Boiling new bottles - what would you do about this?

[Judegirl]

In a pinch, I bought a new Medela bottle today, pumped into it in the car, and dumped it. Once I got home, I absentmindedly put it into the dirty-pump-parts bin with everything else. Now I have a lot of dirty Medela bottles and I don't know which one was the new one. On top of that, I've pumped in ONE of them since then - I grabbed one (also absentmindedly; there's a lot of that these days), washed it, and pumped. It could have been the new one.

Would you dump the milk form that bottle? (At least I have THAT straight!) Would you boil ALL the bottles, just to mkae sure you got the new one? Or would you assume that the washing is enough and go on with your life??

Aaargh!

Jude

[egoldber]

Well I never boiled any bottles and my ped told me I didn't have to, that plain soap and water was fine. If it makes you feel better, maybe run them through the dishwasher? (Which is what I usually did anyway.)

[sadie427]

Personally, I really only boiled/sterilized stuff for the first few weeks, and I think that probably wasn't even necessary. After that I just washed everything normally. Since you washed whichever bottle you pumped into, I would think that would be enough. Remember that nothing you "sterilize" actually stays "sterile" anyway, and your baby has been exposed to any of the germs that would be on the bottle anyway.

[amp]

We never boiled bottles either. They just go right into the dishwasher for cleaning.

[Judegirl]

I only boil before first use, since all the instructions advise it. T

Those of you who don't boil - does that mean you didn't boil before the first use? If that's the case, I'm keeping the milk (and I was wrong about knowing which was which; I'd have to throw out both bottles of milk!) and just tossing everything in the dishwasher later.

But if there's no one here who can say she (or he!) has NEVER boiled a bottle...well, then I'll stay worried... *laugh* And I'm more concerned about residue from the factory than germs anyway...seems to me a handwash would take care of that...but what do I know?

As sad as it is, I'm actually waiting for someone else to tell me what to do...so in case anyone can reassure me, I'll be checking the thread obsessively. Egads.

Thanks,
Jude

[Judegirl]

I wasted all of your time. Gosh, I need to get some sleep at some point.

The new bottle I bought and used today was still in the bag I brough tin from the car. I never put it in with the dirty stuff. Besides, I can tell just by LOOKING at it that it's new.

I'm sorry, everyone. I feel like an idiot. And probably, if I had half a working brain, I would just ignore the whole thing and not admit it to everyone!

Geez. Thanks anyway.

Jude

[amp]

You are NOT an idiot. You are simply sleep deprived and suffering for it! Give yourself a break!

And no, I have never, in my whole life, or the life of my son, boiled a bottle. Not even the first time. I figured the dishwasher would do a reasonable job of disinfecting the first time.

Go sleep!

[egoldber]

I never boiled a bottle. Ever.

[tarahsolazy]

I've never boiled a bottle, pacifier, or anything. I did microwave sterilze my PIS horns once, but realized that was unneccessary. I am a pediatrician, BTW, and work in a NICU. Our lactation specialists tell the premie moms to just dishwasher wash the bottles, and handwash pump parts in hot soapy water. We have little 4 oz milk storage bottles that are pumped into and stored, never having been boiled.
I think a hot soapy water wash is just fine. And I'd keep the milk! That's gold.

[hellosmiletoday]

I have boiled bottles...but that was before I started using the microwave sterilizer or the dishwasher. I think all methods are equal.

Personally I usually handwash all my stuff and then put in the sterilizer, then in the drying rack. Of course technically the stuff isnt sterile the minute you take it out of the sterilizer, but I sterilize b/c I dont trust my handwashing. My hands cant tolerate hot water, its a waste of electricity, and I let our used bottles and pump parts sit out for awhile b/f washing--a nesting place for bacteria growth. Sometimes I use the dishwasher...but I only run the dishwasher about 2-3 times a week. Handwashing in hot water should remove all the chemical residue...I dont see the need to boil, since the milk you will be putting in it wont be boiling.