My first time Mum's group recommended we only washed bottles etc. in hot soapy water and rinsed and that was that, just like any other dish.  She said that childrens immune systems were being degraded by a sterile enviroment from birth, instead of allowing their systems to get used to things.

I didn't sterislise after I heard that (about week 3 of her birth I think), and my daughter got sick for the first time ever 2 months ago (on our moving day no less....which it helped their timing. LOL) and she was 14 months old.  Not bad, and it made sense to me, and personally it worked for us.

Hi there!

Firstly, you r not annoying...this is what Minti is about..asking questions!!

As for sterilizing, I probably wouldn't bother anymore seeing your child is 5months. It is impossible to sterilize EVERYTHING that goes in their mouths. He will be crawling soon if he isn't already so you can just imagine what he will put in his mouth then!

I have found with our friends who are very fussy about cleanliness that they  have a child who is continually sick and those who are a little more relaxed about shiny floors, generally have a child that rarely catches a cold!

If you are concerned about steralizing though, maybe just put your bowls,spoons ect under some hot/boiling water. Cheers Jo

I have never sterilized anything of my daughters except when they were first bought.  She never had dummies or bottles and her feeding bowls/spoons were washed thoroughly under hot water and left to air dry before using.  I was told that drying a tea-towel is really bad because of the bacteria on the tea towels and air-drying is best.  Suits me just fine! I wash and leave then put away after an hour or so hehehe.

by the way, you aren't getting annoying