How to clean and sterilise a baby bottle correctly

April 4, 2024 Manuel Fernández

The cleaning of the baby bottle and whether or not to sterilise it is a controversial subject, since, depending on the sources consulted, we can find different recommendations: some of them recommend sterilising the teats and the bottle before the first feed and using soap and water for the following ones. On the other hand, there is scientific evidence that recommends using soap and water as a sufficient method for cleaning the baby bottle, including for the first feed. That is why our team of midwives has prepared the following post for you: cleaning and sterilising the baby bottle.

How do you wash a baby bottle correctly?

To wash the baby bottle correctly you can sterilise it or simply use soap and water. This controversy is down to the lack of consensus among scientific societies, where we find sources in favour of sterilising the bottle and sources in favour of cleaning with soap and water.

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Sterilising the baby bottle

One of the accepted approaches is sterilising the baby bottle. Above all, and in general terms, they agree that it should be done before the first use; for example, we have the recommendation made by the current European Standard UNE-EN 14350 Childcare articles for liquid feeding, safety requirements and test methods.

Before the first use, take the product apart and clean it, then put the components in boiling water for 5 minutes as a hygiene measure.
Before each subsequent use, clean carefully as a hygiene measure.
If there are any food leftovers, you will need to wash and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove the feeding leftovers on surfaces that are not visible, paying particular attention to all the parts that have been in contact with the food, including those that are not visible.
Do not leave the teats exposed to direct sunlight or heat, or leave them in disinfectant (“sterilising solution”) for longer than recommended, because this can damage the teat.

What happens if I do not sterilise a baby bottle?

On the contrary, for AEPED (Spanish Association of Paediatrics) and the ABM (Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) there is no need to boil baby bottles, their recommendation being to wash the baby bottles and the teats like the rest of the washing-up, by hand or in the machine with soap and water, making sure that no milk leftovers remain, and to dry them in the air or with paper before each use. (Level of evidence IIB)

As far back as 1996 they were saying that, given the good sanitary conditions in our country and even knowing that Spanish legislation is the most permissive as regards the bacteriological quality of drinking water, it is not acceptable for us to make parents work more than necessary by boiling water, baby bottles and teats for days on end.

This effort would only be justified in some cases, when the paediatrician or the GP, who knows the family and the hygienic conditions they live in, indicates it for medical reasons.

Justification for not sterilising baby bottles

For decades, sterilising and disinfecting baby bottles, teats and dummies was a constant recommendation in paediatrics. This practice was justified years ago because the sanitary conditions of the population were extremely different: the public water supply was often not purified, refrigeration was not within the reach of every household nor so perfected, and bottled water, scarce on the market, has specific indications.

Therefore, back then the prior disinfection or sterilising was fully justified in order to reduce or eliminate any possible bacterial contamination. Nowadays the sanitary conditions in a country like ours allow us to recommend a change of attitude.

What is more, different studies showed some time ago that bacterial contamination was similar between washed and sterilised bottles and that the incidence of gastroenteritis did not vary.

Cleaning and sterilising the baby bottle

Which soap is used to wash baby bottles?

There are special soaps for washing baby feeding utensils, but neither the scientific evidence nor the European regulations mention the need to use a specific soap for baby bottles or teats; what is more, they recommend washing them like the rest of the washing-up.

How do you clean baby bottles and teats?

So, after this information, and as long as your baby is not premature or immunocompromised, or has any situation that requires special treatment recommended by your doctor, cleaning with soap and water of your baby bottle would be more than enough.

How many times a day should baby bottles be sterilised?

If your intention is to sterilise the baby bottles and the teats, the recommendation made is that it is only necessary before the first use, so there would be no need to sterilise them again for a subsequent use; soap and water will be enough.

How can you sterilise the baby bottle?

The steps for sterilising the baby bottle are as follows:

Wash all the parts of the baby bottle with hot soapy water (teats, rings included), as well as all the utensils you are going to use for the preparation, such as spoons. Make sure you remove all the leftovers from the previous feed and rinse well.

Sterilise the baby bottle: Use a container with boiling water and carry out the following steps:
- Fully submerge all the parts in the water in the container, cover it and boil the water, making sure that it does not evaporate completely, and keep the pan covered until you are going to prepare the baby bottle.
- The times for sterilising the baby bottle vary from one brand to another, with a range of between 3 minutes and 10 minutes depending on the manufacturer. You can find this information in the instructions of the product itself.
- Before handling the sterilised baby bottle you should carry out a correct hygiene of your hands; you can also use tongs that are likewise sterilised.
- It will be preferable to take out the sterilised utensils just before using them. Although, if you take the material out of the steriliser before its use, you should store the baby bottle in a clean and, as far as possible, isolated place, fully assembled, in order to prevent the inside of the baby bottle and the inside and outside of the teat from becoming contaminated again.

You can also use a commercial steriliser, in which case you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.

How long should a baby bottle be sterilised?

If in your case it is necessary to sterilise the baby bottles, the length of time for which you need to sterilise them will depend above all on your individual circumstances. If your paediatrician has indicated the need to sterilise the baby bottles to you, because your baby is premature or your baby has an immune deficiency, it should be the paediatrician themselves who determines until when.

Also, however, there are schools of thought that mention that there is no need to sterilise the baby bottle when the baby starts to crawl, which corresponds approximately to 6 months of age of the newborn. This school of thought is based on the fact that your baby, when they start to crawl, will probably touch many things with their hands and will then put their hands in their mouth, perhaps making it incongruous to continue making the effort to sterilise the baby bottles.

Conclusion on cleaning and sterilising the baby bottle

As you have been able to read, there are different schools of thought with regard to the correct cleaning of the baby bottle, because science is not exact and is always evolving, but the important thing is to have the best information in order to make the best decision. What is more, if you have any doubts, consult your paediatrician, who will be delighted to help you.