All possible ways to sterilize bottles for newborns: in a double boiler, microwave, steamer, multicooker, special sterilizer. At what age should one be sterilized? How to sterilize baby pacifiers? How to properly sterilize a pacifier

There are several ways to sterilize bottles for newborns at home: boil, use kitchen appliances, treat with steam or a special sterilizing solution. Each of the options is good in its own way, so parents will be able to choose exactly the one that is most convenient. Before sterilization, feeding utensils must be freed from any remaining formula or milk and washed thoroughly.

The traditional method of sterilization, used for several decades, is boiling. Any mother can use it, since all she needs is a stove, a pan of suitable size and water:

Pour water into the pan and immerse the bottles in it so that they are completely covered with water;
place the pan on the stove and bring water to a boil;
leave from the moment of boiling for 3-5 minutes and turn off the heating;
remove the bottles from the pan and place them on a dry, clean towel;
Use sterilized utensils after they have cooled.

Bottles made of low-quality plastic with rubber elements can deteriorate if they are boiled frequently and for a long time. Therefore, before loading into the pan, you need to make sure that they can withstand heating up to 100°C. Well-known manufacturers usually indicate such information on the packaging or on the bottle itself. Boiling is not dangerous for glassware and bottles from NUK, Chicco, Avent, Canpol Babies, Tommee Tippee.

You can disinfect pacifiers and pacifiers in the same way, only the processing time needs to be reduced to 2-3 minutes. Do not be afraid that rubber or silicone will not withstand boiling - modern materials from which these items are made can easily undergo repeated treatment with boiling water and steam.

Special sterilizer

If you are afraid that the bottles may spoil or you don’t want to bother with boiling water, you can purchase a special steam sterilizer that runs on electricity. “Smart” technology makes it easier to handle dishes for a child, since the entire process takes place automatically:

pour water into the sterilizer;
put baby bottles, pacifiers, and pacifiers inside;
set the required mode and turn on the device.

Sterilization lasts on average 10-12 minutes - during this time, the dishes inside the device will be treated with hot steam, which will destroy all microorganisms. Using a sterilizer is very convenient, since you can process from 2 to 8 items at a time. If it is necessary to maintain the sterility of the dishes, after turning off the device, they can be left under the lid for several hours.

Steaming dishes for a baby is a more gentle method compared to boiling. It can be carried out without special equipment: secure the bottles upside down over a pan or kettle of boiling water and let stand for 10-15 minutes.

Steamer and multicooker

Sterilization in a steamer

The steamer is capable of sterilizing several bottles of standard or increased diameter at a time. It's quite simple to use:

pour water into the corresponding compartment;
place the bottles on the lower section, placing them upside down;
place pacifiers and pacifiers on the top section;
set the sterilization time to 5-15 minutes.

Sterilization in a multicooker

Young parents who have a multicooker in their kitchen can entrust the antiseptic treatment of children's dishes to this device:

pour 1 liter of water into the washed multicooker bowl;
place a grate for steam treatment inside the device;
Place washed bottles, caps and nipples on it sideways, and if the internal volume of the device allows, place the bottles neck down;
close the lid of the multicooker and turn on the “sterilization” mode for 5-7 minutes or the “steaming” mode for 10-15 minutes.

After the multicooker or steamer has finished its work, all that remains is to remove the sterile items, place them in a clean container, plate, or place them on a towel.

In addition to the fact that bottles must be sterilized correctly, you should follow the rules of hygiene and remove clean utensils with washed hands.

Storage ideas: life hacks, tips, DIY gadgets

Microwave

Owners of microwave ovens can use kitchen units to sterilize children's dishes:

take a clean glass or ceramic pan that is microwave safe;
pour water into it and immerse the entire bottles, which do not have metal parts or designs applied with metallized paint;
remove nipples from bottles and place in water;
Cover the pan with a lid and place in the microwave;
set the maximum heating power.

