Can you wash baby bottles in the dishwasher?

Traditionally, mothers wash baby bottles by hand, believing that these vital utensils for babies can't be trusted to be washed in a dishwasher. This long-held belief is gradually becoming a thing of the past as dishwasher use increases. Many mothers now unthinkingly wash their baby bottles in the dishwasher along with other dishes, believing it to be perfectly safe for their baby's health. Let's find out whether this is true or not.

What could happen?

Before adding any dishes, especially baby bottles, you need to find out if they're dishwasher safe. Unfortunately, there are still mothers who buy baby dishes from random vendors at the market or in non-specialized stores.

It's worth remembering that such untested products can be dangerous to your baby's health, especially after you wash them in the dishwasher.

Low-quality plastic begins to deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures, releasing horribly harmful chemicals that settle on the bottle's inner walls and enter the baby's body with the liquid. The potential consequences are easy to guess. Products made of special glass or Avent bottles, which are absolutely dishwasher-safe, are absolutely safe.

Don't put nipples in the washing machine along with bottles; it's better to wash them separately by hand, paying special attention to hard-to-reach areas. Leaving a nipple on a bottle won't clean the inside. Any milk or juice residue will quickly breed bacteria, which is not good for your baby's health.

How and with what to wash?

Contrary to popular belief, baby bottles rinse well on almost any cycle. Avoid using water that's too hot.⁰C and above. The water usually gets this hot when using the "Intensive Wash" program, so you can skip it. The other programs are fine. You also need to decide what you'll be washing the bottles with, as they can't be placed in regular dishes.

1. With other children's dishes.
2. With children's toys.
3. With root vegetables.

It may seem strange to many, but in addition to baby dishes, plastic and rubber toys and even root vegetables like carrots and potatoes can be washed in the dishwasher. In the latter case, you shouldn't use detergents, which is actually a good thing for bottles. Be careful with baby toys, as not all items can withstand the dishwasher test. It's best to only put toys you're confident in to avoid harming your child.

Do you need detergent?

It's best to avoid using any detergents when washing bottles in the dishwasher; it's safer. Prolonged contact with hot water will ensure adequate disinfection; nothing else is needed. It's not sterilization, of course, but it's close. If you're unsure whether your dishwasher will clean bottles and other utensils properly without using additional detergents, use them, but with caution.

Give preference detergents for children's dishesThere are special dishwasher powders and tablets that don't contain any harmful ingredients. These products should have a special label on the packaging. If so, the product is considered safe. However, it's best to play it safe and wash baby bottles with clean water. The wash cycle should be no shorter than 1.5 hours.

In conclusion, there's no point in running the dishwasher just for one or two baby bottles. However, if you have a large pile of baby dishes, it's worth washing them in the dishwasher. The main thing is to exercise caution and follow the recommendations in this publication. Good luck!

   

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