The microwave is the go-to appliance for reheating food faster, but it can also be used for sterilizing pacifiers, feeding bottles, and breast pumps. Pacifiers are tiny and easier to fit in the microwave cup without any hurdles. Likewise, you can also sterilize feeding bottles and breast pumps in the microwave using no special tool.
Sterilizing pacifiers, feeding bottles, and breast pumps in the microwave are recommended by many experts because it kills bacteria and other kinds of germs. A microwave helps to heat the molecules inside the pacifier to boiling temperature. Also, helps to kill most fungi and bacteria.
One of your concerns as a mother is keeping your child healthy and free of disease. You may be surprised to learn that one of the simplest methods for achieving this is to ensure that your baby’s pacifiers, feeding bottles, and breast pump are properly cleaned. We have some solutions for you. We’ve given specific instructions on how to keep your baby’s pacifiers, feeding bottles, and breast pump clean and safe from harmful germs.
How To Sterilize Pacifiers In the Microwave?
Pacifier sterilization is a must in order to keep your baby healthy. A baby’s pacifier can be easily sterilized in the microwave. Pacifiers fit easily in the microwave cup without interfering with the even distribution of heat. Place the pacifiers in a microwave-safe container and sterilize them as follows:
- Place a pacifier in a bowl of water
- Microwave the pacifier for one minute on high.
- Cool the Pacifier
- Keep in a Cool and Dry Surface
How To Sterilize Feeding Bottles In the Microwave?
Using your microwave, you can quickly and effectively sanitize your baby’s feeding bottle. Before sterilizing feeding bottles, make sure your microwave is clean. Here’s how to microwave sterilize a baby’s feeding bottles:
- Start with a clean microwave.
- Fill bottles about halfway with water.
- Microwave on high for one to two minutes.
- Remove the bottles from the microwave using oven mitts, drain any remaining water, and allow them to air dry.
How To Sterilize Breast Pump In the Microwave?
After each use, all breast pump parts that come into contact with breast milk, such as bottles, valves, and breast shields, should be cleaned.
- Place the pump parts in a microwaveable sanitizing bag or microwave according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- When the microwave timer goes off, open the microwave and let the bag cool before touching it, or remove the bag from the microwave with oven mitts.
How Often Should You Sterilize Pacifiers?
Premature babies and infants up to 3 months of age require more care and cleaning than babies over 3 months of age. Pacifiers must be sterilized on a regular basis because they come into contact with the ground or other objects. If kept safely, at least once every two weeks would be ideal to avoid bacteria buildup.
Cleaning the pacifiers on a regular basis is an important part of maintaining good pacifier hygiene. The younger the child, the more critical it is to protect it from bacteria and maintain proper pacifier hygiene. This is primarily due to the fact that small children’s immune systems have not yet become acquainted with all of the different bacteria, and thus have not yet learned to “defend” against them. We always recommend that pacifiers are scalded at least once a day.
It is essential to sterilize your pacifiers and bottles to keep your baby safe during feedings. Keep an eye out for mold and mildew buildup on your bottle and pacifier. Babies’ immune systems are sensitive, and bacteria growth can cause a variety of illnesses. For a month, keep an eye out for the growth of mold and mildew and thoroughly sterilize any surfaces that show signs of growth.
How often do you sterilize feeding bottles?
To keep the baby safe from germs and bacteria, feeding bottles must be sterilized daily or once a week. It is unnecessary to sanitize your baby’s bottles every day as he or she grows older, but you cannot completely avoid this step. Once a week sterilization should be sufficient to keep germs at bay.
Sanitizing is important if your baby has a weakened immune system, was born prematurely, or is less than 3 months old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older, healthy babies do not require daily sterilization as long as the bottle parts are properly cleaned after each use. Because today’s drinking water is clean and safe, regular sterilization is no longer necessary.
We recommend that you use separate baby bottles to feed your sick baby so that disease-causing germs are limited to those products and others are not exposed to the same bacteria or viruses. These bottles should be sterilized regularly to avoid exposing the baby to the same germs during successive feedings.
How often do you sterilize feeding bottles?
To be on the safe side, sterilize your breast pump once a day and thoroughly wash it after each use. This process will keep bacteria and germs out of your milk supply, ensuring that your baby is not exposed to any health risks.
If you’re pumping multiple times a day, it’s best to store parts in a sealed container in the fridge between pumping sessions. Consult your care provider for specific cleaning and sterilization procedures for preemies, and make sure to follow them.
Fortunately, unless your baby has health conditions, the CDC guidelines do not require pump parts to be sterilized after each session, in addition to being carefully cleaned as stated above, for moms who pump close to 12 times per day. When sterilizing your pump parts, keep the following two factors in mind:
- Sterilize daily if your baby is under 3 months old, preemie, or is sick.
- Sterilize every few days if your baby is full-term, healthy, and older than 3 months.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, if you have a premature baby or if your baby has any other health concerns, please seek the advice of your health care providers for safe pumping tips. Pacifiers should be sterilized before being used for the first time.
It’s also important to remember that before you begin pumping, you should always thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Sanitize feeding items at least once a day to remove additional germs.
When your baby is less than three months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system, sanitizing is critical.