Microwave ovens from different manufacturers differ in technical parameters. Therefore, the first time you need to check how long it takes for the water to boil. Calculate the total duration of sterilization so that the bottles boil for 3-5 minutes.

Bottles can be sterilized in the microwave only if they are made of high-quality plastic and do not deform from exposure to high temperatures. These characteristics must be indicated in the instructions for children's dishes or on the packaging.

It is better to process children's dishes in the microwave using a sterilizer - a special container with a lid. Water is poured into it, all items that require antiseptic treatment are inserted, then it is covered with a lid and placed in the microwave oven. The time for such processing depends on the power of the microwave and usually does not exceed 8-10 minutes. Such devices can be purchased from 1000-1200 rubles, however, after 8-12 months it is unlikely to be needed.

Sterilizer for microwave oven

Antiseptic tablets

At home, you can use special antiseptic tablets or powders, for example, JEX. Their use will not cause any problems:

pour cold water into a container suitable size(bowl, pan);
dissolve a disinfectant in water;
place baby dishes, pacifiers, pacifiers into the solution;
cover the container with a lid and leave for half an hour;
After 30 minutes, remove all items and rinse with clean boiled water.

Despite its apparent simplicity, this method of sterilization is not very popular among modern parents: some are afraid to use chemicals, others do not want to spend money on buying tablets and powders. This type of disinfection also has its supporters: the treatment process does not require boiling water, and the prepared antiseptic solution retains its properties for 24 hours. Tablets are convenient to use outside the home when other methods of sterilization are not available, for example, when traveling.

Using any of the methods listed above, you can disinfect not only feeding bottles, but also all objects that enter the baby’s mouth: pacifiers, pacifiers, breast pumps, teething rings, rodents and rattles.

After birth, a baby needs a mother. Not only for feeding, but also for comfort, emotional intimacy and relief. A mother cannot physically be constantly with her baby and offer the breast for any reason. Many babies have a very pronounced sucking reflex. They put everything into their mouths: clothes, diapers and their own fingers. It’s at moments like these that you wonder how to choose a pacifier for your child and how to properly sterilize it.

Should you give a pacifier to your baby?

Disputes on this matter do not end to this day. Some pediatricians say it is necessary. Other doctors do not recommend it. It is only known that all children are individual and the sucking reflex in each baby is expressed to varying degrees.

Another well-known fact: pacifiers were invented a long time ago. Children were given a piece of bread wrapped in cloth or a piece of leather to suck on. Release modern items to satisfy the sucking reflex began only around 1900.

Features of pacifiers made of different materials

Currently, pacifiers are made from two materials: silicone and latex. It is not difficult to distinguish them. Silicone nipples are transparent, stiffer, but also more durable. Latex pacifiers – yellow color, they are soft, more like female breast to the touch, but wear out quickly and have an odor. Both are quite durable. When it comes to cleanliness, silicone pacifiers are more hygienic as they collect less dust, hair and dirt.

These two materials behave differently in sterilization. Silicone pacifiers can withstand repeated boiling without visible changes. But latex nipples do not have these qualities. They are, of course, heat-resistant, but prolonged boiling can ruin it. Therefore, latex pacifiers need to be changed more often. According to the instructions, the service life of a silicone pacifier is 6 weeks, and a latex pacifier is 4 weeks.

Silicone pacifiers are heat-resistant, durable, rigid, hygienic and transparent.
Latex nipples - do not withstand long-term temperature treatments, wear out quickly, are soft (babies like them more), attract dust and have an odor.

How to choose the right pacifier for a child?

Small children do not care at all whether their pacifier is latex or silicone. But when the time comes for teething, it is better to offer a latex pacifier. It is softer and will not in any way affect the bite or position of the teeth.

Few people know, but nipples vary in shape and size. You can’t just go to a pharmacy or children’s store and buy a “breast substitute.”

