Full test results

Cold water sterilisers:

Cold water steriliser with six bottles

Manufacturer: Mothercare Price: £18.50 Features: Six-bottle steriliser with two filling levels, float tray, lockable lid, gripper handle on base and Monday to Sunday time indicator. Includes six bottles, eight sterilising tablets and a bottle brush. For stockists tel. 01923 210210

Testers’ comments

Extremely easy to use – simple system which works well.

Items are held underwater by a simple float tray – no complex racking system.

Useful day indicator reminds you when you last changed the water.

Lower filling level allows you to economise on sterilising tablets if you only have a few items to sterilise.

Fully transportable – no need for electricity and a plug.

Heavy when full, but lid locks well and gripper handle on base help makes draining easy.

Seems expensive for what is basically a bucket and float – but if the included bottles are ones you want then this becomes good value.

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Steriliser Starter Kit

Manufacturer: Maws Price: £21.99 Features: Six-bottle steriliser which can be used as a cold water or microwave sterilising system. Includes loading racks which double as a float tray, a hinged lockable lid, four wide-necked bottles with heat sensor safety stripe, eight sterilising tablets, teat tongs and bottle brush. For stockists tel. 0500 979899

Testers’ comments

A very versatile unit which offers all the convenience of a microwave steriliser but with the flexibility of a cold water steriliser depending where you are and what facilities you have available.

Neat and compact.

Straightforward racking system that can be loaded with minimum fuss and takes all styles of bottle.

Hinged lid allows condensation to drop back into the unit.

Includes good quality bottles with a heat sensor to help you ensure you do not feed your baby while milk is still too hot.

Moulded water reservoir for when microwaving – just fill rather than measuring out water required separately.

Included items would cost most than £17 if bought separately, making the unit itself tremendous value.

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Steriliser Starter Kit

Manufacturer: Boots Price: £18.50 Features: Six-bottle moulded steriliser with float tray, two filling levels, lockable lid, drainage vent and carry handle. Includes six bottles, bottle brush and 64 sterilising tablets. For stockists tel. 0115 950611

Testers’ comments

Bucket-style, chunky but compact unit.

Useful carrying handle which locks automatically and makes draining easier with less chance of spills or splashes.

Two filling levels allow for economic use of sterilising tablets when you only have a few items to sterilise.

Moulded base allows for simple, fuss-free loading without any fiddly racks.

Moulding could limit the size of some items placed in the unit, but we found most things fitted ok.

The large supply of sterilising tablets and included bottles add value.

Well designed for fuss-free, well organised sterilising.

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Microwave sterilisers:

Universal Microwave Steriliser

Manufacturer: Lindam Price: £10 Features: Four-bottle steriliser with loading rack and transparent lid. For other stockists tel. 01423 560291; www.lindam.co.uk

You can buy the Universal Microwave Steriliser in the babyworld shop! Click here to visit the babyworld shop.

Testers' comments

Instructions for use clearly printed on the unit for useful reference at any time.

Stay cool handles on either side of unit and stay cool grip on lid.

Simple to load and easily put together for use.

Rack lifts out in one piece and bottles remain in place.

Transparent lid should be useful, but is a little cloudy for clear viewing.

No water measuring jug.

Very reasonably priced.

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Microwave Steam Steriliser

Manufacturer: Avent Price: £16.99 Features: Four-bottle steriliser with loading rack and deep transparent lid. Includes two wide-necked bottles. For stockists tel. 0800 289064

Testers' comments

Straightforward design.

   Standard bottles secure easily in rack and stay in place well even when you lift them out of the unit. Wide neck bottles simply stand on the rack so loading is fuss-free.

Good, roomy unit with plenty of space for accessories.

Transparent lid makes it easy to view what is inside and check how many sterile bottles you have.

Good lid knob so you can open even when hot.

  First impressions are that it seems a bit basic but it does in fact function really well.

Quite bulky.

