With the arrival of a child, it is time for young parents to acquire the necessary equipment to take care of their infant. It often turns out to be a real headache of having to choose the right equipment when you are faced with a large range of equipment. It is therefore valuable to receive sound advice to make the right choices. Among the essential devices, parents have to choose a bottle steriliser to ensure healthy feeding of the newborn. Discover my tips and advice to choose the model that will best suit your habits and your budget.
Best bottle sterilisers in comparison
In the market there is a lot of variety, then, to choose the most suitable one, you must first take into account your needs. Are many bottles that you will clean? Maybe you’re looking to sterilise more than just the bibes. Being that way, you must worry about the size, the design and the features.
But do not mess up the blanket. Here we offer a comparative list with the best bottle sterilisers that currently exist. All have been highly valued by users who have tested with them and ensure their good quality and affordable price.
By taking a look at them, you can have a better idea of what to look for and you can invest in what really meets your expectations.
1. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Steam Steriliser
This bottle steriliser protects the sterilised objects for 24 hours, so you can put the babies and pacifiers to clean at night and have everything ready and without bacteria in the morning. Just take a little water and press a button that then turns off once the cycle is finished. They fit perfectly bottles of other brands and has a capacity for 6 baby bottles.
2. Philips AVENT Steriliser 3 in 1
In position 2, we have an electric bottle steriliser, Philips. Developed above all for products in the Philips Avent range, this steriliser can ” adapt to objects of other brands. It is compatible with both wide neck and narrow neck bottles.
In terms of capacity, you can sterilise up to six 330 ml Philips AVENT bottles at once. As such, the device appears relatively imposing (dimensions of 29 x 16 x 15 cm for a weight of 1.5 kg), but this is quite reasonable for an electric steriliser of this size. However, it has the advantage of having a modular size as needed. If you do not want to use the Philips AVENT SCF284-02 in its full version, you can opt for the smallest practical configuration to disinfect the pacifiers or the intermediate size to sterilise knives, breast pumps, forks, baby plates, etc.
As far as the performances themselves are concerned, they guarantee optimal elimination of microbes, in a very short time, thanks to the production of sufficiently hot steam. Credited with a power of 650 Watts, the Philips AVENT SCF284-02 is characterized by a sterilization cycle of six minutes, at the end of which your bottles and accessories are perfectly sterilised. The end of the operation is marked by the automatic stop of the machine. You must then wait for the objects to dry before removing them so that they become infected again. When you know that the wait can be longer or shorter, a drying function would have been a real plus.
Not only is the integrated stop function practical, but it also contributes to the safe use of the electric steriliser. The latter is made with materials (polypropylene) completely safe for the health of toddlers and for you.
3. Chicco Steam Natural 3 in 1 Steriliser
If you leave enough space in the kitchen, you can use it as a complete device to clean what is required. He gets 6 bottles and has compartments for teats and pacifiers.
Its size is adjustable according to what you want to sterilise and you can put a part in the microwave. Warm up in 5 minutes. They fit bibes of other marks if you incline them a little.
4. Dr. Brown’s electric bottle steriliser
It has two different compartments. The one on top is ideal for sterilising teats and pacifiers. In addition, it fits 6 bottles and is silent compared to models of other brands.
Includes automatic shut-off and tweezers to remove things with more caution and hygiene. Its design is beautiful and modern and the working time is 12 minutes.
5. Katze-Tatze Electric Steam bottle steriliser
It can fit bottles of different brands and designs, even those with a wide neck. The sterilisation cycle is completed in 6 minutes with energy savings.
Its price is economic without detracting from the quality of its services. Its dimensions reach 25 mm x 29 mm so you may need space in the kitchen. You have to place it with nothing on it because it expels steam upwards.
6. Philips Avent 4-in-1 Bottle Steriliser
What is electric bottle steriliser?
Sterilising a bottle is one of the important practices to take for hygiene around the baby. Especially in the very young and premature babies, it is very advisable to indulge in this practice by sterilising bottles and teats each time. While the immune system is still immature, up to about 4 months, sterilisation can destroy all the germs that could attack your child’s body.
However, there are also so-called troubleshooting techniques that sterilise baby bottles and teats. We think of the microwave or water bath among others.
Reasons to buy electric bottle steriliser
If you are one of those who wonder if it really is necessary to buy an electric bottle steriliser, you should know that there are many compelling reasons to do so.
On the one hand, it must be borne in mind that the health of babies is paramount and that due to the nature of the food they consume (mainly milk), the appearance of germs and bacteria is a high probability.
Electric or microwave sterilisers allow safe and effective cleaning of bottles, teats and pacifiers since they are designed to eliminate any type of microorganism that could jeopardize the well-being of babies.
Another great advantage of these devices is that they are very easy to use. Regardless of whether they have extra functions, their handling is usually quite simple. Usually, just a push of a button is enough to start the process. In addition, some models even have baskets that allow the correct organization of baby bottles and other utensils inside.
Types of bottle sterilisers
For reasons of speed, economy, practicality and tranquillity, many mothers use this equipment to protect the health of the children. Some are large and although they are more practical to sterilise more things at once, they take up some space. Others are efficient to clean only the necessary parts such as teats and pacifiers. There are also very practical portable options for travelling. The choice depends on each mother and the use that needs to be given to the team. There are three main classes:
Electric steriliser
It is connected to the electrical network and is usually large so that several bottles enter at the same time, in addition to pacifiers and teats. It leaves them sterile when subjected to hot steam. It is safe and very easy to use. As there is a variety of brands, dimensions and functions, it is possible to find different prices, so anyone can adapt to your budget. It is highly recommended by mothers in general. Sophisticated models of this type can also deodorize and dry items.
