Key takeaways: Clean bottles, nipples, and pump parts after every use with hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. Sanitize at least once a day for babies under 3 months, premature babies, or babies with weakened immune systems. For older, healthy babies, frequent sanitizing isn’t necessary.
Bottle washing can feel endless. Knowing what’s actually necessary saves time without cutting corners on safety.
Cleaning vs. Sanitizing
- Cleaning removes milk residue and germs with soap and water. It’s needed after every use.
- Sanitizing kills remaining germs with heat or steam. It’s an extra step that’s especially important for young or vulnerable babies.
How to Clean by Hand
- Take everything apart: bottles, nipples, rings, caps, valves, and pump parts.
- Rinse under running water to remove milk.
- Wash in a clean basin (not directly in the sink, which can harbor germs) with hot water and dish soap.
- Scrub with a brush used only for baby items. Squeeze water through nipple holes.
- Rinse again under running water.
- Air-dry on a clean towel or drying rack. Don’t use a dish towel to dry, which can transfer germs.
- Clean the basin and brush regularly.
Dishwasher
If items are dishwasher-safe, place small parts in a closed basket on the top rack. A hot water setting and heated dry cycle (or sanitizing setting) add extra germ-killing power.
When to Sanitize
The CDC recommends sanitizing feeding items at least once a day for babies who are:
- Younger than 3 months.
- Born prematurely.
- Have a weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment.
For older, healthy babies, daily sanitizing may not be necessary if items are cleaned carefully after each use. Sanitize occasionally and whenever items may be contaminated.
Sanitizing Methods
- Boiling: place disassembled items in a pot of water, bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove with clean tongs.
- Steam: use a microwave or plug-in steam sterilizer, following the manufacturer’s directions.
- Dishwasher sanitize setting.
- Bleach solution: if boiling, steaming, or a dishwasher isn’t available, the CDC describes using 2 teaspoons of unscented bleach in 1 gallon of water, soaking items for at least 2 minutes, then air-drying without rinsing.
Pump Parts
Clean pump parts that touch milk after every use. Some parents store parts in the refrigerator between sessions, but the CDC recommends cleaning after each use. Tubing usually doesn’t need washing unless milk or condensation gets inside; follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
When to Replace
- Nipples: when they’re cracked, sticky, thin, swollen, or discolored, often every 2 to 3 months.
- Bottles: when cracked or cloudy.
- Pump parts: valves and membranes wear out and can reduce suction; replace as the manufacturer recommends.
Water Safety
If your home uses well water or there’s a boil-water advisory, follow your local health department’s guidance for washing feeding items.
Call your baby’s doctor if your baby: has vomiting, diarrhea, fever, white patches in the mouth that don’t wipe away, or poor feeding.
The Bottom Line
Clean every feeding item after every use. Sanitize daily for young, premature, or immune-compromised babies, and occasionally for older healthy babies.
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Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to clean, sanitize, and store infant feeding items. https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to keep your breast pump kit clean. https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Cronobacter infection. https://www.cdc.gov/cronobacter
- US Food and Drug Administration. Cleaning a breast pump. https://www.fda.gov
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
