Your mother and grandmother may have sterilized baby bottles, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says that is no longer necessary.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby bottle be washed after every feeding with hot water and soap, then allowed to dry thoroughly. This helps prevent the growth of bacteria, which thrives in water or leftover milk.

While your mother and grandmother may have used boiling water to sterilize baby bottles, doctors say there is no longer a need to do this. They now say that if your water is safe enough to drink, it’s safe enough for cleaning.

Bottles can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher, as long as they are dishwasher-safe. And make sure to wash your hands before feeding a baby with a bottle.

Also, bottles should be free of the estrogen mimicking chemical bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA. In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration banned its use in baby bottles and cups. The F.D.A. said that it had “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.”

To find out more about washing baby bottles and for a brief history of infant feeding, which includes the use of a pickled cow’s nipple about a century ago, watch the video.

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