When to sterilize, and when to just give it up

When I was first shopping for all the baby stuff we could possibly ever need, one thing I came around was this microwaveable sterilizer. We bought the advent one, not to plug a product, but its been pretty cool. And what we do is after everytime we hand cleaned bottles, nipples, soothers, pumping stuff, we would then throw it in the sanitizer, two minutes later, boom its clean, then we throw it on the drying rack until we need it, or until its dry then put it away (normally the first... especially when your tired).

But I then started taking the lazy approach, I started to use the dishwasher. And whats funny is I saw at toys r us, this plastic tray that seals up but has tons of holes in it, that you put all your baby parts stuff in, and throw that in the dishwasher so that they dont fly all over it. But our cuttlery area, has the same kinda compartment built into it. so I just used that, and for everything, except the bottles, those I would put on the top rack with the glasses.

Now keep in mind all of the above mentioned items for us are made of either plastic or silicone. And yes we use the BPA, Phosphate, and something else FREE items. Not too sure what that does, but they all say its good so we buy those. Anyways, after I put them through the dishwasher (keep in mind, I did realize it was the lazy way out, but I also thought it did a better job than I would ever do cleaning it). Then I would throw them in the sanitizer after it came out of the dishwasher, then on the drying rack.

Now Ive heard that we are WAY over using the sterilizer. That bottles, and nipples should be sterilized once, then just clean from that point on. Which makes sense dont get me wrong, I just didnt realized we do that so early. I figured after he gets his first few rounds of shots, thats when you say go ahead, go get dirty. So Im wondering what age did you stop sterilzing things? How often do you currently sterilize items? What do you sterilize? Any and all help is welcome!

Get outta here

My fiancee and I have started a new trend, where to relieve some of our stress and just to get out and relax, we are each taking one night a week out. I have joined a softball team, and my fiancee has been going out with her friends, or getting pampered somehow ...etc. I think its awesome on alot of levels, and Ive been kinda worrying about it.

On the one hand I think getting out of the regular grind for myself, of working all day, then home at night, then back at it the next day, no matter how much I love my family, I just need to get revived a little bit. And I love having father son night. It gets my fiancee out for a few hours, I try to get her out longer but she just wont stay away :) We talk, we play, I give him a bath, I put him to bed, I clean up the house as much as I can, all before my fiancee gets home. I feel so amazing doing it, that I look forward to it the next time. I love giving my fiancee a break from it all, and I love bonding with him so that he know Im there for him. And if I make him giggle, its just icing on the cake.

But I heard most recently that some couples dont even go out at all the first 6 months to a year their child is born. I feel guilty in the fact that I spend all day long without him at work, and I have to go into work some weekends for a few hours, that I feel like Im not bonding with him enough, I feel like I am missing out on his life, and before I know it he will be walking around talking, and I will not even see it... insert cats in the cradle song here... But I feel like I will be a better Dad if I unwind at some point. And I want to start working out on a regular basis, so thats another hour a day Im away.

I just dont know the answer, I dont know if I am just doing too much, and should just suck it up and realize this is parenting. When did everyone out there decide that they could go out, away from their child. Start leaving their child with Grandparents. How soon is too soon. I'm looking for personal experiences on when you have yourself gone through this. Thank you