Sterilisation - is it a folly?!??

[Lorzy Lor]

My husband thinks i am becoming obsessive about sterilising things!!! i have a 10 wk old, Jack, and he is mostly breast fed, but has bottles occasionally. He has started to teeth already (his dad started teething at 7wks!!) So we have a teething ring. My hubby doesn't think that picking up the bottle by the teat or letting Jack chew on un-sterilized toys as a problem....I on the other side do! I'm conserned Jack could get ill! i don't want to nag, but feel that it is really important, should i stick to my guns or am i being OTT?

[boobesque]

My daughter is breastfed only, and we have a steriliser, and i have only used it once!
I sterealise dummies in boiling water, and did rinse her teethers under really hot water, but i am no-where near as obsessive as i was with my son who was bottlefed!
I wouldnt pick up a bottle by the teat, but i wouldnt steralise toys!

[B00]

I always sterilised Mini Boo's bottles however I'm sure I was guilty of picking it up by the teat on more than one occasion so it was probably a waste of time sterilising the ruddy things in the 1st place!

I also sterilized her teething rings, though never her other toys which she also rammed in her mouth at every given opportunity, quite what my logic was at the time regarding this i fail to see...lol

She was also very prone to chomping on the dog if he was within her grasp too, I did try sterilizing him but he wasn't too impressed ;-)

What I'm trying to say is that I think Mr Lor has a point, as clean as an environment we try to make for our children when they start life, it'll amaze you what they manage to stuff in their gobs before you can snatch it out of their hands, so maybe let Jack (lovely name) build up his immune system?

[Solarjunkie]

Try (very hard!) not to worry about it - if he is a healthy baby, getting all the antibodies from your milk, you don't have to sterilize stuff all over the place. Milk bottles are places where bacteria can really have a field day, all that warm nutrient, but apart from that - remember you are building up his immune system. Children need to be exposed to all manner of things to make them stronger.
The only person I have heard of who insists on having all toys sterile, by buying new ones every day, is Michael Jackson. Do you want to follow his parenting model? ;-)
Keep smiling.

[noxlumos]

hi, My wife and I have had ten children between us and all have been breast fed and we are very relaxed when it comes to sterilising other things as , as long as your house is clean, you really will not get a problem.
I understand since he's your first why you are so concerned, but there's really nothing to worry about. Your husband is right, relax a bit and enjoy your baby.
Congratulations by the way:)

[Pippa68]

Congrats!

I would only be concerned about sterilising bottles & teats ~ formula & cows milk are the main carriers of germs if the bottles & teats haven't been sterilised, so I wouldn't bother with toys. Just make sure they are washed in hot water every once in a while :o)

[meltoadhall]

i breastfed mine and didnt even possess a sterilizer, when you put him on the floor it all goes out the window anyway.
i would say be calm and enjoy your child - after all your breast isnt sterile!!

[Lorzy Lor]

Hey all! Thank you so much for the assistance! Some very wise words! Will take them on board! I'm not really a clean freak, honest! I do feel more chilled out about it! Thanks x

[silkychicken]

Good advice here! We all need to build up our own immunity so go easy on the sterilising. Just use common sense and you'll be fine.

[Beanmistriss]

As soon as he was old enough to be crawling about my cousin ate a big fat slug (well half of it, the other half was clenched in his tiny fist). Not sure if my auntie sterilized it first tho :)