Bottle Feeding Basics: How to Sterilise, Store, and Feed Safely

Feeding your newborn can be one of the most precious and memorable parts of life as a new parent, but it can also be one of the most stressful!

Whether you choose breastfeeding, combination feeding, or formula, bottles are generally part of the routine. And what matters for all methods is getting the basics right.

Keeping kits clean and safe, getting the feeding technique down, and more are all part of this. Read on as we walk you through sterilisation, safe storage, and how to do bottle feeding calmly and with confidence.

Why Safe Bottle Feeding Matters

Every list of bottle feeding tips should start with ones on how to do it hygienically and safely. Why, you ask?

Because newborns’ immune systems are still developing. They’re more vulnerable to germs that may grow in milk residue, and can suffer tummy bugs if exposed to those.

Fortunately, good hygiene does a lot to reduce the risk. It can also help you avoid your baby developing a feeding aversion or some type of nutritional loss. 

To that end, we’ve collected some essential bottle feeding newborn baby tips every parent should know.

How to Clean Feeding Bottles Properly

These are the basic steps for how to clean a feeding bottle:

1. Start by washing your hands and the prep surfaces. Use soap and water.

2. Rinse the bottles and teats with cold water after each use.

3. Wash all parts in hot and soapy water using a dedicated bottle brush, including the teat.

4. Rinse all parts thoroughly to remove the detergent.

5. Air-dry the items completely before sterilising them to discourage mould.

Which Sterilisation Method to Use and How Often

If you wonder how often to sterilise baby feeding implements, do it after every feed. The general advice is even to keep this up until the baby is at least 12 months of age.

As for which method to use, there are several recommended sterilisation options for baby feeding implements. 

1. Boiling - Submerge all of the parts in clean water and boil them. Make sure that all items are boil-safe, and monitor how long you have them in the water. The main advantage of this option is that it is low-cost and reliable.

2. Steam - You can use electric or microwave options for this as long as you follow your unit’s instructions carefully. This is another quick and popular method.

3. Cold-water chemical solution - Several brands make sterilising fluids or tablets that you can add to water before submerging baby bottles in them. Follow your chosen product’s instructions and ensure all items are properly submerged. Most products will require the water to be changed every 24 hours.

4. UV sterilisers - These use UV light to kill germs without heat. They are relatively new compared to the other methods.

Storing Formula or Breast Milk Safely

The storage prescriptions actually change based on what type of milk you’re using. Here are some guidelines to note: 

Prepared Infant Formula

• Use immediately or within 2 hours of preparation

• Can last 24 hours with immediate refrigeration

• Discard leftovers after a feed 

Breast Milk 

• Use within 4 hours of being expressed if at room temperature

• Can last up to 4 days with immediate refrigeration

• Can last up to 6 months with immediate freezing

• Should be stored deeper in the fridge, not the door

• Should be labelled with date and time for safety

• Use leftovers within 2 hours or discard

When warming stored milk, don't use the microwave, as this can create hot spots that may burn your baby’s mouth.

If refrigerated or frozen and then warmed to room temperature, use either type of milk within 2 hours. Do not refrigerate or freeze it again after that, as baby milk can only be reheated or warmed once.

How to Bottle Feed a Breastfed Baby

One thing to consider is combining breast and bottlefeeding. The trick is to begin when breastfeeding is already going smoothly, then introduce the bottle in a way that mimics the breast.

Here are some tips that may help:

• Try paced bottle feeding, where you hold the bottle more horizontally to keep milk flow steady while letting your baby pause naturally.

• Use a slow-flow teat that can avoid overwhelming your baby’s suck-swallow rhythm.

• Switch the side you hold your baby on mid-feed to mirror breastfeeding.

Safe Feeding Positions and Tips

When feeding your baby, try to hold them close in a semi-upright position. Their head must always be supported, and the baby should not be fed while lying flat.

The goal of this is to support your child’s breathing and comfort. If you keep the teat full of milk, you can also limit the amount of air your baby swallows. Don’t skip the burping midway through the feeding and at the end.

Finally, never prop a bottle or leave your baby unattended. This could create a risk of choking. It also reduces the amount of bonding time you can have with your little one!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are common breastfeeding mistakes that are easily avoided: 

• Batching formula too far in advance. You’ll end up with a lot of leftovers to throw away. Stick to the 2-hour/24-hour rule as much as you can.

• Overheating bottles or using a microwave. Just warm the bottles under running warm water or in a bowl of warm water so you don’t get hotspots that could burn your baby's mouth.

• Not replacing worn teats. You have to check these regularly for cracks, stickiness, thinning, or other signs of wear. Replace as needed.

• Rushing feeds. Paced feeding is one of the best ways to avoid overfeeding your baby.

• Reusing leftover milk. Always discard leftover formula after a feed. Breast milk leftovers can only be used within 2 hours. After that, throw them away.

Practical Tips to Make Bottle Feeding Easier

There are a few other things you can do to make your life easier as a new parent. Here are some of our favourite practical tips to add to the list:

• Have a small fleet of bottles ready! This will keep you from washing under pressure all day.

• Prepare and sterilise some bottle parts in advance and put them in a travel set in a zip bag. This will make bottle-feeding on the go much easier.

• Prepare an insulated bag that you can stuff with ice packs for on-the-go feeding.

• Set a routine that works for your family, but prioritise checking your baby’s hunger and fullness. Responsive feeding is still better for healthier intake.

Get More Tips as a New Parent

This guide should have covered all you need to get started with your baby’s bottlefeeding. Just keep the basics in mind: keep things clean, store them properly, and stay calm and responsive to your child’s needs.

If you want more mum-tested advice, check out our other articles! You can also join the Mummy Guru community for additional support and know-how on handling your journey through motherhood.