Cleaning Bottles & Buying Formula

[Michelle]

Babies share toys. I highly doubt each toy is touched only by one child before it is sterilized for the next one to pick up, examine and then chew on.....just saying.

...also what does a lawyer have to do with bottle sharing? Are you saying it is illegal somehow to use the same bottles for different kids?

I think it should be against regs. but what I was saying I have a very good group of parents that expect me to take very good care of their babies. AND I do. That's why I have had them so long and they tell everyone about me.
You have to answer honestly if you would give your own newborn baby a bottle that dozens of other babies have used. Try to think of all the sneezing, coughing, and recently diagnosed illness. (and no, I don't allow sick kids in my daycare) but we all know that they are contagious before symptoms appear.
AND I am talking about very young babies! Newborns that have very low immune systems.
Seriously, would you give your own baby these bottles that another woman's breast milk has been in.?
No one will answer this question.
The op asked for the best advise and I think this is the best advise. It's about being healthy not whats easier.

[Michelle]

I'm still in the process of opening, but I know so far I'll have my daughter, 3 months, and another girl, 6 months. In August I'll get another baby. I breastfeed so I'm not familiar with bottles and the whole process. Do you clean them as soon as you're done using them, or at the end of the day? What's the best, easiest way to clean them? Do you ask parents to supply their own bottles, or do you have a supply that all babies use? Is it safe to let different babies use the same bottles?

I've never bought formula before and I know there are several options. I've received samples of Simulac in the mail and they've been the powder kind. I know there is also the pre-mixed liquid Enfamil as well. What do you use? Do you ask parents to supply this or just have your own? Does either need refrigerated? If you make a bottle ahead of time, how long is it good for?

Sorry for the numerous questions

Well, the bottom line should be, what's best for the child and not what's easier for you. That's what we are getting paid for.
So my advise is to not share bottles and there is a cute website www.inchbug.com where you can get cute bottle/cup labels that are dishwasher safe (for when the parents bring them back the next day, there's no icky tape stuff on them) There are even labels where you can have the child's picture and name on their "own" bottle or cup
good luck with those cuties

[Blackcat31]

I think it should be against regs. but what I was saying I have a very good group of parents that expect me to take very good care of their babies. AND I do. That's why I have had them so long and they tell everyone about me.
You have to answer honestly if you would give your own newborn baby a bottle that dozens of other babies have used. Try to think of all the sneezing, coughing, and recently diagnosed illness. (and no, I don't allow sick kids in my daycare) but we all know that they are contagious before symptoms appear.
AND I am talking about very young babies! Newborns that have very low immune systems.
Seriously, would you give your own baby these bottles that another woman's breast milk has been in.? No one will answer this question.
The op asked for the best advise and I think this is the best advise. It's about being healthy not whats easier.

My DD (now 22 yrs old) was about 5 weeks old and I had traveled with her to visit some relatives. I wasn't great at packing a diaper bag yet (new first time mom) and packed everything except a bottle. My SIL was a breastfeeding mom and she had a couple bottles packed (her 2nd child) and lent me one of her bottles and nipples. I mixed my DD's formula in it, fed it to her and never gave it a passing thought. So in response to your question: Yes, I guess I would because I did.

I can't answer that question in regards to today because I am a long way off from having newborns of my own and like I said, the last few newborns I have had in care all come with different bottle preferences.

[nannyde]

Seriously, would you give your own baby these bottles that another woman's breast milk has been in.?

If it had been washed thru my dishwasher at "High Temp" wash and hot air dried. YES I would. Of course.

[Meeko]

Michelle.....I feed my babies each day...snuggled up against me. They touch me and my clothes and my skin. I touch them and talk to them as I feed them. My face is close to theirs and as I have to breathe during the process, my breath touches them also. I have my assistant do the feeding if I KNOW I am sick....but in 25 years I am quite sure I have spread "germs" on the babies in my care. That's just life.

I am assuming you hold and feed your babies the same way and do not prop.

So do you shower, wash your hair and change your clothes between each baby feeding to avoid cross-contamination? If you don't...then why bother with just the bottles?

Personally I can see no point in being so protective over JUST the bottles if EVERYTHING else they come in contact with during the day is touched by anyone else.

When my oldest son was a baby, I lovingly boiled water and bottles etc. One day an older neighbor/nurse from across the street came over and laughed at me. She said
"Honey...while you're in the kitchen boiling bottles, he's chewing his hand...are you gonna boil that too? ::

[Michelle]

My infants all have their own mouth toys until at least 6 months.
Yes, of course I hold my babies when I feed them and cuddle etc.
and no, I don't shower in between feedings.
I am just in the good practice of having the cleanest daycare and I am trying to have the healthiest. Yes, some of my kids get sick.

Sometimes I read some of your ladies posts and I think , Wow, I want to be like that too...such as eating like Nanny De or making teepees for my kids.
I just thought that I would share my ways of doing things with this new provider. To help her get off to a good start.
I have asked around here, friends, parents etc. if I am just crazy and they all say, no, that my obsession for wanting the best for these kids are why they chose me. I have had perfect strangers ask me, so which kids are yours?
I love them all so much and I just want the best for them as they start out in life.
sorry if I made anyone mad.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't see the posters as being mad about you. I think they really want to point out that there is no legitimate reason to do this and it is just making extra work for yourself. I think its great that you are so careful with your kiddos and it is way better to be "over cleaning" than not so kudos to you for going the extra mile. In my opinion, doing these extra things does not have a significant benefit and only creates more work for me. Thats why I chose to have each parent bring a days worth of bottles and formula each day. Some might not see that as easier but it is what works for me. I only have two bottle fed babies right now so its no big deal to keep stuff separate. I don't wash bottles either. I also don't usually hold the babies once they can hold their own bottles provided there is a safe place to put them down during meal time. Thats just me though.

