Should You Sterilize Your Baby's Bottles?

Medically Reviewed by Renee A. Alli, MD on July 01, 2026

In the old days when water supplies were not reliably clean, it made sense to sterilize baby bottles. But now, sterilizing bottles, nipples, and water is mostly unnecessary.  Cleaning bottles well with a bottle brush and warm soapy water is sufficient.

Unless your water supply is suspected to harbor contaminated bacteria, it is as safe for your baby as it is for you. There is no reason to sterilize what is already safe. 

Sterilizing the bottles and nipples is also unwarranted. Thorough cleaning with soap and water gets rid of almost all germs. And once on the bottle, the nipple begins to pick up all the germs in the environment, so a "sterile" nipple and bottle is just a pipe dream , anyway.

If you drink well water, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends checking the nitrite level every 3 months in the water.  

 

 

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