Posted by Donna A on February 24, 1999 at 08:18:41:
In Reply to: Re: Please answer a dumb question about bottles! posted by Lori on February 24, 1999 at 06:46:58:
We were in Italy when I had my daughter (34 wkr, 3lb, 2oz, came home at just under 4.4lbs).
Here is what we were told because it was RARE to have a dishwasher in Italy. Water temps are too low in a hand wash to kill all the germs completely - thus the need for boiling. IF you have a dishwasher, that is acceptable as long as the water was hot enough (not sure what hot enough is).
All water that is well water should be boiled prior to use in formula or bottle waters used....the chances of bacteria are higher in wells than public systesm. I don't know about that one - public supplies are in question more than private wells - have yours tested for E-Coli, etc.. Your local health department will do it, I think.
I boiled all my bottles until I got Elizabeth converted to breast - but when supplementing at age 4/5 months ran them through the dishwasher and used bottled water for her formula.
Good luck. I think if there aren't any problems with immune systems and being more suseptable to colds/flues/bugs, I would go with a very hot water rinse....making sure to use hot enough water that you would have to use tongs. I would think that would kill 99% of the bugs.
Donna A