5 Tips to Help

I’ve had several people ask me how I’ve managed to sterilise bottles on a 24-hour flight with a baby. Here are some useful tips on sterilising bottles when travelling (I’ve both breastfed and bottle fed with formula, so for breastfeeding tips on a plane, you may find this post useful.)

AD/Affiliate link. This article may contain affiliate links. Please read more in our disclosure policy here. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

How to Sanitize Baby Bottles while Traveling

• For sterilised baby bottles for travelling consider bringing some disposable sterilising bags. Bring a sterilising tablet, and then just add water (ask the crew if on a flight for the water) – any resealable bag will work or use microwave disposable sterilising bags.. These are ready for use within 15 minutes when cold water sterilizing. When cold water sterilizing you can use with water abroad which lasts for 24 hours. We found the bags can get a little heavy so either put them in a safe place on the plane or use at your destination.

• Another option is this brilliant collapsible bucket with lid which you can easily fill with water on board and use to sterilise when at your hotel with Milton sterilizing tablets. It packs up completely flat too!

• If your flight is fairly short, bring plenty of bottles (allow for delays) which have been pre-sterilised. I opted this for a 12-hour flight with my then 11 week old. I put each bottle into a Ziploc bag with and labelled each one with the time her feed was due. (If you are travelling over 12 hours, then bringing this many bottles may not be possible so you will need to look at another option for sterilising bottles on a long haul flight.)

• Another option is to consider using bottle liners, which cut down the number of bottles you need to bring. These are pre-sterilised and you simply replace for the next feed. Several brands liners double up as milk storage bags too but check all bottle liners to see if they fit your bottle type first!

• A further solution is to bring a travel steriliser on holiday. There are several single bottle travel sterilisers on the market which can work in microwaves or for cold water. There are also microwave steam steriliser bags available too.

• Once at your destination or hotel ask for a large container so you can use the cold water sterilising option such as Milton sterilising tablets. If one isn’t available, simply fill the hotel room sink. For more tips on how to sterilise bottles when away, including sterilising baby bottles in hotels see here.

What is the best best bottle steriliser you have found for travelling? How do you sterilize bottles on holiday or vacation? Please let me know in the comments!

Can I use the water abroad to make up bottles?

Always check to see if drinking the local water is recommended or advised against. If it is allowed, then always boil it first and don’t use previously boiled water.

Is it OK to use bottled water for formula?

Generally, bottled water is not recommended because it may contain too many minerals- namely sodium or sulphate and it is not sterile.

However, when you are travelling or visiting some countries using drinkable tap water and boiling it may not be possible. If you do need to make up a feed with bottled water make sure it has;

• Less than 200 milligrams (mg) a litre of sodium (Na)
• No more than 250mg a litre of sulphate (SO4)
• Boil water to make up formula feeds
• Seek advice from your nurse or your doctor before you travel if you are unsure or think you may have to do this.