If you plan to have more babies, you should preserve some of your present baby items for use by the next baby. You may have carefully reviewed your baby’s things to know which one to store. You have sorted out the clothes, shoes, and toys. There is no way you are not keeping the crib and stroller! And then you come to the feeding items and probably think you should keep the bottles too. And now you want to know how to store baby bottles for the next baby. Well, that’s why we’re here! Read on to learn how to do just that.
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Can you keep bottles for the second baby?
Yes, you can keep feeding bottles for a second baby. Many moms already practice this. You must, however, ensure that the bottles are not damaged in any way. There may also be a need to change the nipples when the second child arrives, as they may not be in the best condition for use by another baby, having been suckled for long by the first.
How to store baby bottles for the next baby
To know How to store baby bottles for the next baby, you should take the following steps:
- It would help if you first sorted them out. If you have about three bottles you consider storing for later use, carefully examine them and ensure none is broken. If anyone is damaged, dispose of it instead.
- After sorting out the bottles you can keep for your next baby, you should clean them properly. Wash them to ensure all dirt is gone out of them. Ensure your hands are clean before washing the bottles. You don’t want any bacteria left on them before storing.
- After washing them, you should sterilize next. Make use of your sterilizing kit if you have one. You can boil them in hot water for about five minutes and clean them with tongs. Allow them to dry.
- Next, you should store them safely. You must wrap them up with padded materials, so they don’t break. You can wrap them with blankets or put them in between stuffed animals. You can also keep them in a storage box and then keep the box in a safe place.
Should you replace bottles between babies?
While it is okay to keep bottles for the next baby, it would be best to get new ones all together if the number of years before the next baby comes is quite much. You don’t want to use a feeding bottle that was last used 8 years ago! Besides, the nipples would have harbored some bacteria during those years of waiting.
Can you reuse baby bottles without washing?
Even though you adequately cleaned and sterilized your bottles before storing them for the next baby, you must repeat this process before using them when the next baby arrives. Having kept them for months or a few years, you should get them back in the best condition, free from all bacteria and germs, before allowing the next baby to use them. Remember also to get new nipples.
How long can you save plastic baby bottles?
How long you can save baby bottles depends on their life span. Many moms are not even aware that bottles have expiry dates. The average plastic bottle is suitable for use within six months to three years, depending on the material they comprise. While most of them can last up to three years, their lifespan will reduce to approximately six months once used. The functional life of PP bottles that comprise opaque plastic is an average of 6 months. PES bottles are made with clear plastic and have a useful life of about one year. PPSU bottles have tinted bottles and can last as many as two years.
For moms interested in storing baby bottles for the next baby, it would be best to use bottles with longer functional life. Glass bottles are the only baby bottles with indefinite useful life. You can use them for as many babies as you desire if only you can keep them in one piece for that long. They are not so much in use by nursing mothers because they can break and are pretty heavy.
Conclusion
Now you have learned how to store baby bottles for the next baby, follow the steps discussed to ensure you are preserving clean and usable bottles. Store them under the most hygienic conditions possible for the baby’s health. The nipples are the most used parts of a feeding bottle, so getting new ones for the next baby is only proper. Also, be mindful of the remaining functional life of the bottles you store.
