How to sterilize bottles of breast milk
Do you have to sterilize bottles after every feeding? We break down how to safely clean bottles of breast milk.
New bottles and nipples should be sterilized on first use. For future feedings of healthy babies drinking expressed breast milk, it’s sufficient to wash with hot, soapy water and let air-dry, or put them through the dishwasher. Place sterilized bottles and pump kit parts on a piece of paper towel to air-dry instead of a dishtowel, which could contain traces of bacteria.
Have more bottle-feeding questions? Download our chart here and put it on the fridge—it has the answer to all your questions.
Read more: How to combine breastfeeding and bottle-feeding 14 beautiful bottle-feeding photos How to get your baby to take a bottle
Weekly Newsletter
Keep up with your baby's development, get the latest parenting content and receive special offers from our partners
Karen Robock is a writer, editor and mom of two whose work has appeared in dozens of publications in Canada and the U.S., including Prevention, Reader’s Digest, Canadian Living, and The Toronto Star. Once upon a time, Karen was even the managing editor of Today’s Parent. She lives in Toronto with her husband, school-age daughters, and their two dogs.