Quick answer
- Clean bottles, nipples and pump parts after every feed.
- Sanitize at least once a day if your baby is younger than 2 months, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system.
- Sanitize by boiling (5 minutes), steaming, or a bleach soak.
- Always air-dry on a clean towel; don’t rub or pat dry with a dish towel.
How to wash bottles by hand
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Take everything apart: bottle, nipple, collar, cap and any valves or vents.
- Rinse each part under running water. Hot or cold is fine.
- Wash in a separate basin of hot, soapy water. Don’t put parts directly in the sink, where germs can build up.
- Scrub with a brush that’s only used for baby items. Squeeze water through the nipple holes.
- Rinse again under running water.
- Air-dry on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel, away from dirty dishes. The CDC notes drying racks can trap moisture and are harder to keep clean.
- Clean the basin and brush regularly, and let them air-dry too.
Using a dishwasher
If the parts are labeled dishwasher-safe, take them apart and put small items in a closed-top basket. Use hot water and a heated drying or sanitizing cycle if your machine has one; this can count as sanitizing. Wash your hands before removing and storing the clean parts.
How often should you sanitize bottles?
Cleaning removes milk residue; sanitizing kills remaining germs. The CDC recommends sanitizing feeding items at least once a day for babies who are:
- Younger than 2 months old
- Born prematurely
- Living with a weakened immune system
For older, healthy babies, daily sanitizing may not be necessary if items are cleaned carefully after every use, but it’s a good habit, especially when your baby is sick.
Three ways to sanitize
1. Boiling
Put the disassembled, clean parts in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove with clean tongs and air-dry. Check the manufacturer’s instructions first, since some parts shouldn’t be boiled.
2. Steaming
Use a countertop or microwave steam sterilizer and follow its instructions for loading, timing and cooling.
3. Bleach solution
Mix 2 teaspoons of unscented bleach in 1 gallon (16 cups) of water in a clean basin. Submerge the parts so the solution touches every surface and squeeze it through the nipple holes. Soak for at least 2 minutes, then remove with clean hands or tongs. Don’t rinse; the small amount left breaks down as it dries. Air-dry fully before storing.
| Method | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Boiling | 5 minutes | No extra equipment |
| Steam sterilizer | Per the device | Daily sanitizing, many parts at once |
| Bleach soak | At least 2 minutes | When boiling or steaming isn’t possible |
Breast pump parts
Pump parts that touch breast milk need the same care: clean after every use and sanitize at least daily for young or high-risk babies. Check your pump manual; tubing usually shouldn’t get wet. If moisture shows up in the tubing, follow the manufacturer’s drying steps.
When to replace bottles and nipples
- Replace nipples that are cracked, swollen, sticky or torn, or that drip when the bottle is turned upside down.
- Replace bottles that are cracked, chipped or cloudy.
- Many parents move to a faster-flow nipple as their baby grows; see our bottle collection.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sterilize new baby bottles?
Yes. Clean and sanitize new bottles, nipples and pump parts before their first use.
How long do you boil baby bottles to sanitize them?
Boil disassembled, clean parts for 5 minutes, unless the manufacturer says otherwise.
Can I dry baby bottles with a dish towel?
Don’t rub or pat them dry, which can transfer germs. Let parts air-dry on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel.
Do I need to sanitize bottles after every use?
Clean after every use. Sanitize at least once a day for babies under 2 months, born early, or with a weakened immune system.
