? for parents of CF babies

[ampetrie]

This is kind of a random question, but for how many months did you boil your babies bottles, pacifiers, etc..? I'm starting to get sick of boiling everything all the time, but I hate to stop just in case it can help keep her from getting sick.

Also, how much pedialyte do you give your babies? My dr said to use it, but not how much. Its been in the 80's and 90's here and I'm trying to keep her as hydrated as I can, but I don't want to give her too much either. (Right now I only give her 2-3 ounces all day - she weighs about 10 pounds)

Thanks

 

[dyza]

I hate to tell you this Martha, but you need to steralise Addisons stuff for at least a year, if not longer.
I would continue to offer her juice all day long, I'm presuming pedialyte is the same as diaoralyte, which we use here in Scotland to replace lost minerals and salts

 

[Ratatosk]

Boiling?!! Omigosh, I'm a terrible mother. I just washed them in very hot water after the first few WEEKS! Oh, wait a minute, I did have a dishwasher container to put on the top rack that I used for nipples and pacifiers.

 

[semjem65]

This is more of a personal thing. I who is to say some people think germs are good they build up your immune system. When my daughter was born and they told us she had cf and I read about this awful illness, I didnt take her out fo the house for about a year. I didnt what anything to make her sick. I didnt care about anything except to keep her healthy. Looking back I was over the edge. That was'nt a wise thing but I did it. Lookin back we missed out on alot because I was so protective of her.

 

[eli]

Hi Martha,

Craig is right, you do need to steralise for up to a year. Although i only did it for about 7-8months cause i had enough. It didn't affect my daughter in any way, so i guess its up to you.

I know a mother who's daughter is 3months older than my daughter she would be close to two yrs and she has alway's boiled bottles and her daughter has cultured staph 3times. So i think it depends on the childs immune system i guess.


Hope this helps.

 

[ehtansky21]

I never boiled any of Ethan Sky's bottles after the first use and we have had no issues.
In regards to the pedialyte.....the sugar content is my concern and the juice content, since that can cause some bowel problems.....
We live in Phoenx, AZ where obviously we have huge concerns about hydration....
We have found that Smart Water is a great source of electrolytes...the great thing is that it just tastes like water

 

[Diana]

Here in Australia the latest advice on this topic is that you DON'T need to steralise any baby equipment including bottles. However this is advice given to everyone on the basis your child is healthy. After my baby was born with CF also I spoke to the CF clinic and they said it is my decision to make. They do not see any major harm either way....so I decided to sterilise. As I already have one child with CF I thought sterilising bottles etc was an extra precaution I should take.

But I would like to add that I am a completely against boiling bottles simply beause it's a pain in the a*s. So I have always had a benchtop steam sterliser. Not sure what brands you have over there but Avent do them for the wide neck bottles and NUK for the skinny bottles. Trust me they are a god send. So if you decide to keep sterilising I would highly recommend one. All you do is after washing the bottles is load it up like a mini dishwasher and turn it on. The steam sterilises everything for you and it takes about 10-15 mins. You can even buy them for the microwave. Be warned they seem expensive but it is something you use EVERY day for a year.

 

[julie]

I'm not a mom (yet) but I'm just curious. Is the sterilizing someting you all do for all of your children (for those who do it) or just the CFers?

I can't imainge why it would be necessary, well, I know I'm going to do it when I get all my new bottles and eveything just for the first time before the first use. But your child picks up germs crawling aroudn on the floor and them puts their hands in their mouth, then swallows.... it seems like a bit of an unnecessary step to me. Especially if you have a dishwasher to wash the stuff in.....
Just thinking outloud here...

 

[eli]

Hi Julie,

I have alway's known that you have to steralise your baby's bottles for at least a year. I remember my mum doinf it with my youngest brother, and its not just recomended for CF babies its all babies.
As you say your child picks up germs by crawling, they don't actually crawl until after six months, soem earlier some much later. But the first six weeks post natal are the most crutial.
I used the Avent mocrowave steriliser and it only takes 4mins, not much time at all and it only cost $60.

P:S i'm not sure about the dishwasher, maybe someone else can answer that ? for you.

Kylie - you mentioned here in Australia they don't encourage sterilising, i had my daughter 11/2 yrs agoe and they stressed steralising, even before she was diagnose with CF. Maybe its different in your state i'm in N.S.W., not sure?

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Sterilizing? I thought that went out in the 60's?

I guess it's a personal choice but I bet there are tons of CFers out there who's mom's didn't sterilize a thing. I bet they even let them crawl on the floor once in a while too <GASP>.

