Mummies planning out twinning outfits with their little ones for Chinese New Year, don’t forget to take stock of some of the more necessary items in the kitchen such as baby feeding essentials that require replacement.
It’s not uncommon to hear of parents who have gone 1 year without changing any bottles or teats (we’re not sure why). But for the safety of your babies, we do urge you to follow this simple guide of what to change and when.
Since it’s the festive period, now’s a good time as any to take advantage of our CNY promotions and stock up on baby essentials. Here's your shopping list.
Feeding bottles
For the health and safety of your babies, we recommend buying new bottles every 6 months, but if you notice any cracks, leaks, chips or discolouration, you must replace them immediately. Same goes for glass. Good quality plastic bottles such as Hegen’s medical-grade PPSU feeding bottles, are hardier, less likely to crack and can withstand temperatures of up to 180°C. Do avoid using rough sponges or scouring pads that will cause the plastic to scratch and exacerbate bacteria growth.
Hegen bottles are sustainable and continually evolve to meet the different needs of the growing child. You can continue to use our bottles and convert them to snack cups as your baby grows.
Covers, lids, collars and other plastic parts
All other plastic parts made of standard-grade plastic found on storage lids and feeding collars should also be changed every 3 to 6 months, or earlier if there are any signs of wear and tear. Frequent washing and sterilising may cause the plastic to soften and expand which may lead to improper fit and leakage of breastmilk. Do note that overdrying in a UV steriliser may also cause polypropylene (PP) plastic to discolour, but this is purely cosmetic and does not in any way affect the safety of the product.
Cleaning brushes
You are advised to replace your bottle brush every month. As a general rule of thumb: Change your cleaning brushes as often you change your toothbrush. This is because no matter how often it comes into contact with soapy detergent, bacteria will still fester if it’s left out in the open. To prolong the life of your bottle brush, have 2 on rotation and sterilise them often.
Teats and other silicone parts
The part that comes into regular contact with a baby’s mouth should be changed as often as every 3 months, or earlier if you spot mould (black little dots in or on the silicone). Teats should be changed and upsized every 2 to 3 months as newborns tend to drink faster when they’re older. To prolong the life of teats, wash the nipple gently with your finger or the slim end of Hegen’s Bottle Brush & Teat Cleaner, making sure there is no oily residue from breastmilk. Run some water through the anti-colic vent to clear any blockage and do not turn the teat inside out. Sterilise after every wash.
