Bottle Brushes

Baby bottles and nipples require lots of cleaning. It’s important that your child’s bottles and nipples be extremely clean after each and every use. It can be a chore, but there are lots of accessories to help you keep baby’s bottles spotless. You can find all of these helpful items at your local baby supply store, through most online baby gear stores and at many discount stores, too.

Bottle Brushes – These long handled cleaning brushes help you reach into the baby bottle for cleaning all the way to the bottom of the bottle. They’re very inexpensive and are often packaged with a miniature bottle brush that is great for cleaning nipples.

Dishwasher Holders- These baskets fit into the top rack of your dishwasher, and hold nipples, bottle collars and other small feeding accessories. These baskets are a worthwhile investment; you’ll use them to wash the valves and lids for sippy cups long after your baby has outgrown bottles.

Bottle Drying Rack – These racks are made especially for drying bottles, collars and nipples. Most take up very little counter space, and many even fold up for storage. They’re a great way to dry out bottles and other accessories after hand washing.

Sterilizers – Sterilizers make it easy to keep baby’s bottles, nipples and even rattles clean and sterile. You’ll find some varieties that plug into an electrical outlet, and some that work in the microwave. There are microwave express steamers that can sterilize items in about four minutes in just by adding water and microwaving. If you’re breastfeeding, make sure that any sterilizer you purchase is large enough to accommodate your breast pump, as this will need to be sterilized from time to time.

All new bottles and nipples require sterilization before their first use. After that, you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for further sterilization. Some items can be sterilized as often as you’d like, but others cannot. For example, some nipples should only be sterilized before their first use because over sterilization can break down the nipple’s material, causing tears and leaks.

For your baby’s health and safety, it’s very important that feeding items be properly cleaned and maintained. Failing to do so can cause illness and infection in your child. The products outlined above should help make the chore of keeping feeding items clean and sterile much simpler for moms and dads.