The shapes of pacifiers are: round, oval and orthodontic. If in the first two cases everything is more or less clear, then with the third, questions arise. These are nipples whose silhouette resembles a mother's breast. More precisely, it has a thin neck and a beveled tip. Pediatricians recommend buying pacifiers with a flat end to form the correct bite.

In addition to differences in shape, there are “substitutes” of any size that correspond different ages. For newborn babies, pacifiers are very small. It’s easy to find the right size by reading the instructions on the package.

Marketing does not stand still, and today there are pacifiers for sale at night and in the dark that glow.

To determine which model is right for your baby, you need to try several types of pacifiers.

How to sterilize a pacifier?

People have come up with six ways to sterilize baby supplies:

The most in a simple way To disinfect the pacifier is to boil. We take water into an enamel pan and bring it to 100 degrees. Then carefully place the item in boiling water and leave for 2 minutes. Staying in hot water for too long is not recommended, as pacifiers tend to deform from high temperatures.
You can disinfect children's beauty by resorting to water vapor. In this case, it is enough to hold the pacifier over the spout of a boiling kettle for a minute. Just don’t take it with your bare hands, otherwise you are guaranteed to burn your fingers. You can use cosmetic or medical tweezers.
The next method is modern: you can sterilize children's dishes and accessories by placing them in a dishwasher. But you need to choose the right operating mode. Sterilization is only possible with high temperature water from 80 degrees.
An excellent method that does not require much time and effort is disinfection using a microwave oven. But before use, make sure that the instructions allow this action. If yes, then feel free to place the pacifier and bottle in an electric appliance for 90 seconds.
Sterilization in a double boiler is also an excellent solution to the problem. The time is about three minutes.
For those who do not trust microwave ovens and steamers, they have created specialized equipment - sterilizers. The devices are equipped with halogen lamps and are produced in several types: electric and for microwaves.

It is important to remember: before sterilization, the pacifier must be thoroughly washed with a soda solution or laundry soap. Stores also sell special dishes for children. detergents.

Read the instructions before use.

The service life must be indicated on the packaging.
The new pacifier needs to be boiled in water for three minutes.
Store the item in a place protected from sunlight so that the pacifier does not lose its original shape.
Wash the pacifier at least once a day.
To protect children's items from dirt and dust, use a special chain with a clip that is attached to clothing and a cap.
When the baby turns six months old, bottles and pacifiers do not need to be sterilized. It will be enough to pour boiling water over the children's dishes.
There should be a separate area for clean nipples. For example, a plastic container. This way they will always be kept clean and ready for use.
Don't lick your baby's nipples. Because the human oral cavity contains millions of different bacteria and will not the best option pass them on to the baby.

Today on the shelves of specialized stores and pharmacies you can find a huge number of pacifiers from different manufacturers. Experienced moms We recommend contacting the Avent company. The products of this company are different:

The quality of the materials makes them environmentally friendly and completely safe for the health of the child.
Nipples do not have their own scent.
Poorly subject to deformation.
Large assortment of pacifiers different shapes and for any age.

Avent makes its products from two materials: natural rubber (latex) and silicone.

Latex models are perfect for newborn babies. They are soft but have a rubbery taste.

Silicone analogues are more rigid, but there is no specific odor. These pacifiers are recommended for older babies and those prone to allergies.

Types of nipples from Avent:

Good old round end pacifiers.
Anatomical breast substitutes. Their peculiarity lies in their specially flattened end and thin base. These pacifiers can be selected according to the baby's age and even weight.
Avent orthodontic nipples imitate female breasts in shape and rigidity. Breastfed babies will love it.

Will you bother with sterilization?

YesNo

Pacifiers accompany babies from the first days of life, when the immune system is not yet strong, and for many subsequent months, so their hygiene and safety for the baby are especially important. Unfortunately, the packaging with the beautiful accessory does not include instructions, and young parents often violate the rules of use, not knowing how to use the pacifier.

If you have not yet decided how to properly accustom your child to a pacifier, read about it in ours.

