Hygiene

.

Your baby cannot protect his/herself against common germs and bacteria which can cause certain infections. Hygiene is very important when preparing your baby’s food and in the proper cleaning and sterilizing of feeding equipment before use.

Hand-washing

Hands, even those that look clean, can carry germs, so it is important to wash your hands before preparing your baby’s food or handling bottles or breast-pumps. Always wash your hands after changing nappies, using the loo, playing with animals or handling raw food and meat.

Sterilising

It is necessary to sterilise any feeding items, soothers and teething rings until your baby is 12 months old. Sterlising is a process that kills germs and makes the equipment safe for your baby. If you are breast-feeding and are expressing milk, parts of the breast-pump (not any battery or electrical part) and feeding bottles must also be sterilized.  All items should be sterilised after every use before you baby uses them again.

There are several different ways you can sterilise .

Getting started

Gather together all the things you will need for your baby's day such as:

• about 6 bottles, teats, screw top rings and covers
• a bottle brush for scrubbling out the bottles
• dummies, feeding spoons
• all parts of a breast pump that can be put in water, if you are breast-feeding.
• all new bottles,soothers, breast-pumps etc should always be sterilised before the first use

How to clean the feeding equipment

• Put all the bottles, teats, tops etc in hot water and washing up liquid.
• Use the special brush to clean the bottles and teats inside and out. Make sure you remove all traces of leftover milk.
• Rinse everything well under running water. 
• Your equipment is now clean but you need to sterilize it to kill any germs before you feed your baby. An unsterilized bottle can make your baby sick.
• Equipment will need to be sterilized until the baby is 1 years old. 

How to Sterilise Feeding Equipment.

There are several ways to sterlise the feeding equipment your baby will need each day.

A Steam Steriliser

This is an electric unit which uses steam to kill germs and bacteria. It is normally big enough to  hold up to 6 bottles/teats/ covers etc. It may also come with a few bottles. Any extra bottles you buy should be of the same brand where possible, to ensure they fit in the unit.  You normally use the unit as follows..

• take all your bottles/breastpump apart and was well
• Put  clean equipment into the unit,
• add water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Switch it on and wait for the cycle to complete (about 10-20mins depending on brand)
• Wait until the unit cools then remove the bottles and put them together.

A Microwave Steriliser

Like steam sterilisers they use the steam to kill the germs and bacteria. They are usually a plastic unit with a lid which is placed into the microwave

• take all your bottles/breastpump apart and was well
• Put  clean equipment into the unit,
• add water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Switch it on and wait for the cycle to complete (about 10-20mins depending on brand)
• Wait until the unit cools then remove the bottles and put them together.
• Set the microwave for the time indicated by the instructions with the steriliser
• After the cycle completes be careful removing the unit as it will be hot
• When the bottles have cooled put the teats, tops and covers on the bottles, they will then remain sterile for 24 hours.

Boiling

This is another means of sterlising which does not require any special equipment.

• Put all the utensils in a large saucepan
• Fill with water until all utensils are covered.
• Push the bottles down into the water until they fill so that no air bullbes remain
• Put the lid on the saucepan and boil on the cooker/stove for at least 5 minutes
• When this is done turn off the heat and keep the suacepan lid on until the water cools
• Assemble the bottles with covers and leave aside until you need them. (use within 24 hours)

Safety note; when using this method make sure to place the saucepan at the back of the cooker and away from where small children could reach. Wait until the water cools before removing bottles, use tongs if you  need a bottle immediately.

Chemical Sterilising

You can also sterilise your bottles with an antibacterial solution e.g. Milton Solution. This is a type of bleach in liquid or tablet form which is diluted in  water.  It is safe for your baby but strong enough to kill bacteria. You can buy a special unit to put the bottles into to use this method.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when you make up the solution to make sure it’s the right strength.

• Before you start wash the equipment with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
• Make sure everything is covered by the liquid and leave for the recommended time before using.
• Equipment may be left in the solution for 24 hours when not in use. 
• Do not rinse the bottles after taking them out, they are safe to use straight from the solution
• Thoroughly scrub the container and equipment in warm soapy water and rinse well after each use. 
• Make up  new solution each time you wish to sterilise.
• Metal equipment cannot be chemically sterilised

Safety Note; when using chemicals store the concentrate and solution well out of the reach of children. You can only keep the solution for 24 hours once it’s made up, so after this time throw it away.  .