One way to keep your baby healthy is to make sure that his feeding bottles are clean and free from harmful germs that can make him sick. A surefire way to keep your baby’s feeding accessories squeaky clean and free from bad microbes is to sterilize them. Some parents may be put off by the thought of doing this often but trust us, it will only take you a few minutes to do the sterilization process, and more importantly, it is for your baby’s health.

Before sterilizing your baby’s feeding supplies, make sure that their labels tell you that they are heat-proof. Many bottles are made of heat-resistant glass and plastic, but if you choose to buy plastic bottles, make certain that they are labeled free from BPA and phthalates. These are chemicals in plastics which are dangerous for your baby’s health and which may leech during the heating process. Moreover, it would be wise to use only natural and organic dishwashing soap when washing your child’s feeding supplies. Babyganics’ Dish Dazzler Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap, for example, leaves no chemical or gel residue so you can be sure it’s safe for your baby.

Step 1. Fill up a large pot halfway with water. Bring it to a boil on your stove.

Step 2. Pour out the leftover milk from the feeding bottles.

Step 3. In order for you not to waste water by washing the bottles and accessories one by one, you could soak them in your kitchen sink filled with water only a couple of inches deep and mixed with a few drops of dish soap. Clean them one by one using a clean washcloth and a bottle brush. Make sure that you thoroughly remove any milk residue.

Step 4. Rinse each piece individually with warm water, making sure that no traces of soap remains.

Step 5. Once the water on the pot starts boiling, put the bottles, nipples and other feeding accessories into the pot and let them boil for 3 or 4 minutes (note: check if your bottle liners are heat-resistant). Do not let the feeding supplies sit in boiling water for too long lest they go out of shape.

Step 6. After boiling, set the pieces on a drying rack or on paper towels to dry. Don’t wipe with cloth or paper towels to avoid getting lint all over them.

It’s a good idea to clean your baby’s feeding bottles immediately after he uses them. Milk tends to cake on bottles that sit for too long without getting washed and this may become a breeding ground for bacteria or may give off a foul smell that is difficult to remove.