Baby's bottle

How do you make up a baby's bottle and keep it clean? Here are our tips to help you get into good habits right from the start.

How to prepare baby's bottle
- At the last minute: Don’t make up bottles in advance. If you're going out, fill the bottle with hot water, put it in a thermos pocket in your changing bag and bring the powder with you ready to mix just before feeding.
- Follow the instructions: One measure of powder to 30ml water.

Before preparing the bottle, wash your hands with soap and make sure your work surface is clean. Then follow the instructions on your pack of milk.

Tap water or bottled water for baby?
Don't listen to the myths: tap water is fine for babies' milk! However, find out from your local council or water board about the quality of water and follow these rules:
- let the tap run for 2 to 3 minutes before using
- only use cold water
- avoid using filtered water in jugs: bacteria proliferates in them
- if the tap is equipped with a diffuser, descale it regularly

If you want to give your baby bottled water, check whether it’s suitable for babies. Bear in mind that an open bottle must be kept in the fridge and consumed within 24 hours.

The right temperature 
- Give baby his or her bottle at room temperature (as you will have done in the maternity ward). If you prefer to heat it up then use a bottle heater. Be wary of heating bottles in microwaves as they don't heat evenly and you could end up with parts that are too hot.
- If the milk is warmed up, the bottle must be consumed within half an hour. If it’s at room temperature, it should be consumed within an hour.
- Before giving baby the bottle, always check the temperature is OK by pouring a few drops onto the back of your hand.

Cleaning baby bottles
Ideally, wash bottles just after feeding. Empty the bottle, rinse it with cold water to remove milk particles, immerse it in hot water mixed with washing up liquid and clean thoroughly using a bottle brush. Turn the teat inside out, unscrew the top and the ring. Leave it upside down to dry. If you use a dishwasher, a 65°C cycle is enough. Be careful with rubber teats as they don't always react well to dishwashers.

Sterilisation
Some recommend it and some don't. Many paediatricians believe that a bottle can never be sterile because the water and milk that goes in is not sterile.
- Careful cleaning and rinsing should be enough to keep baby bottles clean without sterilising them.
- Sterilise your bottles before first use, if you don't wash them soon after use, and if your bottle was prepared or used in conditions of less than perfect hygiene.
- Should you sterilise or not? If it reassures you, sterilise your baby's bottles by all means. Our mothers and grandmothers have always boiled bottles and so it can be hard to break this habit.