WHAT EVERY NEW MUM NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT STERILISATION
What Is Sterilisation:
Sterilisation refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms) present is a specified region, such as a surface or a volume of fluid.
Why Do I Need to Sterilise?
Under the age of 12 months, your baby’s immune system is weaker, and your baby is more vulnerable to catching infections. Milk is also the perfect environment to grow bacteria. In fact, feeding equipment that has not been properly cleaned can be a source of infection.
A report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises that the thorough cleaning and sterilising of equipment used for feeding your babies is critical in avoiding infection and have recommended the use of both chemical and heating methods for sterilising. The World Health Organisation (WHO) follow these recommendations whether you’re breastfeeding your baby or not.
What Do I Need to Sterilise?
Babies have a tendency to put everything in their mouth, this is an important part of their tactile learning process. Therefor anything that can go into their mouth should be sterilised. Including: breast pumps, soothers, bottles, teats, teething items, small plastic toys, feeding bowls and spoons and plates even nipple shields and breast shells.
How Long Do You Need to Sterilise For?
Your baby’s immune system will start to mature around 12 months therefor parents are advised to keep sterilising feeding equipment until their babies first birthday.
How to Sterilise
Always clean first, whatever method you use, always give a thorough wash to all the items that you wish to sterilise. Ensure that all traces of milk are removed. Taking special care to clean teats, bottle rings where milk residue can easily be trapped.
The Milton Method – Cold Water Sterilisation
Using Milton Antibacterial Tablets or the Milton Antibacterial Solution, which are available in most grocery and pharmacies across Australia, you simply add the Milton Antibacterial Tablets or the Milton Antibacterial Solution into a tub with 4 litres of tap water then place you prewashed items into the 4 litres of solution for 15 minutes.
This solution is clinically tested to kill 99.9% of all germs including bacteria, fungi and viruses. This solution can then be reused as often as possible for the next 24 hours (once a day). This method does not require electricity and therefor has NO risk of burns. There is no need to rinse items after the 15 minutes in the solution and are handy for travelling.
Boiling
Using a large pan, a lid to cover the pan and tap water. Boil the items for 20 minutes and 10 minutes for teats boiling teats for too long will damage them. This method has the added risk of burning and the need for electricity or gas.
Electric Steam Steriliser
Using a purchased electric steriliser and tap water, this method takes between 8 and 12 minutes. This equipment can be bulky and expensive to purchase. There are cooling time instructions to be followed to avoid burns.
Microwave Sterilising
Requires a microwave, electricity and appropriate container to hold baby items and tap water. This method takes 2 minutes and cooling instructions need to be followed to avoid burning, this method is not suitable for metal objects.
Regardless of not just your baby feeding methods, sterilising will become a big part of your life once your baby arrives. With all the new challenges that parenthood throws at you, making things easy and simple is what you’ll need.
The Milton Method of Sterilising offers you convenience wherever you are, weather that be at home or abroad! Milton effectively disinfects and sanitises breast expression equipment, bottles, teats, feeding utensils, dummies, toys, and much more!
The Milton method of sterilisation has been trusted in homes and hospitals for over 90 years as the safe and effective way to protect babies from disease-producing germs in their most vulnerable early years.
For more information please visit: miltonbaby.com.au