best buys
The best sterilisers for baby bottles and feeding gear
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If you decide to bottle feed full-time with either formula or expressed milk, an efficient steriliser is a must.
Your baby will need around six clean bottles a day, so make sure you choose a larger model that can sterilise that amount in one go, or a super-fast microwave version that will only take a couple of minutes to work.
Larger sterilisers are also roomy enough to fit in breast pumps and the odd dummy, too.
1. MAM 6-in-1 Electric Steriliser & Express Bottle Warmer
*Compact design that saves on kitchen space
*Electric and microwave steam sterilising
*Can warm both breast milk and formula
This flexible model can be used for both heating milk and food as well as sterilising bottles and other feeding equipment. It can also defrost and heat food in one easy setting. There's also a handy keep-warm function built-in.
It has pretty much everything you need for your baby's first year including two bottles and teats and even a soother!
2. Tommee Tippee Super Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser
*Delivers five sterile bottles in five minutes
*Chemical-free sterilising kills 99.9 per cent of household bacteria
*Compact and designed to be easy to use
Its slimline design makes this the perfect model for limited counter space, while still having lots of room inside, holding up to five bottles.
It's easy to operate, too, and the contents will stay sterile for a full 24 hours provided the lid remains closed.
3. Babymoov Turbo Steam Electric Steriliser
*Sterilises bottles and can also dry them afterwards
*It can hold up to six baby bottles and is also suitable for holding teats and breast pumps
*Kills 99% of bacteria
Stylish and useful, this steriliser cleans and dries up to six bottles at a time, and both the main trunk and arms are fitted with special steam outlets to make sure sterilisation is very through.
The model automatically cuts off and the audible alarm will alert you when sterilisation is finished.
4. NUK Micro Express Plus Microwave Steam Steriliser
*Perfect for daily and travelling usage
*Cleans and sterilises effectively in only four minutes
*Fits most bottles and microwave
This compact, economical and easy-to-use microwave steriliser holds four bottles and includes a special tray for the teats and small parts.
The model includes tongs for the hygienic and safe removal of sterilised bottles and accessories. We think it's a great steriliser for taking on holiday and the price is very purse-friendly, too.
5. Milton Cold Water Sterilising Unit
*Sterilises in 15 minutes with Milton Sterilising Tablets or fluid
*Large five litre capacity; can hold up to six standard baby bottles
*Lid and locking handle to protect the solution
This holds up to six bottles and features a pouring spout so it's very easy to empty it. There's also a handy weight to make sure everything is submerged in the solution.
Contents are germ-free in just 15 minutes and the unit requires no power source, just cold water, so it's great if you don't have a microwave.
6. Tommee Tippee Single Bottle Steriliser
*Use in the microwave or with cold water and a sterilisation tablet
*Compact for so ideal for travel
*Great for night-time feeds
Although this one only holds one bottle, it can sterilise in three minutes in the microwave, meaning quick and easy sterilisation if you have more to do. It can also be used as a cold water steriliser.
We think it's the perfect compact solution for travel, or if you are only planning to feed your baby the occasional bottle and don't need a full-size steriliser.
7. Nuby Natural Touch Steriliser and Dryer
*Ultra-hygienic and can kills 99.9% of germs
*Has the capacity for five bottles
*Five minutes sterilisation time
Great for busy mums, this one-touch super fast steam steriliser can eradicate germs in five minutes and can keep the contents sterile for 24 hours if the lid is kept closed.
Even better, it can dry bottles once they are sterilised and germ-free, saving you the bother and meaning that they are ready to use straight away.
8. Vital Baby NURTURE advanced pro UV steriliser & dryer
*Feast and effective
*Compact to fit in a cupboard easily
*Uses UV sterilisation
This is a UV steriliser that uses the rays to clean bottle and bottle feeding gear, or anything else- they are very popular with people who want to cleanse their phones of bacteria. It destroys 99.9% of bacteria and also dries in a cycle that takes 29 minutes. Easy to operate, it has a clear control panel and has four modes: sterilise, dry, auto mode and store mode. The last repeats a one minute UV session each hour to keep your things clean until you can use them. IT does only take two bottles at a time but is great for smaller kitchens and you could also take it on holiday easily, as you don't need anything except a power socket.
