- 1. In the pot of boiling water
- 2. In the microwave
- 3. In the electric sterilizer
- How often should you sterilize
- What not to do
- How to clean the Styrofoam bottle
- What kind of baby bottle and pacifier to buy
To clean the bottle, especially the baby's silicone nipple and pacifier, what you can do is wash it first with hot water, detergent and a brush that reaches the bottom of the bottle, to remove visible residue and then sterilize with boiling water to kill the bad smelling germs.
After that, the plastic containers can be soaked in a bowl for 1 hour with:
- Enough water to cover everything; 2 tablespoons of bleach; 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
After that, wash everything with clean running water. This will leave everything very clean, removing the yellow color from the bottle and pacifier, leaving everything very clean and transparent again. But in addition, it is still important to sterilize everything, completely eliminating all germs, from the bottle and pacifier. The following are 3 ways to do this:
1. In the pot of boiling water
Place the bottle, the nipple and the pacifier in a pan and cover with water, bringing the fire to a boil. After the water starts to boil, it should be left on the fire for another 5 to 10 minutes, then it should be put to dry naturally, on a sheet of kitchen paper.
You should avoid drying the baby's utensils with any type of cloth, so that there is no contamination by microorganisms and so that lint does not stick to the objects. After natural drying, the bottle and nipples should be stored, without closing them completely, inside the kitchen cupboard.
2. In the microwave
In order to thoroughly clean the bottle and pacifier in the microwave, it is necessary to place everything inside a glass bowl, in a microwave-safe plastic container or in the microwave sterilizer, which can be bought in pharmacies or health food stores. babies and children.
The procedure is done by placing the utensils in the container and covering them with water, taking the microwave to maximum power for about 8 minutes, or according to the guidance of the product manufacturer.
Then, bottles, teats and pacifiers should be allowed to dry naturally on a sheet of kitchen paper.
3. In the electric sterilizer
In this case, you must follow the manufacturer's guidelines, which comes in the product box. In general, the procedure takes about 7 to 8 minutes, and the device has the advantage of wearing objects less, prolonging their useful life. After the process, you can leave the utensils to dry on the device itself before storing them in a tightly closed container.
How often should you sterilize
Sterilization of pacifiers and bottles should always be done before using for the first time, and then should be done once a day until the first year of life or whenever they fall on the floor or come into contact with dirty surfaces.
This procedure is important to prevent the development of microorganisms in the baby's nipples, pacifiers and bottles, which can end up causing problems such as intestinal infections, diarrhea and cavities, as children are fragile and do not have a fully developed immune system.
A good tip is to have at least 2 to 3 equal bottles and pacifiers so that when one is soaked or being sterilized, the other can be used.
What not to do
Some forms of cleaning that are advised against cleaning the baby's bottle and pacifier are:
- Wash these containers with washing powder, because it is a very strong product that will leave a flavor in the bottle and pacifier; soak everything in a bowl, but without keeping everything covered by water. Putting a small plate on top of everything can guarantee that everything really gets soaked; Wash the bottle and pacifier in the dishwasher with other kitchen objects, because it may not be properly cleaned; Leave the bottle to soak only with water and a little detergent with the lid turned inwards over the kitchen sink all night long; dry the bottle and pacifier with a dish towel, as lint can be swallowed by the child; Keep these objects still wet or damp inside the kitchen cupboard as it can facilitate the proliferation of fungi that are not seen with the naked eye.
It is also not recommended to clean the bottle and pacifier just once a month or once a week, as traces of milk and saliva remain that promote the proliferation of microorganisms that cause illness in the baby.
How to clean the Styrofoam bottle
In addition to the bottle and pacifier, it is also important to clean the Styrofoam, where the bottle is placed. In that case, it is recommended to wash it daily with a soft sponge, a little detergent and 1 spoon of baking soda, which will help to remove all the remains of milk and microorganisms.
Then it should be allowed to dry naturally face down, on a clean dish towel or, preferably, on a sheet of kitchen paper.
What kind of baby bottle and pacifier to buy
The best bottles and pacifiers are those that do not contain bisphenol A, also known as BPA, and some types of phthalates, which are substances released when these objects come into contact with heat, and which can be toxic to the baby.
When the product does not have this type of substance, it is easy to recognize, because it is usually written on the box of these products that do not contain: DEHP, DBP, BBP, DNOP, DINP or DIDP. The same rule applies to all other objects of the child, such as plastic toys and rattles that he usually puts in his mouth.
