How to sterilise bottles on holiday

Bottle feeding on-the-go requires pre-planning when travelling with your baby. To keep them safe from the possibility of infection, sterilising all feeding equipment is key. However, when you’re out and about, this can be tricky to navigate.

Luckily, with the right sterilising solutions, you can travel stress-free, knowing your baby is protected from germs no matter where you are!

Why is sterilising important?

It’s imperative to sterilise your baby’s bottles, teats and other feeding equipment thoroughly. Until the age of 12 months, their immune systems are weaker making them more susceptible to catching infections.

Milk, especially, creates an optimal environment for bacteria to grow, so ensuring your baby’s feeding equipment is sterilised can reduce the risk of critical infection. On holiday, you might have limited access to electricity or tools, so here are some potential methods that cover all circumstances you might find yourself in. 

No matter the method of sterilisation you use, it’s important to thoroughly wash the equipment before sterilising to remove any excess food or milk.

Sterilising in a hotel

The Milton Method

The Milton Method uses cold water sterilisation and requires no electricity, making this a more accessible choice when travelling. The only things required are tap water, Milton Sterilising Tablets or Solution and a plastic sterilising unit. The whole process takes 15 minutes and is clinically proven to kill 99.9% of germs, so you can be sure your baby is safe, while on-the-go.

1. After you’ve washed and rinsed the equipment to remove any traces of food or milk, fill your Milton sterilising unit with 4L of cold water. Add in one Milton Sterilising Tablet, following the dilution instructions.
2. Place your feeding equipment into the solution, ensuring no air bubbles are trapped inside any bottles.
3. Leave your bottles and accessories submerged for 15 mins.
4. Shake of any excess fluid off and your items are good to go!

You can leave the items submerged in the solution until you’re ready to use them, just make sure you renew the solution after 24 hours.

Sterilising at self-catering accommodation

Sterilising in the microwave

If your accommodation has access to a microwave, then you can easily use this to keep your baby safe. The Milton Solo Travel Steriliser is ideal for travelling as it only takes a few minutes in the microwave and can also be used with cold water. Its innovative lay-flat lip means that it can fit it all microwaves for convenience.

1. Add 60ml of water into the unit and place the bottle inside. Screw the lid on top and press the safety vent down.
2. Place the unit into the microwave. For a 1100-1850 W microwave it’ll take 2 minutes, for a 850-1000 W microwave it’ll be 4 minutes, and 6 minutes for a 500-800W.
3. When the time is up, carefully remove the unit from the microwave, being cautious as it’ll be hot. Leave for at least 3 minutes to cool.
4. Remove whichever items you’d like to use immediately. You can close the vent after removing these items and the contents of the unit will remain sterile for 24 hours.

This method is not suitable for metal parts, so check your equipment before you proceed.

How often to sterilise when travelling

According to NHS guidelines, you should sterilise all baby equipment before first use. However, after this it’s recommended to sterilise all items at least once a day. You will need to sterilise formula milk tools more frequently compared to breastfeeding tools, but you should always ensure everything is clean and hygienic.

If you’re travelling abroad to a country with questionable water, your equipment may require more frequent sterilisation to avoid exposing your baby to harmful bacteria.

Sterilising on a plane or train

If you’re travelling via a plane or train, you might need to adapt your sterilisation method to suit your circumstances. Preparing is key, so pack any sterilised bottles in a sealed, hygienic container so the equipment doesn’t become contaminated.

Before travelling, check with your airline or trainline to find out if they can help with your sterilisation needs. If possible, you can exceptionally use disposable bottles on these types of transport to remove the need for sterilisation.

Sterilising on holiday doesn’t have to be stressful, but pre-planning is key as well as working with the equipment available to you. At Milton, we’ve spent over 70 years protecting babies from harmful germs. Our products are designed to meet your needs as parents, so you can keep your little one safe, no matter where you are.

Shop the Milton range at Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, BIG W, Baby Bunting, IGA and other major supermarkets.