My brother's wife just had a premie (2 mos. early) and their doc told them not to bother unless they felt like they had time to waste.

There's an old saying that goes something like this...

If you drop a pacifier on the floor, for your first child you'll sterilize it, for your second you'll rinse it off, and for you third you'll let the dog lick it off.

 

[eli]

HA HA, its funny you say that Claudette. The third one you let the dog lick it of.

Let me tell you a little story, a hairdresser i used to go to did my hair at her home for half the price. Anyway she had a baby who was abot 7months old and just began crawling. Now, that baby slept in the livivng room on the floor huddled up with the dog's (two pit bulls , mid you).
He also used to go out in the bckyard with them and she would lauph at him as he would lick the dog's bones, she thought that was cute. I'm sorry, but i think thats kind of crazy.
His toy's were also all over the floor and the dog's would play with them and then baby would mouth them. Gross.

I don't know how these parents allow this, i think its disgusting.
Anyway, just thought id'e share it with you guuy's.

 

[ampetrie]

eli- how did you get the picture of your daughter (shes adorable by the way) to be a part of your signature like that?? I'd like to put a picture of addison on mine but i can't figure out how to do it

 

[anonymous]

I have 3 kids , one with CF. For the first one, I boiled everything, the second, a little bit, but by the third (with CF) I didn't do anything. Just soap and water. They do make these bag things, mostly for breast pump parts, that you add a little water to and then put it into the microwave and sterilize it that way. A bit easier than boiling on the stove.

Nicole

 

[dyza]

I know there was a bit of a gap between our two kids, 12 years, but I cant imagine the advice now is not to steralise, I cant comprehend that. We have always steralised here ,and my mother before me and my grandmother before her. I thought this was one of these written in stone laws. Thinking about it I dont know anyone who didnt, and yes it is a pain, we use a steam steraliser and it is so simple to use, 5 mins to wash the stuff, then the steamer does the rest. You are right but, i caught my son pulling hair out my dogs rear end and putting it in his mouth, gross, maybe its a boy thing, I dont know............lol

 

[JazzysMom]

I never sterilized Jazmine's bottles. Good old fashion soap & super hot water. Never caused a problem for her & she was born 4 weeks early!

 

[eli]

Hi Martha,

Sorry i can't answer your ?. My husband put it there for me as he is a computer wiz. I'm sure someone else will be able to help you.

If not let me knoe, and i will ask him to explain it to you. When he has some spare time.

P:S thanks for the compliment, she is my little angel w/cf.<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

I am with the others as I did not do anything but put bottles and pacifers into the dishwasher in a container. I just didn't see the point of boiling if the dishwasher could do it, it cleans the dishes, silverware, glasses, etc and we eat off of them after they are washed without a seconds thought. I'm all about saving time, however if I felt that it would prevent my son from getting sick I would have. But despite the CF stuff he really is a healthy guy.

Mom to 3 1/2 yr old son w/cf

 

[Diana]

To answer your question Eli about the Australian advice of no longer needing to sterilise everything....it has actually only changed in the last 12 months. My youngest is 6.5 months which is how I found out but like I said I have chosen to sterilise her bottles for 12 months and I don't even have a fantastic reason why, I just do! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Hi Dee, thanks for answering my question. I'm actually still a little stunned at the fact that they have changed it, as peoplehave been doing it for years.

Do you know why? or for what reason thay would have said this. I'm just curiouse.
By the way, where in Australia are you?

Eli (not logged in)

Oh, and maybe you still steralise for Elisha because she has CF, and you want to make sure and avoid her getting any germs. Just being catiouse, like any mother woukd be. I do the same.

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ampetrie</b></i>

This is kind of a random question, but for how many months did you boil your babies bottles, pacifiers, etc..? I'm starting to get sick of boiling everything all the time, but I hate to stop just in case it can help keep her from getting sick.



Also, how much pedialyte do you give your babies? My dr said to use it, but not how much. Its been in the 80's and 90's here and I'm trying to keep her as hydrated as I can, but I don't want to give her too much either. (Right now I only give her 2-3 ounces all day - she weighs about 10 pounds)



Thanks</end quote></div>


There is no way that I would have stopped sterilising until my daughters were both 12 months, CF or not. I did it with my eldest daughter (without CF) and my youngest daughter (with CF). We used a steam steriliser, only took 8 minutes to complete its cycle. I know like the others have said, babies are always putting things in their mouth, but I think it is especially important to sterilise bottles, just in case there are slight traces of milk, could easily cause problems in a baby.

Charlotte<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">