How to sterilise baby tableware

In the first months of a baby's life, it's especially important to regularly and thoroughly wash equipment that comes into contact with milk and food — bottles, straws, teats, breast-pump parts, small bowls and feeding cutlery. The CDC particularly emphasises additional sterilisation for newborns, premature babies and babies with a weakened immune system.

As the baby grows, proper washing, full drying and good daily hygiene become more important than sterilisation itself.

Sterilising stainless steel and silicone

Stainless steel 304 and 316 handles very well:

• boiling,
• steam,
• the dishwasher,
• and frequent washing at high temperatures.

It doesn't absorb odours, doesn't change structure and doesn't develop porosity even after a large number of washing and sterilisation cycles. That's exactly why it's used in professional kitchens, the food industry and medical equipment, where hygiene and material stability are especially important.

For daily care, the following is sufficient:

• mild detergent,
• warm water,
• thorough rinsing,
• and complete drying after washing.

To sterilise silicone, it can occasionally be boiled or steam-sterilised.

Still, silicone can over time retain odours from food and detergent, especially if it's soaked for a long time in heavily perfumed soapy water or left wet after washing.

That's why we recommend:

• a mild, neutral detergent,
• thorough rinsing,
• complete drying before reassembling the product,
• and occasionally boiling straws and smaller silicone parts to refresh the material.

For stubborn odours, a short soak in warm water with vinegar and baking soda can help, after which the silicone should be washed and dried well.

What to avoid

• Don't leave moisture trapped in straws, lids and joints of the product.
• Don't use aggressive chlorine products and strong abrasive products.
• Don't use damaged or cracked silicone parts.
• Don't scrub stainless steel with steel-wool scourers and coarse abrasives.