  No water measuring jug, but moulded water reservation does help you to gauge required amount.

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Steam Sterilizer

Manufacturer: Mam Features: Two-bottle steriliser with snap lock lid and carry handles. Includes one bottle. Price: £15.99 For stockists tel. 0208 9438880

Testers' comments

Simple system – just lie bottles in – no racking.

Compact and very transportable.

Good carry handles.

Lockable lid makes this a useful, hygienic carry and storage container for bottles when on the move.

Very limited capacity – two bottles maximum so only really useful for those planning to give only the occasional bottle or for use when travelling.

Lid is quite tricky to lift off but gets easier with practise.

Quite pricey for what it is.

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See also Maws combined microwave/cold water steriliser.

 

Electric Steam Sterilisers:

Universal Steam Steriliser

Manufacturer: Lindam Price: £25.00 Features: Eight-bottle steriliser with a 12 to 14 minute cycle. Two-tiered unit. Includes water measuring jug. For stockists 01423 560291; www.lindam.co.uk

You can buy the Universal Steam Steriliser in the babyworld shop! Click here to visit the shop

Testers’ comments

Solid, tall and slim design.

Has the greatest capacity – eight standard bottles – of all the sterilisers we tested.

Simple to load – just drop bottles into place and put accessories on top tier – no racks.

Flexible and roomy for larger items such as plates, bowls and breast pumps.

Lower tier does not detach so bottles cannot be transported easily away from the unit and emptying is less easy than it might be.

Well priced for a well made, high capacity unit.

Not the fastest sterilising cycle on the market but does the job.

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Express

Manufacturer: Avent Price: £39.99 Features: Six-bottle steriliser with an eight-minute cycle. Includes two wide-necked bottles, tongs and dishwasher-safe rack. For stockists tel. 0800 289064

Testers’ comments

Neat, compact and almost stylish unit.

Deep transparent lid allows for easy viewing of what is inside.

Simple, versatile racks which can be clipped together and used to keep small teats and soothers together in the dishwasher prior to sterilising. Can be removed if sterilising larger items.

Quick sterilising cycle – completes in eight/nine minutes.

Detachable power cable which makes cleaning and emptying easier.

Clearly defined maximum water level mark.

  Pricey but good quality and some useful features. Hard to justify the price if you really don’t want the included bottles (these would cost £6 if bought separately).

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Six Bottle Electric Steam Steriliser

Manufacturer: Mothercare Price: £35 Features: Six-bottle steriliser with a nine-minute cycle. Includes two standard bottles and tongs. For stockists tel:  01293 210210

Testers' comments

Compact unit – the smallest electric one we tested but can still take six standard bottles.

Can only take four wide-necked bottles.

Transparent lid allows you to see what you have inside.

Simple racks which can be lifted out with all items still in place.

Maximum water level is not clearly defined.

Lockable lid adds security and makes unit more transportable.

Useful tongs allow you to maintain sterility of teats when reassembling bottles.

Pricey but does the job effectively – fine if you are going to use standard bottles.

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Six Bottle Steam Steriliser

Manufacturer: Tomy Price: £22.99 Features: Six-bottle steriliser with a ten-minute cycle. Two-tiered unit which dismantles, lower tier moulded to help secure bottles. Includes water measuring jug. For stockists tel. 02380 662600

Testers’ comments

Tall, slim, round-edged rectangular unit fits unobtrusively on a worktop.

Bottles drop direct into unit simply, without racks, and are held snugly by the unit’s moulded base and high sides.

Smaller bottle accessories, soothers and toys sit simply on top tier.

Tiers all dismantle for easy emptying and cleaning and allow you to take bottles away from unit base for reassembling.

Straightforward instructions printed on a laminated card which is more resilient to water splashes than most.

No significant special features.

Functional, well priced, versatile unit which does the job effectively.

Fuss-free and versatile enough to take larger items – plates, bowls and breast pumps.

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