Sterilising is the most effective way of protecting your baby from harmful germs and bacteria. If you are not exclusively breastfeeding then all your baby's feeding equipment (such as bottles, caps, teats and any implements used for storing or measuring the powdered infant formula) should be sterilised until your baby is at least six months old, though ideally until they stop using bottles as the teats (and this applies to the valves of non-spill sippy cups, too) can have areas which are very hard to clean, and even a small amount of milk left inside can contain bacteria which can soon multiply and grow. You can either use a commercial steriliser (ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions - whether microwave sterilising, or using a steam steriliser), or use eg milton and water in a deep sided container - so-called cold water sterilising, or by boiling.

Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning and sterilising your baby's feeding equipment:

1. Wash hands thoroughly.
2. Wash feeding equipment (bottles, teats, bottle caps etc) thoroughly in hot, soapy water.
3. Scrub inside and outside of bottles using bottle brush.
4. Scrub teats with teat brush before squirting water through the teats to help remove all traces of milk.
   It is worth knowing that significant levels of E.Sakazakii will not all be killed by heat, so must be removed by thorough washing.
5. Rinse all equipment thoroughly under the tap.
6. Sterilise all equipment.
   a. If using a commercial steriliser, such as a steam steriliser, cold water steriliser or microwave steam steriliser, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
   b. If you are sterilising your equipment by boiling, first check it is suitable for sterilisation by boiling.
   i. Fill a large pan (you will have to buy a new pan and keep it just for this purpose) with water and completely immerse all the equipment, ensuring there are no trapped air bubbles.
   ii. Cover the pan and boil for at least ten minutes, ensuring the pan does not boil dry.
   iii. Keep the pan covered, and allow the contents to cool slightly before use.
   iv. You will need to repeat the process if the equipment is not used within 3 hours.
7. Before removing equipment, wash hands thoroughly, remembering to clean the surface where the equipment will be placed.
8. If possible, remove equipment just before it is needed.
9. Check manufacturers' instructions for how long equipment will remain sterile.