Baby Feeding Bottle Guide: How to Choose, Clean and Sterilise Bottles Safely

Walk into the baby aisle and you will find dozens of feeding bottles: glass, plastic, wide neck, narrow neck, anti-colic, with all kinds of teats. For a new parent, it is hard to know which one to choose, and even harder to know how to keep it truly clean. A bottle that is not washed and sterilised properly is a common cause of baby tummy infections and diarrhoea.

This guide covers how to choose a feeding bottle and teat, how to clean and sterilise bottles step by step, when to replace them, and common feeding problems that bottles can cause or fix.

Types of feeding bottles

• Plastic (PP or PPSU): light, cheap and unbreakable, which makes them popular for travel and for older babies who hold their own bottle. Choose BPA-free plastic.
• Glass: does not stain or hold smells, and is easy to sterilise, but is heavier and can break. Some come with silicone sleeves. A good example is the MAQ 190 Premium Glass Feeder.
• Silicone: soft and squeezable, but can hold smells and is harder to clean.
• Stainless steel: strong and keeps temperature, but you cannot see how much milk is inside.

Common shapes include the standard neck and wide neck. Wide-neck bottles are easier to clean and to fill with formula powder.

Choosing the right teat (nipple)

• Size by flow, not only by age: slow flow for newborns, medium flow for three to six months, fast flow for older babies. If your baby chokes, coughs or milk pours out of the corners of the mouth, the flow is too fast. If they get tired, frustrated or take very long, it may be too slow.
• Shape: round, orthodontic or wide-base teats suit different babies. Try one or two.
• Material: silicone lasts longer and is clear, while latex is softer but can cause allergies.
• Anti-colic teats and vents reduce swallowed air. Our guide to baby colic explains more, and one example is the Shield Wide Neck Colic Nipple.

Teats available include the MAQ Regular Nipple and the MAQ Large Nipple. Replace teats every one to two months, or sooner if they are cracked, sticky, torn, or have changed colour.

Bottles for different needs

Feeding bottles at Khasmart include plastic models such as MAQ 125 Feeder, MAQ 142 Feeder and MAQ 012 Feeding Bottle, as well as premium options such as MAQ 003 Premium Feeder and MAQ 005 Premium Feeder. Check sizes in ml, and the number of spare teats. See our full baby feeders and accessories category.

How to clean a feeding bottle

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Take the bottle apart: teat, ring, cap, bottle, and valve or vent if there is one.
3. Rinse each piece in clean water as soon as possible after feeding, so milk does not dry on.
4. Wash in warm, soapy water using a clean bottle brush, such as the MAQ 036 Bottle and Nipple Brush. Scrub inside the bottle, the neck and the threads, and squeeze water through the teat hole.
5. Rinse well in running water until no soap is left.
6. Air dry upside down on a clean rack, or on a clean, dry cloth. Do not use a dirty kitchen towel.

Keep a separate brush and basin for baby items, and replace the brush when the bristles are worn.

How to sterilise bottles

Sterilising kills germs that regular washing leaves behind. It is especially important for newborns and for babies under six months, whose immune systems are still developing. Many paediatricians suggest continuing until at least 12 months, or at least until your baby crawls and puts everything in the mouth.

• Boiling: put the clean bottle parts in a large pot, cover with water, boil for about five minutes (check your bottle’s instructions), and remove with clean tongs. Make sure there are no air bubbles trapped inside.
• Steam sterilisers (electric or microwave) are fast and convenient.
• Cold water sterilising tablets or liquids are useful for travel. Follow the instructions carefully.

Wash and rinse before sterilising, because dirty bottles cannot be sterilised properly. Let the bottles cool, and use or store them in a clean, covered container. Sterilised parts are best used within 24 hours.

Preparing and storing milk safely

• Always wash your hands first, and prepare formula as the tin says. Our guide to formula milk explains the steps.
• Discard any milk left in a bottle after a feed, within about an hour. Do not save it for later.
• Do not microwave bottles. Hot spots can burn a baby’s mouth.
• Test the temperature on your wrist. It should feel lukewarm.

Feeding positions

• Hold your baby semi-upright, with the head higher than the stomach, and never prop a bottle up in the cot.
• Tilt the bottle so that the teat stays full of milk, which reduces air.
• Pause to burp every few minutes.
• Never leave a baby alone with a bottle, as there is a choking risk.
• Do not put a baby to sleep with a bottle in the mouth. It can cause tooth decay and ear infections later.

When to replace bottles

• Cracks, scratches, cloudiness or a smell that does not wash away.
• Plastic that has become soft, warped or stained.
• Any glass bottle with a chip.

Signs to talk to a paediatrician

• Your baby refuses the bottle after being breastfed, and is losing weight.
• Frequent vomiting, a swollen belly, diarrhoea or blood in the stool.
• Fewer than six wet diapers a day.
• A baby who coughs, chokes or turns blue during feeds. This needs urgent care.

Frequently asked questions

Which bottle is best for a newborn?

Any bottle that is clean and safe, with a slow-flow teat. Many parents start with a small 120 to 150 ml size.

How many bottles do I need?

Four to six is usually enough, so that you can wash and sterilise while others are in use.

Can I wash baby bottles in the dishwasher?

Many are dishwasher-safe on the top rack. Check the pack, and brush the teats by hand.

Is boiled water enough to rinse bottles?

Boiling and sterilising are more reliable. Rinse with clean, safe water.

Find feeders, teats and baby care essentials in our Baby Shop, with delivery across Pakistan.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your paediatrician. It does not include dosage; always follow the directions on the pack or from your doctor.