[Michelle]

I don't see the posters as being mad about you. I think they really want to point out that there is no legitimate reason to do this and it is just making extra work for yourself. I think its great that you are so careful with your kiddos and it is way better to be "over cleaning" than not so kudos to you for going the extra mile. In my opinion, doing these extra things does not have a significant benefit and only creates more work for me. Thats why I chose to have each parent bring a days worth of bottles and formula each day. Some might not see that as easier but it is what works for me. I only have two bottle fed babies right now so its no big deal to keep stuff separate. I don't wash bottles either. I also don't usually hold the babies once they can hold their own bottles provided there is a safe place to put them down during meal time. Thats just me though.

thank you so much

[sharlan]

There is no one right or wrong way to operate our daycares. We are each different individuals and do things differently.

As far as sharing breast milk, no way. As for sharing a bottle that's in use, no way.

I don't have a problem using properly washed and sterilized bottles for different babies. Once the bottle is washed and sterilized what difference does it make?

I've often had two babies on bottles at the same time. After feeding the baby, I rinse it out with hot water, fill it with water with the nipple inside and add a couple of drops of dish soap. I run all the bottles through the dishwasher at night.

I boil the bottles and nipples until the baby is 6 mos old. I have a daughter that is an OCD germophobe. She uses more alcohol that most of us use dishsoap.

[Meeko]

Michelle...you are a sweetheart......there is nothing WRONG with what you are doing........some of us see it as not necessary that's all. Kudos to you for wanting a healthy day care. Just don't tire yourself out! {{HUGS}!

[Cat Herder]

Babies sharing bottles is NOT sanitary.
All my babies get their own bottles, they are too young and their immune system is not built up yet. I cringe at the thought of babies sharing bottles even though they are cleaned and sanitized.

It was not what you "said"...it was how it was "said". No worries, we have all done it and will do it again sooner or later. I am absurdly literal and have to explain myself often. After a while we all learn personalities and know no harm was meant.

We all have our hot buttons...just mention to me that you like infants to sleep in a swing because it is easier than waking them up. I turn into a blustering sailor with a hangover...::::::

There are other providers with hot buttons, too.... Sharing bottles is yours. Point taken and filed away...::::::

[Abigail]

Do you clean them as soon as you're done using them, or at the end of the day? No, I rinse them out though.

What's the best, easiest way to clean them?
You can always purchase a bottle sanitizer, but it just costs that extra money and takes up that extra space so I recommend using the dishwasher.

Do you ask parents to supply their own bottles, or do you have a supply that all babies use?
I NEED organization in my home and enjoy shopping for baby things to use in my daycare. I will be buying my own bottles and provide them, but if a parent requests I use their specific bottle I will.

Is it safe to let different babies use the same bottles?
It's safe as long as they're clean. You certainly shouldn't make an 8 oz bottle to give to child A who drinks only 2 oz and then give the rest to child B, KWIM? Make sure when you clean them to take the nipples out of the ring. Many people forget to do that since they don't assemble the nipple to the ring to the bottle while preparing a bottle since the nipple is always ready to go in the ring.

What do you use?Do you ask parents to supply this or just have your own?
I will be providing a generic brand of formula because I will be on the food program. Parents can still choose to provide their own. The less the parents need to provide the better. I really just want them to bring their child, not the baby car seat, diaper bag, grocery bag, etc.

Does either need refrigerated? If you make a bottle ahead of time, how long is it good for?
You can prepare all your bottles for the day ahead of time and they're good until you need to use them that day. If a baby drinks from the bottle, make sure they get that same bottle within the hour or so to finish it instead of going to a new bottle each time. I don't premake bottles because our babies are so unpredictable based on the night they had.....if they didn't sleep, if they just ate, sometimes they come with a bottle ready to feed to them. I was always told if a baby doesn't take (drink much at all) of a bottle it's good to go back into the fridge. If you begin feeding a baby try to use it within the hour. I was also told to dump the bottle if it was over an hour and they had more than a few sips because bacteria can begin to grow.

You should do some googling on bottle feeding basics and you'll get fairly close answers. Best thing is to call your local clinic and ask for information to be mailed or you pick up. That will be the most up-to-date information that your new moms are getting.

[Michelle]

thanks you guys,
you are all awesome!

I love coming here and stealing all your ideas and ways of doing things.

[Michelle]

It was not what you "said"...it was how it was "said". No worries, we have all done it and will do it again sooner or later. I am absurdly literal and have to explain myself often. After a while we all learn personalities and know no harm was meant.

We all have our hot buttons...just mention to me that you like infants to sleep in a swing because it is easier than waking them up. I turn into a blustering sailor with a hangover...::::::

There are other providers with hot buttons, too.... Sharing bottles is yours. Point taken and filed away...::::::

oh, you are so right, I guess I did have a very strong opinion,
I breastfed all my kids and they trained to a cup, they never had bottles, ever and I was always told to never share bottles , so I just thought that was the way to do it.
I absolutely would freak out too if I saw someone letting babies fall asleep in a swing. I had a friend once that would tightly wrap her newborn, stick her in a swing AND prop a bottle up in the swing!!! she would get mad if the bottle fell and she had to prop it again.She left her there for hours and just kept refilling the bottle. All her kids got taken away...drugs etc. what a surprise

[Michelle]

Michelle...you are a sweetheart......there is nothing WRONG with what you are doing........some of us see it as not necessary that's all. Kudos to you for wanting a healthy day care. Just don't tire yourself out! {{HUGS}!

aw, thank you