Microwave bottle steriliser
The cleaning process of a small microwave steriliser is very similar to that of its electric pairs. The difference is that they do not work alone but must be placed inside the microwave to generate heat and steam. They are very practical because, after use, they can be saved until the next time. Its size is smaller than the previous ones. They are usually cheaper.
Cold Water Sterilisers
For this baby bottle steriliser, you do not need a power source or a microwave oven. Everything is done cold, using a chemical process. This type of steriliser comes in the form of a tray in which you put cold water, before dissolving some tablets made with sodium hypochlorite.
The bottle stays inside the solution obtained for about thirty minutes to be sterilised. With this process, the bottle may give off an odour of bleach. Although inconvenient, this is completely normal and does not present any danger for the child. Cold sterilisers cost on average between £10 and £20 and generally come with a few tablets. However, you must renew these, which represents an additional investment.
Portable Ultraviolet Bottle Steriliser
It is a version with recent technology. It is compact and easy to transport. Its method to disinfect is with ultraviolet light capable of effectively killing germs. Being small, usually, only one bottle with its parts disassembled, but since it works without a network (it does with batteries), it is very convenient when you go out for a walk.
How does a bottle steriliser work?
There are no major complications. Although there are certain variations according to the model you use, basically it is:
- Place bottles, pacifiers and teats inside the compartments of the container.
- Fill the tank with water in the amount required to generate the steam (this in case it is not an ultraviolet steriliser)
- Place the lid, tightly closed.
- Put it into operation, either with the power button or by activating the microwave for a few minutes.
- Wait for the disinfection process.
- Wait for everything to cool down and ready.
How to choose electric bottle steriliser?
To prevent spending too much on a device that will not work, for reasons of space or because you do not have a microwave, etc. The most advisable thing is to take into account these recommendations to get the most suitable electric steriliser:
Heat
One of the most important aspects in this type of apparatus has to do with the duration of the cycle. The time it takes to achieve complete sterilisation is essential especially on these days where time is quite limited.
And it is not the same to take 10 minutes sterilizing as 30. For this reason, it is essential that when choosing an electric steriliser you pay attention to the heating rate it offers. There are very fast models that complete the cycle in just 5 minutes, while others can take up to 12 minutes or even a little longer. It is recommended to look for a model with a cycle between 5 and 10 minutes maximum.
Capacity
One factor that you should consider when buying an electric bottle steriliser is its capacity since the number of utensils that you can sterilise at the same time will depend on this.
Before deciding on a model, the best thing you can do is evaluate how many bottles and teats you use on average in a day, also considering the characteristics of these utensils, that is, if they have a standard mouth or a wide mouth, for example.
Once you know this, then you should look for a device that suits your needs. Most models have a capacity of 5 to 7 bottles, as in the case of the Philips Avent SCF285 / 02 electric steriliser, which allows the sterilisation of up to 6 wide and narrow neck bottles.
Size
This is an aspect that is directly related to capacity. But it is something you should keep in mind if you do not have a lot of space in the kitchen.
There are those who can afford to have an electric steriliser for aesthetics, that is, always placed on the kitchen counter. However, not everyone has this extra space for it.
In this sense, we recommend you evaluate very well the capacity you need in relation to the size of the device. Well, if you do not have a comfortable place to place it, the device will become a problem rather than a solution.
More functions
In addition to sterilizing bottles, these devices can offer many other very useful functionalities.
On the one hand, there are models that also allow bottles to be heated or that have an automatic disconnection system at the end of the cycle to avoid unnecessary expenses and increase safety.
Also, there are models that can include a drying function to facilitate the job of drying the bottles once sterilised. On the other hand, you can also find 3-in-1 electric sterilisers like the Chicco Steril Natural electric steam steriliser that fits three different sizes: full (large), compact and for microwave.
Price
The option of good quality but cheaper will be wonderful. On our list, everyone agrees on both qualities. It is important for the economy of parents, always have a few extra pounds for emergencies and other expenses. It will not be worth buying something expensive that sooner or later you will stop using.
When to start and when to stop sterilising bottles?
Before the first use of a bottle you have to sterilise it, so you will be calm because no improper microbe will make your little one sick. When to start giving sterilised bottles? From the first day of life. If you have decided to feed it with formula, it must be like that.
The recommendation of the paediatricians is to comply with this rule until the child begins to sit, crawl or walk because they can take things to their mouths. At that time, no steriliser will protect the baby anymore. That will be between 6 and 12 months of age. While later in that period, well better.
Of course, since you will continue to use bottles and learning cups, they should always be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water.
Disinfection with an electric or microwave device may not be necessary, but good hygiene will be required to prevent disease.
How to use electric bottle steriliser?
The operation of electric sterilisers is simple. These devices have various levels for placing both the water that will generate the steam and the utensils to be sterilized.
Therefore, the first thing you should do is locate each of them in their corresponding space.
As you know, the basic principle of sterilisers is steam. Therefore, you must fill the tank that has been arranged for this in the fair amounts indicated by the manufacturer. Once this is done, you should put the bottles, teats and pacifiers in their place. Usually, the smallest utensils are placed in a specific space for them.
Bottles should always be placed upside down, as this will allow steam to enter more easily It is important to remember that each of these utensils must be completely clean before placing them in the appliance since it is only responsible for sanitising them to eliminate possible microorganisms, not washing them.
Once the elements are placed inside the sterilizer, all that remains is to cover it and turn it on. The water will begin to heat up and then evaporate to disinfect the utensils. The time this process will take will depend on the device in question: it can be from 5 to 12 minutes or so.
