Capacity: Four bottles | Materials: BPA-free plastic | Included: Steriliser and heat-safe tongs Good for parents who Electric steam sterilisers are usually powered by a metal plate which heats to produce steam and is a highly effective way to kill bacteria without additional chemicals required. A cold water steriliser uses cold water and a sterilising solution to kill 99.9% bacteria. Milton do a travel steriliser that fits 1 bottle in. In theory any clean plastic container with a lid will do, but the travel sterilisers have the lines on so you put the correct amount of water in (as do the normal Milton sterilisers)." Recommended by Mumsnet user confused123456 Our verdict I particularly liked that, with no steam, I never had to worry about bottles coming out hot to the touch. It also has a drying setting and functions as a storage cabinet (its adjustable shelves enable you to customise the layout), blasting its contents every two hours with a five-minute sterilising dose to keep your equipment disinfected and ready at all times.

Find more information about WEEE recycling and where to locate your local recycling centre at https://repic.co.uk/consumers The device starts to cool down, all the LEDs are lit. Allow the steriliser to cool before removing the lid. This stops after 4 minutes with 2 long beeps. They are essentially a large, round, plastic box with a screw-on lid, usually with an internal basket to hold the bottles. Water is poured into the bottom (under the basket) and in the microwave it boils to create steam. Lastly, will you be mainly breastfeeding, pumping or formula feeding? If it’s the former, you won’t need much in the way of equipment so can get away with something cheaper and more straightforward, whereas if you’re exclusively pumping or formula feeding, you’ll rely heavily on your steriliser and will need something more heavy-duty with a bigger capacity. How do I descale a steriliser? It has several functions, including a sterilise-only, dry-only, or combo sterilise and dry cycle and can be used as storage, keeping contents sterile for 24 hours. If you’re using Dr Brown’s anti-colic bottles, widely considered to be excellent for reflux, then six of them will fit perfectly, though you can use other brands too.

2. Best budget steriliser: Medela Quick Clean Microwave Bags

This programme runs for 7 minutes and automatically stops afterwards with 3 long beeps. The lights will stop flashing. Our tester, Maisie, is a mum of three with a six-year-old, four-year-old and an 11-month-old baby. She spent six months testing the shortlisted products with her own bottles and breast pump parts, each for a minimum of 10 days. She investigated best practice safety recommendations from the NHS and sourced expert advice from Kate Bennett, a midwife of nine years and course teacher with antenatal education provider, New Life Classes. Microwave sterilisers, my personal preference because they’re fast and relatively cheap, are more compact than standalone electric models, but in fact also use steam to sterilise items. They’re easier to clean, as there’s no metal element to descale – you simply heat the container up in the microwave with the bottles inside. You’ll need to make sure your model fits inside your microwave, and it’s worth having sterilisation tablets on hand in case the oven breaks or you have a power cut.

Babies still need feeding on holiday (who knew?) so travel sterilisers are designed to provide a portable solution that works on the go. Perfect from newborn, our baby bottles help parents build a bond with their baby when bottle-feeding. Safety is our number one priority for your family, and our bottles are easy to assemble, leak-proof, shatterproof, are BPA and BPS free and are manufactured in the EU. Don’t rinse equipment off again afterwards as the water won’t be sterile. You don’t need to dry them as the cloth likely isn’t sterile either – just shake off the excess moisture and make sure it’s cooled down completely. When can you stop sterilising baby bottles? On the downside, the heating plate will almost certainly attract limescale over time so the steriliser will need descaling once or twice a month. You can buy descaling liquid for this, though all steriliser brands now include instructions for natural descaling liquid from store cupboard ingredients which is a more eco-friendly option. Electric sterilisers are also the most expensive to buy. 3. Microwave steriliserThe MAM Easy Start Self-Sterilising Bottle Set offers an easy switch between breast and bottle. The patented SkinSoft teats are silky soft and provide a familiar feel for babies. This set also includes a 0-2 month soother, an extra soft bottle spout and a Hold My Bottle handle. If you’re pregnant and unsure how you’ll be feeding, or you’re only an occasional bottle-user and don’t want to find space for a bulky appliance, Medela’s microwave steriliser pouches could be a great option. These would also be handy for days spent at a friend or relative’s home, since they’re so small and straightforward to use (add water, seal, start the microwave). Do you have enough kitchen counter space to keep a sterilising unit out all the time? Would you want to if you did? Electric units usually stay plugged in on the counter – they’re too large to store and too bulky for it to be convenient to move them often. It’s best to use sterile tongs to handle teats afterwards to prevent contamination, and the majority of sterilisers come with a pair – put the tongs in with the cycle and you know they’re OK to use.