Can You Donate Baby Bottles?

When you’ve got multiple kids at home, there’ll come a point when your cabinet or shelf is full of baby bottles. Your little ones will grow, and transition to sippy cups and beyond, but those baby bottles will still lay there. They might still be in good condition too.

So, can you donate baby bottles like those when you no longer need them? YES, you can. I faced a similar situation at home, and that’s when Terry (my husband) asked if we could donate baby bottles instead of recycling or discarding them. I thought it was a great idea!

So, let’s take a look at how and where you can donate baby bottles, ensuring that it reaches a person in need.

Where Can You Donate Used Baby Bottles?

Once I was clear that I wanted to donate, I started researching organizations or centers that accept used baby bottles as donations. Here’s what I found:

1. Non-Profit Organizations

These organizations welcome donations for different baby accessories like baby bottles, feeding equipment, etc.

I chose organizations that worked closely with social workers. They take care of delivering essentials to women in need.
Before donating the bottles, please understand the guidelines that these organizations have. Many require that the baby bottles be cleaned thoroughly, specific packaging rules, etc.

2. Local Communities

Try to familiarize yourself with your local community because I know that many families welcome donations.

When I looked into the community near me, I found that a local church accepted donations for baby feeding equipment and other accessories.
So, I donated a few bottles to the church community. You can also contact community heads and find local charities to donate to.

3. Social Media Groups

You might be amazed to know that social media has different market pages that welcome donations online.

person-holding-smartphone-that-shows-a-donation-button-on-screen

I was scrolling through Facebook and successfully found marketplaces that invited donations for women in need.
All you need to do is post your baby item and arrange a convenient shipping time and place. With 6 babies in-house, I tried donating through an online platform, and guess what – it was super convenient.

Just a Precaution: Please be careful with your personal information while donating via online platforms and verify that your buyer is genuine before you proceed.

4. Homeless Shelters

There are several other organizations, apart from non-profits, that work for the welfare of homeless women.

They are provided with aid and such organizations accept baby accessories as donations.
You can donate your baby bottles here. I, personally, know people who’ve donated baby bottles, toys, and blankets to such shelters.

P.S. You can also donate baby bottles to animal shelters. They use baby bottles to nurse young animals!

Before You Donate Baby Bottles…

When the time came to donate baby bottles, I made sure they were still in good condition and inspected them thoroughly. Because many organizations have strict regulations on the hygiene and quality of used products.

So, here’s a checklist I used to ensure my donations were received well:

I checked and confirmed beforehand if the organization accepts second-hand baby bottles.
I checked if the bottles had all their parts and were hygienic. It is essential to donate a complete product rather than bits and pieces.
I also ensured that the baby bottles did not have any cracks or usual wear and tear.

Important: I did not donate used nipples because they come in contact with my baby’s mouth and are, therefore, not hygienic for other babies to use.

You may also like: Can You Reuse Baby Bottles?

Preparing for the Donation: Thorough Cleaning

Now that you have decided to donate your little one’s feeding bottles, you must clean them properly before handing them over. Although the bottles are safely stored in cabinets, it is essential to wash them once again.

Being a mother, I can relate to other mothers’ concerns over their baby’s safety. That’s why I make sure that I send the bottles in the best condition. I would never want my donation to harm another baby.

Let me take you through the process I followed to prepare my baby bottles for donation.

Step 1: Clean and Sterilize

I washed the bottles with mild soap and then sterilized them in my electric sterilizer. You can use boiling water to sterilize them too.
Even though they were stored in a safe and dry place, I washed them thoroughly because used baby bottles are more prone to infection, especially if left unclean.

Recommended Reading: My list of the best soaps to wash baby bottles.

Step 2: Collect All Parts

I checked if all the items were whole, with no parts missing. There’s no point in donating if your bottles are missing parts!
I also assembled the parts correctly and ensured that they still functioned well.

Step 3: Inspect Assembled Parts

Finally, I checked for wear and tear. I made sure that there were no cracks or signs of discoloration etc.
If the bottle has cracks or scratches, please identify how severe the deterioration is before you donate. Because cracks and tears can cause colic or other digestion problems for the baby.

I was recently speaking to a dear friend about donations. She had donated her breast pumps and baby bottles and said –

“Most organizations won’t accept used bottles that have hygiene issues. So, I properly sterilized the bottles and then packed them in a sturdy box. The receptionist even thanked me and told me how much easier it is to distribute packages when donations come packed well.”

To Conclude: Can You Donate Baby Bottles?

When it comes to donating your baby’s feeding bottles, go for it and do not think twice. A helping hand is always welcome and goes a long way to serving the community or helping charities, and other organizations, serve people in need.

I would strongly suggest you keep the bottles in good condition so that they can help another mother just like us.