Which of these is not good practice when sterilizing a bottle for feeding?

• A. Not washing your hands
• B. Bring water to boil again
• C. Discard water
• D. Set clean towels

Answer: (A)

Not washing your hands is not good practice because sterilizing the bottle only kills microbes on the equipment itself; if your hands are dirty when you handle or assemble the bottle, you can reintroduce germs and recontaminate the feeding items. Clean hands before touching bottles, nipples, or caps to prevent transferring bacteria to the sterile surfaces.

In practice, wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, dry with a clean towel, and handle only clean, sterilized parts. The other steps—reboiling water if needed, discarding used water, and using clean towels to dry on a clean surface—are appropriate ways to maintain sterility and prevent contamination.