9. Philips Avent Steriliser
*Kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs
*Sterilises and dries in just 40 minutes
*Bottles stay sterilised inside the unopened case for 24 hours
From one of the best names in bottle feeding comes this steriliser but don't worry - you can use any brand of bottle and accessories inside it. It's a neat unit that will sit on your counter without taking up too much space and it can hold around four bottles at a time, plus their bits and pieces. It uses pure steam to kill germs and it has a separate tray to hold small items such as teats and locking rings, plus a drip tray at the bottom that keeps leftover milk from getting onto the heating elements, which could make it smell bad.
10. Dualit Steam Steriliser
*Can hold up to six bottles at a time
*Cleans your baby's feeding items with no chemicals
*Keeps items sterile for 24 hours
Taking just 15 minutes for a sterilise-only cycle, this generously sized machine comes from the people who make the lovely retro kitchen appliances. They have a reputation for great build and quality and this machine is no exception, with additional 30 and 60 minute clean and dry cycles, a handy rack for smaller items and an easy to use dial.
How much does a steriliser cost?
The cheapest way to sterilise is the cold water method, with a sterilising tank costing around £15, and additional sterilising tablets around £2.50 for a month’s supply.
Microwave sterilisers generally ring in at around £20 to £30.
Electric sterilisers cost from around £45 up to £100, depending on the brand, features and what’s included: some come with a complete feeding kit, with bottles, teats and breast pump.
UV sterilisers can cost over £100 and do not need any special extras chemicals.
What are the different types?
Cold water sterilisers are simple tanks that you fill with a measured amount of water and sterilising tablets. You immerse your baby’s bottles in the water for around 30 minutes, and then rinse them in cooled boiled water. This is a cheap way of sterilising and is safe as it doesn’t involve electricity, hot water or steam but it’s time-consuming and you need to change the sterilising fluid every 24 hours.
Microwave sterilisers use the heat of the microwave to kill off bacteria. You add a small amount of water and your equipment, and the microwave generates steam to sterilise the kit in about four minutes. This is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to sterilise, but microwave sterilisers generally don’t hold as many bottles as electric sterilisers, so you may need to use it more often. You also need to check that it will fit inside your microwave.
Electric sterilisers plug into the mains, and use electricity to heat a small amount of water in the unit. This generates steam, which sterilises your feeding equipment. Electric sterilisers are usually fairly quick to use, with a cycle taking about six minutes, and the contents stay sterile for several hours as long as the lid is kept shut. They also have a larger capacity – typically six bottles – so you may be able to sterilise all the bottles you need for the day in one go. However, they are the most expensive type of steriliser, and they can also be rather bulky, which is an issue if you don’t have much space. You’ll also need to descale it regularly to prevent damage caused by limescale build-up. Features to look for in an electric steriliser include an audible beep or buzzer to let you know when the cycle has finished, automatic power shut-off, and a selection of baskets inside to keep your feeding equipment organised. Some also have a stacking feature so you can change the size of the steriliser depending on what you’re sterilising.
UV sterilisers are the latest on the market. They plug into a socket and then use UV light to kill bacteria and viruses. They can be used for all your feeding gear but also for anything else you want to sterilise, from phones to toys.
Need to know
Some method of sterilising is essential if you’re bottle feeding, but you’re also likely to need it if you’re breastfeeding. Anything that comes into contact with breast or formula milk needs to be sterilised, including breast pumps, nipple shields and breast shells. You should sterilise all milk feeding equipment until your baby is a year old, although other weaning equipment, cups and tableware don’t need to be sterilised once he’s over six months. If you only need to sterilise occasionally, you can buy disposable steriliser bags, which are used in the microwave; these are also good for travel.
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