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During the first two months of life, babies can eat . That adds up to more than 300 feedings, and if those involve a bottle, safe practices are important no matter what’s in the bottle.

In honor of October being National Children’s Health Month, we’re sharing five practical tips to help keep the youngest among us healthy when they bottle feed.

Let’s dive in.

1. Consider kicking off your shoes at the door. A 2024 showed about 1 in 4 U.S. homes had Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that can cause illness in some newborn infants, and introduction of Cronobacter into the home appears to relate to foot traffic. In , the bacteria was most frequently found on entryway floors, in vacuum cleaner contents, car mats, and kitchen surfaces, including sponges and sinks.
   
   
2. Tap water from a safe source can be used to mix formula. Tap water can be mixed with powdered infant formula when the tap water itself is known to be safe, according to the (CDC). When tap water isn’t safe, like during an emergency, such as a water main break, hurricane or flood, . If bottled water isn’t available, tap water can be made safe by to kill bacteria. Remember to let the water cool before mixing the formula and before feeding your baby.
   
   
3. Keep it simple when mixing formula. Skip blenders, spoons and whisks, which can increase the risk of contaminating your baby’s formula from unclean parts, and in the bottle.
   
   
4. Throw out leftovers. any prepared formula left in the bottle after feeding your baby. That’s because the combination of formula and your baby’s saliva . The using prepared infant formula within two hours of preparation and within one hour from when feeding begins.
   
   
5. Clean bottles. Bottles and their parts, including nipples, caps, rings, and valves, should be cleaned with soap and water .
   
   
6. Air dry is ideal. Air drying the bottle and its parts on a clean towel over using a drying rack, which could trap moisture and promote the growth of mold and germs.

Looking for more resources to help you safely prepare a baby bottle or for additional information on infant and toddler nutrition?

• One-Stop Shop. Click to see a summary of best practices from the nation’s foremost public health authorities and pediatricians, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Beyond the Bottle. For even more information about infant and toddler nutrition, visit our and learn about topics, including introducing solid foods to your baby, dehydration in toddlers, and the link between gut bacteria and food allergies in children.