Sterilizing bottles

TERMINAL

The terminal heating method is a simple way to prepare formula. You mix the formula, put it into clean nursing bottles, then sterilize the bottles and formula together as the final step.

The main advantage of this method of disinfection is that all the equipment, including bottles, caps, and nipples, do not have to be sterilized before the formula can be prepared. However, all equipment must be washed perfectly clean with hot, soapy water and rinsed thoroughly. Allow all equipment to drain dry.

Mix the formula according to your doctor's directions or if you are using one of the proprietary formulas, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Remember, if your formula requires the addition of water, tap water can be used. Previously boiled water is unnecessary when using the terminal heating method of disinfection.

Divide the formula by the number of clean bottles needed for the day's feedings. Fill one or two clean bottles with tap water for Baby's drinking water.

Touching only the nipple rims, place nipples on the bottles. Apply collars and caps, either disk or slip-on depending on the type of bottle, loosely so steam can get under them.

Place bottles on a rack or towel in the sterilizer or deep kettle. Add about three inches of water to the sterilizer and cover tightly with lid.

Gently boil exactly 25 minutes. Turn off the heat, but do not lift lid. Allow the sterilizer, still covered, to cool for 2 hours.

Remove bottles. Screw collars and caps tight and refrigerate immediately.

ASEPTIC

Another method of sterilizing bottles is the simplified aseptic method. This simply requires that all equipment used in mixing the formula and feeding the baby must be sterilized before it can be used. Therefore, in the aseptic method, disinfection becomes the first step rather than the final step as it is in the terminal heating method.

Before you begin, assemble all the equipment you'll need for sterilizing and preparing formula. Everything should be thoroughly washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed in hot, clear water. It helps to have your special formula equipment in a convenient place, separate from other regular kitchen utensils. If you don't, you'll waste time looking for everything.

If using this method, make sure that all the equipment, not just the nursing bottles, are made of heat-resistant materials.

Put the bottles, bottom side up, into the rack and lower the rack into the sterilizer. If you are using a deep kettle instead of a sterilizer, place the bottles, bottom side up, on a clean towel in the kettle. Next, put the nipples in a jar, screw on a perforated lid, and place upside down in the center of the sterilizer. Then put in the plastic nipple collars, caps, tongs, punch-type can opener, and all the other equipment you will use to mix the formula. Add 2-3 inches of water to the sterilizer and cover with a tight-fitting lid.

Bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for five minutes. While you are doing this, also fill a teakettle or saucepan with tap water and allow it to boil for five minutes.

After the water has boiled for five minutes, turn off the heat and remove the lid. Unlike the terminal heating method, you do not wait two hours for the equipment to cool slowly. Using tongs, remove the items from the sterilizer and place them on a clean towel. Empty the nipple jar but do not touch the nipples with your fingers: Also, turn the bottles upright without touching the tops.

Using the sterilized equipment, mix the formula according to your doctor's orders, or in the case of proprietary formulas, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the formula requires water, use only the boiled water in the teakettle. Pour the prescribed amount of formula into each of the disinfected bottles. Fill two of the bottles with boiled water for drinking water. Touching only the rims, place the nipples on the bottles, add the collars, and refrigerate. Do not refrigerate the water.

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