How Long Do You Boil Baby Bottles to Sterilize Them?

Baby bottles and nipples should be placed in boiling water for five minutes to sterilize them if well water is used for cleaning. Individuals who have sanitized water can clean the bottles with hot soapy water or with a dishwasher cycle, according to About.

It is important that bottles washed in soapy water or in the dishwasher have all soap residue rinsed off. Some pediatricians recommend boiling new bottles and nipples for five minutes before they are used for the first time, regardless of what type of water is used. Boiling plastic bottles regularly can cause them to break down faster than other sterilization methods.