Feeding your baby and pumping breast milk involve many minute details to remember, like schedules, ounces to feed, and when to pump. But this is not the end of it. Another important task is keeping bottles and nipples clean to prevent germs. This is a very crucial task as the health of the baby is linked to the cleanliness of the feeding bottles and nipples. So finding good cleaning solutions for feeding bottles is a big task for parents.
Keeping milk-related equipment clean and sterile is crucial because milk provides an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. If your baby consumes milk with germs, they could become ill, especially since babies have less developed immune systems compared to adults.
To minimize the risk of illness, it’s essential to always use sterilized bottles and ensure all equipment is clean. Even if bottles and nipples appear clean, they could still harbor harmful germs.
Here are the diy tips for cleaning solutions for feeding bottles and nipples without resorting to chemical solutions:-
Scour your sink or basin and pot with baking soda or table salt and hot water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vessel in which you wash the bottles may itself pose contamination risks if it’s not clean.
Put all baby bottle parts in a big, clean bowl or basin with hot water and half a box of baking soda. Let them soak overnight. Water and baking soda mixture acts as a homemade baby bottle cleaner.
Wash your hands with soap before handling the bottles the next morning and dry them well.
Scrub the bottles and nipples with a clean brush and hot water using baking soda. It goes best as the natural nipple cleansers.
Rinse the bottles with hot water to remove any residue. Baking soda can help with this and is safe for babies. It is used for the best chemical-free cleaning for baby bottles.
Boil a pot of water with three tablespoons of baking soda on the stove. Put the bottles, nipples, and rims in the pot and cover it tightly. Boil everything for at least three minutes on high heat. This is the best of the DIY baby bottle sterilization methods.
Keep the equipment covered in the pot if you’re using it that day. Dry everything well with a clean cloth. You can use recyclable paper towels to clean. This is disposable so won’t carry any germs. It is preferable than germ laden cloth or sponge. Ensuring that the bottles, nipples, and valves are completely dry before use or storage is crucial.
Moisture can indeed attract bacteria, potentially compromising your baby’s health. Make sure to air-dry all components thoroughly before feeding your baby or putting them away. This simple step adds an extra layer of cleanliness and safety to your baby’s feeding routine.
Store it in a clean and dust-free place. This will prevent contamination. Avoid storing them near cleaning supplies to prevent further contamination.
You might still find a typical smell of the sweet milk in the bottle at times. Here is what you can do :-
● Wash the inside of the bottle with hot water, natural gentle soap and a cleaning brush.
● Now rinse the bottle.
● Fill it halfway with a mixture of hot water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
● Close the bottle and shake for a few minutes vigorously.
● Now rinse it under water properly.
● Check if the sour milk smell is still there or not. If not then dry them but if you still get some smell, repeat the procedure.
Read More – Top 10 Best Feeding Bottles and Nipples for Newborns
Chemicals like SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate) is commonly found in regular washing liquid. This can be harsh on plastic materials, potentially causing them to become brittle over time. To maintain the longevity of your baby’s bottles, it’s best to opt for a natural cleaning solution. By choosing a SLES-free homemade baby bottle cleaner, you can help prolong the life of your bottles and ensure the safety of your little one’s feeding essentials. It is best to use natural nipple cleansers to avoid any type of health hazards.
● Clean the bottles and nipples with a mild liquid soap and water. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water too to do the same.
● Let them then soak in a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water. It is a good homemade baby bottle cleaner.
● Now rinse with cold water and then clean it again.
● Dry them properly and store in a dust free place.
Conclusion
Your baby is your life. So you have to be extra careful with them in all aspects. Be it feeding them, choosing the formula and the right feeding bottles, choosing the right nipples or cleaning and sterilizing them – you have to be extra careful.
It helps to prevent bacteria contamination, keeping your baby safe and healthy. Chemicals contain SLS and paraben. It is always better to use chemical-free cleaning for baby bottles.
Instead, using DIY natural cleaning agents as cleaning solutions for feeding bottles is the best possible thing that you can do for your baby’s feeding bottles and nipples. Feeding bottles and nipples acts as the most important products to be used at this tender age to feed the baby. So taking extra care and precaution for their cleaning, sterilization and storage is crucial.