At birth and during the first months of life, babies’ immune systems are not yet able to protect them from the various germs and bacteria they might encounter. This is why new parents often wonder whether or not they should sterilize their newborn’s bottles and accessories. Especially since this recommendation is no longer automatic—quite the opposite, in fact. So, what should you do, and how? Between nipples, breast pumps, and newborn pacifiers, here’s an overview from the perspective of baby care and sterilization.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Between hygiene and parental peace of mind
- How to clean bottles daily?
- How to properly sterilize a bottle
- And what about other baby accessories?
- Focus Élhée: hygiene reinvented thanks to medical-grade silicone
Between hygiene and parental peace of mind
Our grandmothers systematically sterilized the bottles they fed to their babies before every meal. Although time-consuming, they feared contamination of the milk or the bottle too much to skip this precaution.
However, the Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique, the French Society of Neonatology, Assurance Maladie and the Ministry of Health now all agree: sterilizing baby bottles and accessories is no longer necessary at home, although it remains an option.
This shift is mainly thanks to the use of low-mineral bottled water designed for infants, the improved quality of today’s formula, as well as medical advances and general improvements in hygiene knowledge.
However, a newborn’s immune system is still fragile. Passive immunity, transferred from the mother through the placenta and enhanced by breastfeeding (when it occurs), offers only partial protection—especially since the baby’s microbiome is still immature.
So, even though systematic sterilization is no longer advised, thorough cleaning remains essential to protect babies’ health.
How to clean bottles daily?
Because life is filled with small oversights—eyes half closed at sunrise or between feedings—here’s a mini guide of recommendations for properly washing your baby’s bottles.
- Use a mild, unscented soap free of alcohol and essential oils, with a neutral formula that is gentle on mucous membranes.
- Hot water is your best friend along with a clean sponge reserved for your baby’s items or a bottle brush.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap or milk. If your water is very hard, it may leave deposits. If this is the case at your home, occasionally boil bottles or use filtered water for rinsing.
- Finally, drying is just as important: air dry upside down on a clean rack to avoid any stagnant moisture.
🩷 At Élhée, choosing medical-grade silicone also makes your life easier: no porosity, fast drying, and a smooth surface that doesn’t retain odors or residue.
And what about sensory experience? It’s not often discussed, but little ones are very sensitive to smells and tastes. A poorly rinsed bottle, a perfumed dish soap residue, or an overly aggressive sterilization can change the taste of the milk and cause a feeding refusal. For this reason, to maintain neutrality, we recommend choosing unscented cleaning products, rinsing well with clear water, and paying attention to your baby: a grimace or refusal can be a real sign—because it’s crucial to protect the gentle first sensations.
How to properly sterilize a bottle?
Reassuring and effective, especially in the first weeks of life, for premature births or significant soiling, sterilization can be done in several ways.
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In boiling water: Submerge each part in a large pot of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
➕ Affordable, accessible ➖ Handle with caution (burn risk) -
With steam using an electric sterilizer or a steam cooker. Fast and natural, this method is gentle on materials.
➕ Convenient for daily use ➖ Bulky, requires a dedicated device -
In the microwave, using a special sterilizer or a suitable container with water.
➕ Ultra-fast ➖ Should be avoided without suitable equipment -
Cold sterilization using disinfectant tablets dissolved in water. Use carefully: respect dosage, immersion time, and rinse thoroughly.
➕ Useful when traveling ➖ Chemical, for occasional use
Sterilization frequency and precautions
In the first few weeks, daily sterilization can offer peace of mind, especially if your baby is premature or fragile. After that, washing thoroughly with hot soapy water (or in the dishwasher for Élhée bottles) is sufficient.
- Separate all bottle parts before sterilizing.
- Wash before sterilizing to remove any milk residue.
- Let air dry on a clean surface (avoid dish towels, which often harbor germs).
5 frequent mistakes to avoid
- Sterilizing without washing: the two steps serve different purposes.
- Reusing a bottle that’s poorly dried or still warm: this encourages bacterial growth.
- Using improper products: some can irritate baby or damage the materials.
- Soaking too long in cold sterilization liquid: this may weaken some components over time.
- Forgetting to rinse after chemical sterilization: persisting taste or odor could bother your baby.
🩷 At Élhée, the round shape, medical-grade silicone, and fully disassemblable bottles naturally make cleaning easier. A real day-to-day difference.
And what about other baby accessories?
Besides bottles, life with a little one involves plenty of objects that go from hand to mouth, bag to table to floor, and are handled without a second thought. Their care also deserves special attention.
What absolutely must be sterilized
- Nipples (bottle or pacifier): sterilize daily during the first weeks, then wash thoroughly when soiled.
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Parts that contact milk in a breast pump (flanges, valves, collection bottles…): wash after every use and sterilize regularly.
🩷 Élhée tip: Our nipples and pacifiers are also made from medical-grade silicone and thus compatible with all sterilization methods. Special mention for our one-piece pacifiers!
What can be cleaned
- Formula dispensers, caps, screw rings: wash with hot soapy water, rinse well, air dry.
- Teething rings: wash with warm water and mild soap after each use.
- Plastic toys or rattles: regularly clean with a soft sponge and unscented neutral soap.
👄 A helpful rule: anything that baby puts in the mouth, and anything that holds milk, deserves extra care. The rest can follow a regular cleaning routine, adjusted to your use.
Focus Élhée: hygiene reinvented thanks to medical-grade silicone
At Élhée, every detail is designed to combine safety, cleanliness, and peace of mind for babies and their parents. That’s why we chose extra-soft medical-grade silicone, hypoallergenic and naturally bacteria-resistant, for our products. Bottles, nipples, training cups—this innovative material limits risk and simplifies the care routine.
💡 Good to know: medical-grade silicone can handle both hot sterilization and dishwashing. The BibROND’s fully rounded shape leaves no hard-to-reach nooks, making cleaning more intuitive, with no aggressive brushes or tedious disassembly. It’s a choice committed to confidence, durability, the use of highly controlled materials, and reducing the mental load for parents.
Bonus: simple routine for zen parents
Between bottle washing, interrupted nights, and always-busy arms (even more so if you’re raising siblings), every little action matters. To lighten your load without skipping a beat, here’s an effective checklist to adopt.
A weekly care checklist
- Every day: wash bottles, nipples, and accessories that come into direct contact with milk or your baby’s mouth.
- Every 2–3 days: clean formula containers, caps, rings, and other small items.
- Once a week: disinfect storage areas, check accessory conditions (wear, stains, residue), and sterilize if needed.
- As needed: trust your instincts. An accessory dropped on the floor or used in a public place sometimes needs a little extra care.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve been told I need to sterilize until 6 months. Is that true?
➡️ False, or rather outdated. Recommendations have changed: sterilization is no longer systematic, especially if you maintain good basic hygiene.
Is tap water good enough for making bottles?
➡️ Yes, if it’s potable; not if it’s very hard. For high-risk areas or if in doubt, use low-mineral bottled water suitable for infants.
If I’m doing mixed feeding, does anything change?
➡️ No, the same rules apply. Every accessory (bottle, pumping shield, breast pump) should be kept clean and well looked after.
Can sterilization damage baby care accessories?
➡️ Not with high-quality materials like the medical-grade silicone used by Élhée. However, some plastics may degrade over time—keep an eye out.
In conclusion, hygiene yes, but no pressure
Taking care of baby bottles and accessories is important, but it shouldn’t become a source of stress. At Élhée, we believe that confidence in your choices and your baby is key. Fed by all your love, this trust enables you to approach every stage calmly.
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