How to treat your pacifier before first use

When purchasing a pacifier at a pharmacy or store, You shouldn’t give it to your baby right away. The accessory must be prepared for sucking. After removing from the packaging, pacifiers should be washed in a warm soapy solution, rinsing under running water.

The second stage is sterilization, designed to destroy bacteria and contaminants that were not washed off with water. There are several heat treatment methods:

Attention! You should boil the pacifier after purchasing it and every time it falls on the floor.

Nuances of product care

In addition to washing and boiling pacifiers different ways, when used there is a need soften the pacifier or enlarge it. To do this, you need to put the product in a container with water, bring to a boil and “cook” for 5-7 minutes. Leave to cool in boiling water, being careful not to melt it.

An indicator that how often will the pacifier need to be changed?, depends on the material. Latex accessories last from 2 to 4 weeks, the “life” of silicone pacifiers is 1-1.5 months, a rubber pacifier requires replacement after two months of use;

How to choose the right pacifier (material, shape, size) and which ones are best, read ours.

Attention! Special holders and containers will help avoid frequent dropping of the pacifier on the floor and the need for further disinfection..

How to use a pacifier correctly

The precautionary rules are designed to protect the baby and parents from the negative consequences of improper handling of the pacifier:

You should not give your baby a pacifier if it is torn, stuck together or partially melted during boiling, since a damaged product is a favorable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms;
It is recommended to buy a pacifier in pharmacies and specialty stores, checking the integrity of the packaging and the expiration date of the product;
Do not lick the pacifier or dip it in honey or syrup to avoid allergies. To train your baby, it is better to lubricate the nipple with formula or breast milk.

Attention! Do not allow your baby to constantly suck on a pacifier. This impairs lactation (in case of breastfeeding) and leads to defects in speech development child.

Useful video

Watch Dr. Komarovsky's video with an interesting point of view: why you don't need to regularly sterilize your nipples:

Pacifier hygiene is the key to a healthy oral cavity and the baby’s entire body. Simple rules for using a pacifier, which will not take parents much time to follow during the day, will help extend its service life and protect the baby from germs and infections.

More than two hundred years ago, European mothers began using pacifiers and pacifiers to soothe their babies. The debate about the benefits and harms of this device does not subside. What different experts of all stripes say to force parents to abandon this convenient means of feeding and lulling the baby. But nipples are still used.

Processing and storage

The only danger that can await children and parents using them is the possibility of contracting an infection due to improper handling. Constantly treating your nipples will help you easily avoid this problem. Before electric appliances, parents simply boiled them. Now there are enough ways to sterilize nipples for newborn babies.

In order to always have a clean one at hand, you need to have 3-4 pieces in stock. To store sterile items, you can prepare a regular glass jar with a lid. How often sterilization will need to be done depends on how many pacifiers are available and how often the child uses them.

Kinds

What types of pacifiers and pacifiers are there?

Latex. Very soft and comfortable devices. With constant sterilization, latex breaks down and becomes unusable. Needs to be changed every 2 weeks.
Silicone. Quite durable nipples that are not subject to deformation when sucking. They have no foreign odors. The use of these pacifiers is recommended until the first teeth appear. The material is easily bitten by children, and pieces can get into the throat. They will have to be changed about once a month.

Boiling water and steam

There are many ways to sterilize nipples. The oldest and most proven treatment option is, of course, boiling water.

Pour 200-300 grams of water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Place the pacifiers or pacifiers needed for sterilization in boiling water and hold for 5 minutes. There is no need to disassemble pacifiers. Plastic parts also need processing.

How to sterilize pacifiers and bottles with steam? This method takes minimal time. It is enough to hold the pacifier over the stream of steam from the kettle for 1-2 minutes - and you can give it to the child.

If you need to process several pacifiers or bottles at once, it is convenient to use a regular double boiler or a saucepan covered with a colander.

Pour water into the steamer. Place the bottles neck down. Heat the water to a boil and keep the pan on the fire for 5 minutes.

