4.3.1.10: Cleaning and Sanitizing Equipment Used for Bottle Feeding

Caregivers/teachers should follow proper handwashing procedures prior to handling infant bottles. Bottles, bottle caps, nipples, and other equipment used for bottle-feeding should be thoroughly cleaned after each use by washing in a dishwasher or by washing with a bottlebrush, soap, and water (1).

Nipples that are discolored, thinning, tacky, or ripped should not be used.

RATIONALE

Infant feeding bottles are contaminated by the infant’s saliva during feeding. Formula and milk promote growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi (2). Bottles, bottle caps, and nipples that are reused should be washed and sanitized to avoid contamination from previous feedings. Excessive boiling of latex bottle nipples will damage them.

Additional Resource
Feeding Infants: A Guide for Use in the Child Nutrition Programs, US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/feeding-infants-guide-use-child-nutrition-programs)

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

4.3.1.1 General Plan for Feeding Infants
4.3.1.3 Preparing, Feeding, and Storing Human Milk
4.3.1.4 Feeding Human Milk to Another Mother’s Child
4.3.1.5 Preparing, Feeding, and Storing Infant Formula
4.3.1.8 Techniques for Bottle Feeding

REFERENCES

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water, sanitation & environmentally-related hygiene. How to clean, sanitize, and store infant feeding items. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html. Updated April 11, 2017. Accessed January 11, 2018

2. Wolfram T. How to safely clean baby bottles. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Eat Right Web site. http://www.eatright.org/resource/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/how-to-safely-clean-baby-bottles. Published February 16, 2017. Accessed January 11, 2018

NOTES

Content in the STANDARD was modified on 05/31/2018.