Safe handling of bottles
Sterilizing bottles and nipples
Place them in rapidly boiling water for 5 minutes. The first use is the only time you will need to sterilize them. After that, wash nipples and bottles in hot soapy water each time they are used. This includes being washed in the top rack of a dishwasher. Always wash your hands before preparing a bottle for your baby.
Safe handling of human milk
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More tips for safe handling of human milk:
1) Keep it clean
Make sure your hands and pump parts (if using a pump) are clean before expressing human milk. Check the pump tubing for any moisture, as this may mean you need to use a different pump and/or pump kit. For more information on how to keep your pump clean, check out this link! (This link will open in a new tab.)
2) Storage
Human milk can be stored in plastic milk storage bags, and plastic or glass containers. Make sure to write the date your milk is expressed on the storage container. Store human milk on the inside shelves of the refrigerator and freezer. Do not store it in the door to avoid temperature changes. The recommended refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you know your baby won’t be drinking your freshly expressed milk within 4 days, freeze it right away. This will help it keep its quality! Make sure your milk containers are not filled up to the top, as human milk expands when it freezes. It will be best to store only the amount that your baby needs for 1 serving in each bottle. That way, if they do not finish the bottle, you will not need to throw away a large amount of milk.
3) Thawing
You can thaw your human milk overnight in the refrigerator. Other options are to thaw it in a bowl of warm water, or under warm, running water. Thawing the oldest milk first will ensure your precious expressed milk does not go bad!
4) Serving
Human milk can be served warm, room temperature, or cold. Human milk may look watery, have layers, and be different colors. Human milk looks very different from formula. And, it does not blend together the way formula does. Gently swirl the milk if you notice that fat particles have separated from the rest of the milk.
Caution
Never microwave your baby’s bottle. This can create hot spots throughout the milk that can burn the mouth. Heating human milk on the stove can also make milk too hot and should not be used as a method for thawing.
Safe handling of formula
To prepare your baby’s formula, bring cold tap water to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes, then let the water cool to room temperature. Using this room temperature water, mix formula according to instructions on the can and using the provided scoop. Be sure to follow the mixing instructions exactly! Mixing too much or too little formula with the water can make your baby get sick or not grow well. Before serving your baby their bottle, make sure the temperature is not too hot. You can do this by dripping some on the inside of your wrist.
If you use powdered formula, be sure to keep the formula can sealed and stored according to its packaging directions. This is important to keep bacteria from growing in it. Once formula is prepared, use it within 1 hour if it has been at room temperature. You can also prepare formula and immediately store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Throw away any formula that has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour. You should also throw away any formula in the bottle that your baby does not finish.
Do I need to warm my baby’s bottle?
No, your baby may even prefer a cold or room temperature bottle. If served this way from the beginning, you may end up saving yourself some time and trouble! However, if your baby does prefer a warm bottle, here are some ways to make it happen:
- Run hot water over the bottle for a few minutes
- Heat water in a pan or bowl. Then, place the bottle in the heated water
- Use a bottle warmer
Test the temperature of the formula or human milk after warming the bottle. You can test the temperature by placing a few drops of the formula or human milk on the inside of your wrist.