Steamer and dishwasher

How to sterilize nipples in an electric steamer? This kitchen gadget is most convenient for sterilizing nipples and bottles. The timer that the device is equipped with allows you not to waste time monitoring the condition of your nipples.

An electric steamer brings water to steam in about 5 minutes. The same amount is needed to process the accessories to a state of sterility. Having such a steamer at hand, you just need to turn it on for 10 minutes and use clean bottles and nipples until you run out.

Can pacifiers be sterilized in the dishwasher? If the device is equipped with a mode with a temperature above 80 degrees, then the machine can also be used to help mothers. Otherwise, the nipples will simply be washed, but sterilization will not occur.

Microwave

Should I sterilize my pacifier in the microwave? If the instructions for use do not indicate the possibility of using a microwave oven, then it is better not to do so. Plastic bottles and latex nipples can quickly become unusable.

You can only use the microwave to sterilize glass bottles for drinking and feeding.

The dishes should be placed in the oven, pour water to a third of the volume. Then you need to set the maximum power. Sterilization time is 2 minutes. Drain the water and let the bottle cool to prevent the glass from cracking.

Using a sterilizer

How to sterilize baby nipples? IN Lately Special devices for processing children's dishes appeared on sale. The device is convenient and affordable. Some models provide for sterilization of only the nipple. But there are also multi-variants in which you can process different children's dishes. It’s hard to say whether it’s worth spending money on this device. Most parents do not have a problem with how to sterilize a pacifier even without this fashionable gadget.

Antiseptics

For emergency cases, when a clean pacifier is needed and sterilization is not available under normal conditions, special antiseptics are used. This is a pharmaceutical drug that needs to be diluted in cold water. This method causes a lot of controversy.

The antiseptic tablet is diluted according to the instructions. The pacifier should be placed in the solution for 30 minutes. The need for rinsing reduces sterility. And although the drugs are harmless, the child may refuse the pacifier treated in this way. Besides chemical composition antiseptics can cause allergic reactions in children.

When asked whether the pacifier needs to be sterilized, doctors give an unambiguous answer in the affirmative. Despite the fact that this is a troublesome matter, sterilization will protect the baby from many health problems.

Under no circumstances should you give your child a pacifier that has simply been rinsed with clean water. Even using bottled water can upset your baby gastrointestinal tract. A child’s delicate body is not able to fight all microorganisms contained in raw water.

It is absolutely unacceptable to give a baby a dropped pacifier, just by wiping it with a handkerchief, for example.

Some mothers manage to put a pacifier in their baby's mouth by licking it. The bacteria contained in saliva will definitely reach the baby. The microflora of an adult can be dangerous for a newborn.

Processing utensils before sterilization

Every housewife knows, but you should not use ordinary detergents for children's dishes. The composition of such liquids can be dangerous for the baby. Some ingredients can cause allergic reactions that are extremely undesirable for a child.

Children's things, whether diapers or dishes, must be treated with special means. Although they are not suitable for every baby.

Old proven products are absolutely safe to use: laundry soap, soda and mustard powder. These products are hypoallergenic and help achieve results.

However, we must remember that soda can destroy latex. Therefore, using it to wash nipples is undesirable.

Rules to follow when processing baby dishes and pacifiers:

Rinse all parts of the pacifier thoroughly.
If a white coating appears inside the latex balloon, then the pacifier is unsuitable for use.
Bitten and cracked accessories should not be given to the baby.
Wash milk bottles until shiny. After washing, wipe with table salt and rinse with clean water.
Be sure to sterilize all utensils and nipples.
Do not use chemicals to wash dishes and pacifiers.

Conclusion

Doctors argue at what age and how to sterilize nipples for newborn babies. Some argue that it is enough to keep children's dishes clean for up to a year. Every mother can decide how to care for her baby and how to sterilize her nipples. But it is worth considering that the environmental situation currently leaves much to be desired.