General Chat

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I am writing about my family, and write little things in the book how life was, as far as I can make out, and how it compares to now. While writing a bit about the 50's, about babies, it made me wonder how they sterilised the feeding bottles, if in fact they did, I have a very vague memory of being told that teats were cleaned by rubbing salt in the teat and, then rinsing it out, does anyone else know what they did then? I expect sterilising bottles didn't happen in the early 1900's, my Nan had 13 children, and I cannot imagine if they were bottle fed they had there bottles or teats sterilised. Lynda

Lynda, I dont know about the 50s but my daughter was born in 1961, I had a plastic sort of box that had a lid and the water was changed every day and Milton Sterilising fluid put in it. The bottles and teats were washed and then put in this Milton Box to sterilise them. June xx

Hi Lynda Yes your memory serves you right. I can recall my mum in the early 60's sterilizing bottles for my baby sister. She had glass feeding bottles, these were put into a big pan on the stove and boiled for about half an hour. The teats were washed in hot water , rubbed with salt and then rinsed in clean hot water. Kel

Thank goodness you remember that as well Kel, or I thought I may have been dreaming it:)) I too remember the glass bottles and seem to remember some that curved, almost bananna shaped, anyone else remember that? June and Donald My children were born in the 70's and I also used Milton things, and nappisan for the nappies in a bucket. We have my grandaughter of 9 months living here with her Mum and Dad for a while, and now they use a steamer to sterlise and when doing a bottle the kettle must only boil once, if someone boils it again by mistake, it HAS to be thrown away and started again! How did my 2 grow up fit and healthy:)) Thanks for your answers. Lynda

Lynda, I remember the banana shaped ones, they had a teat at one end and something similar to a teat at the other. yes some people did boil them too. June xx

I was born in the 50s, l don't know how my mum cleaned my bottles, l remember my young brother born in 1957, my mum used to put rice with a little bit of water in the bottle and shake it like a mad woman!! Then wash them in boiling water. Its amazing we all survived!! lol Anne

Hi Lynda, I remember the glass bottles as they were used for the feeds we made when I was working on the Children's ward. It was horrible trying to get the teats on them especially when wearing rubber gloves. In the early 70's, I used salt to clean the teats before sterilising them. Jacky :-)

My mother-in-law used Nappisan to clean her net curtains. nell

lynda my children were born in the 70's/80's and i too used milton couldnt afford a sterilizer unit so i used a tupperware box lol i boiled the nappies ina big stew saucepan on the cooker and then washed them on a boil wash lol they were so white they blinded me lol i loved to see them blowing on the washing line i used to clean their little bottoms with cotton wool and warm water,no baby wipes! and NO sore bottoms! if i had my kids now i would still use terry nappies,old habits die hard eh? susie

So my memories quite good then:)) and June I was going to say that there was a teat at the other end too, wonder what that was about ? As for the nappies Susie, know exactly what you mean there, the waste from disposibles nappies, must be horrendous, about 30 odd, must come from our house alone every week! Lynda

Hi Lynda, had my first baby 1953, boiled the bottle and teat then in to Milton to sterilise. My son was premature and remained in Hospital for the first 4months until his weight reache 6 pounds. Before I could bring him home I had to prove to the sister in charge of the prem unit that I was able to bath him and sterilise the bottles perfectly. She was a real dragon to the mothers but wonderful with the babies. Pat.

My first child was born in 1950, the 'banana' shaped bottle was still in use then. It had a teat at either end but only one with the hole for the baby to feed from. Before boiling the teats were rinsed under cold water and rubbed with salt to remove the milk residue then the whole lot boiled in a large saucepan of water for 10 minutes. Milton was also used - I kept my son's bottle in a solution of Milton and water. All feeds were made up as needed, orange juice and cod liver oil was collected from the clinic but my son was allergic to the orange juice (since been found to be bad for their teeth). My second and third children, born in 1953 and 1955 had the straight glass bottle, by 1957 the plastic bottles were in use but there were problems with splitting in the early days. Back in 1950 I discovered cellulose wadding (not fluffy like cotton wool). I would cut a strip from the roll and line the nappy with this - saved an awful lot of time and could be disposed of easily. The forefunner of the disposable nappy - how I wish I had invented that!!! However Napisan was a godsend in later years, the first disposables were far too expensive for me. I think children were probably healthier back then, there wasn't all the additives and 'modified' foods around - no such thing as 'organic'. I often wonder if all the so-called progress is really such a good thing, obviously some has brought great benefits but maybe, in some things, we have gone a step too far? Kathleen

I was born in 1948 and can clearly remember the old-fashioned feeding bottle - boat-shaped and with a rubber teat at both ends. I smashed no end of those, throwing them out of my pram - little scamp! LoL They were sterilised with boiling water, and the teats soaked in a saline solution, I believe. I wonder if that could be connected to my developing blood pressure problems - all that sodium. CB >|<

lynda not to mention the expence lol our initial outlay was about £20 for 12 nappies,but at least they had more than one use lol susie

Hi Lynda nudged one of my old threads i though you might like. I can remember my mum using the glass bottles and boiling them in the early 70's, plus the plastic bottle sleeve that had a plastic bag inside for colicky babies. i used milton tablets and napisan for mine in the 70's/80's they wore terrys, hated the smell of the boiling but they did look great nice and white on the line. My daughter sterilises her bottles in the microwave, how things change, But the teething, sleepless nights laughs and tears never will lol sandra

I was born in 54'. Eldest of 8. Mum had all, but the last two at home. Four girls first. Then three boys then another girl. I will always remember some of them being born. The Dressing table would have an array of baby things. Dettol, Cotton Wool, Nappy Pins. Crepe Bandages, Johnsons Toiletries. A Parcel from the Midwife. Not forgetting the packs of Dr. Whites underneath. I just love the smell of Dettol. Auntie always said it was my favourite perfume. I can remember my one sister having an old Penny put on her tummy button and then bound with the Crepe bandage. I too can remember the Banana shaped feeding bottles. We had to stay at a neighbours house when my first brother was born. They had the lovely smelling bright red carbolic soap and I was most indignant because I had to share a bath with her two children and one was a boy. Oh what memories. Jenny.

How intereasting to see all these stories. The disposible nappies around in the 70's were useless, and I only ever used them in an emergency. My children do things so differently to how I did them, but always say when I do somthing, it's fine, do it as you did it, they must know it didn't harm them :)) Thanks Sandra for your useful thread, never saw that before. I will copy that and put it in my book. Thaks so much. Lynda x x

Don't remember being a baby, but I do remember going to the Clinic - held in the village church hall, and the huge (to me) scales they used to weigh babies. We got 'clinic orange juice' with a bright blue label on it. I can remember the smell of floor polish and the nurses' frilly cuffs. nell

I can remember the glass bottles as my 3 sons were all born in the 60,s 61,64 and 69. They were all brought up on National dried milk after being breast fead for the first 6 weeks . National dried milk was free as was the Orange juice,you got coupons i cannot remember where from. Oh to see a new born baby in a lovely white terry nappy,. althou it was hard work boiling them up on the cooker in a large pan. Oh it makes me feel old!!!!! I am old >>>>. LOL Val