Baby bottles come in different shapes and materials. Regardless of the milk you use- breast milk or formula milk, choosing the right bottle and taking proper care of it is the key to ensuring your baby is safe. Improper maintenance and cleaning of bottles can lead to infections and other risks.
Get to know the bottle types available and how to take the best care of them.
Types of bottles
Different Materials
- Plastic: Plastic bottles are more common, as they do not break. BPA-free plastic is the best option and compared with the other type of materials, plastic is less expensive.
- Stainless steel: Another option that will not break, but is not transparent like plastic. You might leave out residues when cleaning, as the material is not see-through.
- Glass bottles: They are transparent but need extreme care while feeding the baby and cleaning. If you still prefer glass bottles, then using plastic sleeves to prevent breakage is the key.
- Disposable bottles: These bottles have plastic liners. They collapse when the milk gets empty, and do not let air flow. They are expensive as you need to replace liners with each feed. Yet, they are handy during travel or if you do not trust your caretaker with proper cleaning of the bottle.
Different Shapes
- Standard bottles: These bottles tell you how much milk is leftover, and are easy to clean.
- Wide bottles: These bottles are similar to the breast’s shape, short, and stout. Perfect if you both breastfeed and bottle feed.
- Vented bottles: The venting system in the bottles stops air bubbles. The inner vent looks like a straw. So, cleaning, assembling, and checking these, is not easy.
- Angle-neck bottles- These bottles are designed to be held easily. As the milk gets settled at the bottom cleaning has to be done carefully.
Based on the material and shape of your bottle, your bottle care might face a few changes. However, the basics of cleaning and taking care of them are the same.
How to care for and clean your baby’s bottle
- Sterilizing the bottles is the first step when you buy them. Remove the parts of the bottle and leave them in boiling water for 5 minutes. Use a mild soap and wash well. Rinse again to ensure no soap is left out.
- Dry the bottle completely on the rack, and ensure before using the bottle is completely dry.
- After feeding each time, clean the bottle with soap and water. Use the brush that accompanies the bottle clean the areas that are narrow and cannot be reached otherwise.
- Dry the bottle completely. The key is to wash immediately after the baby finishes the bottle. Unless you want to reuse the leftover milk, empty the bottle and clean it instantly. This is because milk gets caked inside the bottle. It would be very difficult to clean after that.
- Dishwasher Safe bottles can be cleaned in the first rack of the dishwasher.
Cleaning the Nipples
- Sterilizing the bottle involves the nipples too. Like the type of bottles, the shapes and sizes of the nipples vary.
- Using the brush that accompanies the bottle is mandatory to clean the nipples.
- When the nipples are worn out or cracked throw them away. They can hurt the baby or let too much milk out.
- Dishwasher Safe bottle’s nipple too can be washed in the dishwasher.
Remember
Before cleaning the bottles and nipples, you need to keep your hands clean. Chipped and broken bottles should be discarded immediately. Do not use plastic bottles for years. Replace them as per the instructions on the bottle, or at least after 6 to 8 months.
