sterilization on a wire rack for cooking.

Important! Bottles must be placed with the neck down.

3. Set the operation mode of the device “to steam” and set the time from 7 to 10 minutes.
4. At the end of time, cool objects and you can use them for their intended purpose.

Important! Similarly, you can use a double boiler.

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Cold Water Sterilization

For the convenience of mothers and fathers during a trip to visit or travel, special chemicals have been created that can even sterilize children's dishes even in cold water. An example of such miracle tablets is Milton and Bebe Comfort. You can buy them at the pharmacy, and use should be strictly according to the instructions.

Application:

1. Dissolve the drug in cold water.
2. Put baby dishes in the solution.
3. After 30 minutes, remove the cutlery and rinse thoroughly with boiled water.

Important! This method of sterilization does not in any way damage the dishes, but it is not recommended to use it constantly. For regular sterilization, use the other methods described in this article.

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Sterilizers

It is also worth remembering about modern assistants to young parents in this matter. Special devices that are designed to disinfect all items of children's dishes greatly facilitate the life of mom and dad. Thanks to the processing of tableware with high-temperature steam (+ 100C), all bacteria and microbes on the surface of the bottle are destroyed.

Important! Convenient electric and microwave sterilizers are available. Which one is better - each family decides on its own, based on their own preferences.

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Stock footage

As you can see, such an important issue as sterilization has several solutions. Do not be lazy to periodically resort to one of them, because healthy growth and growing up of your baby depends on this. Moreover, the processing of dishes does not take much time and does not require a large expenditure of energy.