From: millerj@belize.crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Completely confused about bacteria and sterilization
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:28:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: crd.1992Nov9.202801.6412
Reply-To: millerj@belize.crd.ge.com ()
Distribution: na
Organization: GE Corporate Research & Development


	I have a 5 month old that I'm about to start on cereal and havee
realized that I don't have a clue as to why some things are sterilized,
some aren't and the whole issue of bacteria.  Does anyone know why we
do this other than just because "bacteria" will for otherwise?
	At this stage anything he can see and pull towards his mouth goes
in from the cats head to his cereal bowl to Cookie Monster on his play gym.
He's completely breast feed and I've been pumping at work.  The milk  I
pump gets put into disposable bottles and used the  next day.  Extra milk
gets frozen.   I do have some plastic bottles I use for transporting the milk
from work to home.  Now I've just been washing the plastic bottles and
disposable tops in the dishwasher or in hot soapy water - not boiling them.
The disposable  bottles said that sterilizing the tops would reduce their
life span.
	According to the breast pump directions, the milk needs to be drunk
or frozen within 48 hours.  Also, if the milk is heated and not drunk
"immediately" it should be tossed.  If the baby drinks some, the rest
should be tossed.  My friends pump says to sterilize it, mine just says
to wash in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher.
	Now with the cereal and baby food, it says to  use a clean spoon
and transfer some to a smaller dish  before feeding the baby.  Any of that
that isn't eaten should be tossed.  If an open jar isn't eaten within two
days, it should be tossed.
	The explanation given for all of  these things, is because bacteria
will grow in the food.  But it seems to me that things aren't handled the
same way when they have the same bacteria capability.
	For example, you don't have to sterilize the spoon that you put in
the new baby food jar but some books say to sterilize the milk bottles and
breast pump pieces.  If you put the baby food into another container after
it is opened (the baby doesn't touch this part), should that container be
sterilized?  Do I need to sterilize the babies dishes too?  He sucks on
everything in sight, isn't he getting bacteria from that?  It seems to me
that he's ingesting a lot of bacteria from different things.  I've seen
older infants carry around a milk bottle for over an hour.  Aren't they
bothered by bacteria.  Considering that adults don't sterilize our dishes,
at what age can you stop all of this?  We reheat and eat left overs and
drink from bottles that get resealed.  So what's the big deal with a baby
drinking a little milk now and a little more later?  Why do you have to
dispose of the milk after heating if the baby doesn't take it and hasn't
touched the bottle?
	It seems to me that we should be sterilizing everything if bacteria
is really a problem.  Otherwise, aren't just good sanitary habits and
keeping food under the proper storage conditions alright?  What happens
to the baby if he injests a little bacteria?  My husband stuck a used
bottle back in the fridge one night when I was gone.  I opened it up
the next morning and it smelled fine.  I even tasted a little - just
curious about what it tasted like and was surprised at the sweetness -
and it seemed fine.  I grimaced and thru it out.  Fortunately, I have
a good milk supply but I'm always afraid of running out and it kills me
to throw it out when he only drunk a little.
	All of these conflicting things just don't make sense to me.
Thanks for your info.

Julia
From: neal@hpcndm.CND.HP.COM (Neal Bauer)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 10:06:25 GMT
Subject: Re: Where I'm coming from [somewhat long] (Was Re: 20/20 and Spanking)
Organization: HP Network and System Management Division