Hand Washing Bottles
Below, find helpful steps recommended by the CDC to safely hand wash your infants feeding items.
Wash hands. Wash your hands well with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Take apart. Separate all bottle parts (for example, bottles, nipples, caps, rings, valves).
Rinse. Rinse bottle parts and any other feeding items by holding them under running water. Do not set them in the sink. The water can be warm or cold, whatever you prefer.
Wash feeding items.
Place all items in a clean basin or container used only to clean infant feeding items. Do not wash directly in the sink because it may contain germs that could contaminate these items.
Fill wash basin with hot water and add soap.
Scrub items using a clean brush that is used only to clean infant feeding items.
Squeeze water through nipple holes to be sure they get clean.
Rinse again. Rinse by holding items under running water, or by holding completely under fresh water, in a separate basin that is used only for cleaning infant feeding items.
Allow to air-dry. Place bottle parts, wash basin, and bottle brush on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. Allow to air dry thoroughly.
Do not use a dish towel to rub or pat items dry because doing so may transfer germs to the items.
Clean wash basin and bottle brush. Rinse the wash basins and brush well and allow them to air-dry after each use. Wash them every few days, either in a dishwasher with hot water and a heated drying cycle (if they are dishwasher-safe), or by hand with soap and warm water. If your baby is less than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness (such as HIV) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer), wash basin and bottle brush after every use.
