We would sometimes have to wait until Luke was asleep to do treatments --or at least really tired. He was only 3 months when we started, so I know it is not a very good comparison with your son being one already. We also boil the neb cups and we have boiled bubbles, but as others have said, the elastic will wear out quicker this way. We were told you can wash the masks in really hot, soapy water and it is fine, but that is a great idea to pour the boiling water over the mask. The thought behind doing it with the sterile water is probably that boiling the stuff might make it wear out quicker. Otherwise, I wouldn't see where that method would save any time or be any more sterile. We have never had a problem getting extra masks/neb. sets but if that is an issue, maybe that would be a reason to do it the sterilized water way. But we just boil the neb. stuff in the water.