Question for parents who only use a bottle every once in a while...

Question

I have a 6 week old daughter that I'm breastfeeding, but every now and then I want to give her a bottle so I can get out of the house for a little bit. This might be a silly question, but since I only use a bottle every now and then...like maybe once every couple of weeks or so, do I need to re-wash the bottles and let them dry right before I use them? They've been sitting in a kitchen cabinet with the lids on them. Same goes for my breast pump parts. After they dry I just put them in a zip lock bag...but they sit in there for a couple weeks...what do you think? Can I use them as is, or do I need to re-wash them?

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about it, the pump is in an air tight bag, you can do the same with the bottles so you don't worry.

Answer 2

Depends on how germophobic you are.  I would recommend just rinsing the bottles out.  Just be cautious that you do not give a bottle too much for the first 90-120 days because baby may like bottles better and refuse the breast.  I know alot of people that has happened to.  

Answer 3

Relax, you are doing fine!, If you are washing after using and storing like this, then you are fine. I have raised 5 absolutely healthy children. Cleanliness is always best, but, no need to be neurotic about it. Enjoy your baby, you sound like a great mom already, breastfeeding is wonderful and more mothers should do it! Best wishes to you and your baby!

Answer 4

it is better to re-wash them, i know it is tiring but it is your baby health just for a peace of mind it is better to re-wash it it can have some little dust on it or other things you might not see at clear eyes and your baby is still too small just 6 weeks old make sure everything you use is washed and sterilized.

Answer 5

If they've been cleaned and sterilized before you put them away and they've had the lids on them (and pump parts have been in zip bag) then I don't see any point in rewashing them.  I'd rinse them out just to make myself feel better, but I don't think it'd hurt anything if you didn't.

You'd really just be rinsing to make sure there was no dust or anything, but sounds like you've already got that covered by bagging and putting lids on them.

Answer 6

They should be fine. As long as your cabinets are really clean and you have not had any food products near the place the bottles/nipples are kept. If you are worried about it then I'd wash and dry them. Do what you think is best and makes you feel is best for your child.  I used the Playtex nursers with the little plastic sleeves for the milk/formula and always let the nipples air dry and then used the top to keep them covered while sitting on the counter in a basket reserved just for them!

It is hard being a new mom but it sounds like you are doign the right thing with the breast pump parts and keeping them in zip locks... I just tossed my pump and stuff in the trash... my daughter is 7 and there's not going to be any more babies due to secondary infertility and early menopausal symptoms... Felt bad throwing it out but just couldn't bring myself to ask anyone if they wanted it or freecycle it... I wouldn't have wanted "used" stuff like that! Gross!

Answer 7

If you are washing them after you are using them, I don't see any reason to wash them again before you use them, unless there is some reason you feel that way (they appear dirty, etc.)

I wouldn't re-wash them, but that's just me.

They're not just in the cabinet, they're enclosed in a bag, sounds safe to me.

Edit:  I wouldn't even rinse them out, myself.  Theres probably more germs in the rinse water than the bottles and parts.

Answer 8

If you are keeping them in a Ziploc bag right after they are washed and dried then they should still be fine once you are ready to use them.

Best of luck

Answer 9

always rewash whats in ur cabinet...u never know whats in there...

good luck..............

Answer 10

I would at least rinse them off before each use.  

Answer 11

Realistically I don't think it's necessary to re-wash them after you've already washed them .  Maybe rinse them out.  Come on, what new mother has time to do all of that?  Besides do you re-wash the dishes you eat off of?

Answer 12

eeewww re wash them of course

Answer 13

Hmmm... never thought about it.

My 12 month old gets maybe 4 bottles a week while I'm at work.  I fill up his bottle in the morning with the milk I pumped.  I think I just rinse the bottle before I put milk in it.  They don't sit for a couple of weeks in the cupboard, though... I only have a few though, so they get used like once a week each.