Bottles, breast pumps and nipple shields are some of the equipment commonly used for infant feeding. Appropriate cleaning and sterilisation is often advised to prevent contamination with harmful pathogens. For the first year of life, careful hygiene practices are recommended to protect infant health. Particular emphasis is advised in the first 2 months of life, if babies are born pre-term or if they have a weakened immune system. In this article we discuss the advice on cleaning and sterilising infant feeding equipment, and we explore the methods for both.
Coro is not compatible with steaming, boiling, UV machines, dishwashers, microwaves or washing machines. Read on for more information on how to clean Coro.
Tips for careful hygiene around infant feeding:
- Always wash hands with warm water and soap after using the toilet and changing nappies.
- Wash hands with warm water and soap before pumping, applying a nipple shield or preparing infant formula. Keep surfaces where bottles/pumps/shields are used and stored clean and disinfect them regularly.
- Clean bottles, shields and parts of pumps that come into contact with milk after each use to remove all milk particles. Clean with warm soapy water and if recommended use a clean bottle brush to wash hard to reach areas. Allow to air dry fully on a clean towel before storing in a clean, dry container.
- Some sources recommend that bottles, shields and parts of pumps that come into contact with milk are sterilised regularly to eliminate all bacteria. Sterilisation is explored in more detail below.
Sterilising infant feeding equipment
Most manufacturers recommend that bottles, pump parts and shields are sterilised before their first use. After this, the Centre for Disease Protection suggests that careful cleaning with hot soapy water is sufficient for older babies without health concerns, but that daily sterilisation provides extra germ removal.
Sterilisation is more encouraged in the first year of life as babies’ immune systems are still developing. If other factors known to disrupt their immune system are present, daily sterilisation acts as an extra precaution to prevent infection.
Sterilisation involves using steam, boiling water, chemicals or UV light to kill bacteria and other pathogens that may be present on infant feeding equipment. We have outlined each method below:
Using steam:
Many sterilisers use steam to kill bacteria. They are often stand-alone units that plug into the mains and heat water up to boiling point to create steam. Manufacturers may differ, but most advise adding a certain amount of water to the base of the unit and allowing the equipment to remain in the steam for a specific amount of time before allowing sufficient cooling time. Microwaves are also sometimes used to sterilise with steam and some manufacturers provide one-time-use bags for microwave sterilisation. Steam sterilisation is not suitable for sterilising Coro.
Using boiling water:
Most bacteria are killed by boiling water. To sterilise with this method, you will need a boiling proof container, like a large saucepan that is big enough to ensure all equipment is fully submerged in water. It is advised that equipment remains in boiling water for at least 10 minutes to ensure effective sterilisation and that equipment is allowed to air dry fully before storing/using. Boiling is not suitable for sterilising Coro.
Using chemicals:
Chemicals can also be used to sterilise feeding equipment. These methods often use tablets or a liquid solution in cold, drinking quality water. Sometimes solutions come ready-to-use. Manufacturers may differ in their instructions, but most will advise using a certain amount of water and ensuring equipment remains completely submerged for at least 15 minutes. For most products, there is no need to rinse after use. Be sure to check that the product you are using is safe for use with feeding equipment. Chemical sterilisation is the recommended sterilisation method for Coro.
Using UV:
UV light kills most bacteria and some sterilising units work using this method. To use these effectively it is important to make sure all pieces of equipment are separated so that the light can reach each surface. Equipment must be washed thoroughly before use as any particles will reflect the UV light, limiting its effect. UV light is not a suitable sterilisation technique for latex teats. UV sterilisation is not suitable for sterilising Coro.
How to clean Coro
- Clean Coro with warm soapy water after each use and rinse the flow channel thoroughly to prevent the buildup of milk and bacteria. When fully air dried, replace in the pod. Clean the Coro pod by wiping with a dry cloth, as damp or wet cloths could damage the charging port.
- Before each use, visibly check Coro for any dirt or contamination. Do not use when dirt is present.
- Avoid using any brushes or implements to clean the shield as these can damage the flow sensors.
- To sterilise Coro, avoid using steamers, microwaves, boiling water, dishwashers or UV machines. Instead use chemical tablets or liquids that are suitable for sterilising other feeding equipment and use these with cold, drinking quality water.
References:
Life, N. S. F. How to sterilise equipment. Retrieved April from https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding/how-to-make-up-a-feed/how-to-sterilise-equipment/
Prevention, C. f. D. C. a. (2023). How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items. Retrieved April from https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/clean-sanitize.html#Sanitizing
Raeiszadeh, M., & Adeli, B. (2020). A Critical Review on Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems against COVID-19 Outbreak: Applicability, Validation, and Safety Considerations. ACS Photonics, 7(11), 2941-2951. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.0c01245
Renfrew, M. J., McLoughlin, M., & McFadden, A. (2008). Cleaning and sterilisation of infant feeding equipment: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr, 11(11), 1188-1199. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980008001791
WHO. (2012). Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula: guidelines. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241595414
