Whether bottle-feeding your baby formula or breast milk, it’s important to make sure the nipples on the bottle are clean before offering the bottle to your baby. You should boil baby-bottle nipple after taking them out of the package before their first use, and anytime afterward when you think the nipples need a deep cleaning. Proper boiling will kill any bacteria on the nipple before it goes into your baby’s mouth.
Fill a pot with water. Place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil.
Place the nipples into the pot of boiling water. Drop them in carefully so that you don’t splash the water onto your skin. Leave the nipples in the pot of boiling water for at least five minutes.
Turn off the heat and allow the water to cool down to a safe temperature. Remove the nipples from the water with clean, heat-resistant tongs and place them on a clean dish towel to air-dry completely.
Tips
Clean bottle nipples after each use in hot, soapy water, and then rinse them well to remove the soap residue. Use a bottle brush to ensure that the nipples are thoroughly cleaned. It is not necessary to boil nipples after each use, but it is important to clean them well to prevent the transmission of bacteria. You can also run the nipples through the dishwasher after each use for an effective cleaning.