1. Warm it safely

    Stand it in warm water

    A few minutes, then test a few drops on your wrist. Never the microwave.

  2. On the go

    Powder in, water later

    Measure formula into a clean, dry bottle and add water when it's time to feed.

  3. Shower gift

    Bottles + rack + brush

    Two or three bottles to try, a drying rack and a bottle brush.

Clean and sterilize baby bottles

How to · With baby bottle

Clean and sterilize baby bottles

15 minutesAfter every feedEasy

Steps

  1. 1Take every bottle apart, rinse each piece under running water, then wash it in hot soapy water with the brush. Squeeze soapy water through the nipple holes.
  2. 2Rinse everything well under running water.
  3. 3To sanitize, put the parts in a pot, cover them with water and boil for 5 minutes, then lift them out with clean tongs. A steam sterilizer or a dishwasher's sanitize setting works too.
  4. 4Let everything air-dry on a clean rack. Don't dry with a dish towel, and only put the bottles back together once they're dry.

  • Nipple flow

    Newborns start on slow flow and move up as they grow. The level is printed on the nipple or the box.

  • Plastic, glass or silicone

    Plastic is light, glass is easy to clean and lasts, and silicone is soft and hard to break. Baby bottles sold in the US can't be made with BPA.

  • Replace worn nipples

    Check them often, and throw away any that are cracked, sticky, swollen or torn.