Are baby bottles dishwasher safe?

Baby dishes undoubtedly require meticulous care. Now that almost every home has a dishwasher, washing baby bottles shouldn't take much time or effort, but another problem arises. Detergents contain a huge number of chemicals, and some mothers are wary of washing baby bottles in the dishwasher. Let's find out if these fears are justified.

Dangerous bottles

First of all, it's worth mentioning that the bottles themselves can also pose certain risks. Bottles in specialty stores and pharmacies are made from high-quality materials that are completely safe for your baby's health. However, if you buy a bottle from a non-certified store or even from an untrusted source, you have no guarantee of the safety of the material.

Caution! If you wash low-quality plastic dishes in the dishwasher, the high temperatures will cause them to deteriorate and release harmful chemical trace elements in monstrous quantities.

After cooling, all of this will settle on the inside walls of the bottle and, along with its contents, enter the baby's body. Obviously, the consequences and impact on the baby's health will be dire. To keep your baby safe, it is recommended to buy bottles from Avent or other companies that make bottles from special glass rather than plastic.

Many mothers claim that the dishwasher cleans bottle nipples perfectly. It's true that removing food debris from such hard-to-reach areas by hand is much more difficult. However, it's important to remember that detergent residue can remain in the nipples after washing, which is far more dangerous.

Can I wash it with regular dishes?

Dishwashers don't have a special program for washing baby dishes. Contrary to popular belief, almost any program will do the job, except for the Intensive Wash, which raises the temperature to 70 degrees Celsius. All other programs will do the job just fine, so choose any.

The next step is to decide whether you'll wash baby dishes separately or with something else. Experts recommend against washing baby dishes together:

• with "adult" dishes;
• with toys, especially untested ones;
• with vegetables.

Important! Many people are surprised, but you can actually wash root vegetables like beets, carrots, and potatoes in the dishwasher. However, in this case, no detergent is needed.

While this may be fine when combined with baby bottles, it is still not advisable to combine vegetables with dishes.

When it comes to toys, it's simply impossible to know for sure what they contain or how they'll perform when washed in a dishwasher, so if you're unsure of the toy's quality, don't wash it with a baby bottle.

What kind of "chemistry" should I use?

If possible, it's recommended to avoid using any detergents when washing baby bottles. Dishwashers use hot water, which ensures adequate disinfection without chemicals. While this won't replace boiling, it will clean the dishes thoroughly. If you're confident that the dishes won't clean properly without chemicals, use them, but proceed with extreme caution.

It's better to choose products based on natural ingredients. They are distinguished by the fact that they officially do not contain harmful active ingredients. A special mark on the packaging will help you identify such a product in the store. But remember that any detergent, even for children, is only technically safe. It is better to set a long program (1.5 hours or more), but wash baby accessories in plain clean water.

The above-mentioned dishwashing detergents that are safe for children include:

• Bio Mio. This tablet-based product not only cleans but also conditions dishes. It's phosphate- and fragrance-free, but adds a pleasant scent to dishes thanks to essential oils. Certified organic, it works great even in cold water.
• These German-made tablets are highly concentrated. For this reason, it's recommended to use half a tablet per cycle. They are completely odorless and are recommended by the German Asthma and Allergy Association. The product contains only natural ingredients and microelements derived from microorganisms, making it completely safe for children's dishes. It's recommended to use them in combination with the same brand's salt and conditioner.
• A line of dishwasher detergents (powder, salt, tablets, rinse aids) made entirely from mineral and plant-based ingredients (the products are so natural that they are biodegradable). They are free of petroleum products and chlorine.

In conclusion, although washing baby bottles in the dishwasher has its own set of nuances, it's not worth completely abandoning this method for the sake of safety. Washing baby bottles in the dishwasher is possible and even necessary, as long as you do it with caution. After all, a specially trained machine will do a better job than most parents would by hand.

   

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