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 |
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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.
Score 
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 |
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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.
Score 
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 |
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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.
Score 
Microwave sterilisers:
Universal Microwave Steriliser
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.
Score
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 |
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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.
Score
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 |
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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.
Score
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.
Score
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 |
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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).
Score
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 |
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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.
Score
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 |
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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.
Score |
