Sterilisers
Which is the best steriliser for you and your baby? Babyworld asked parents to test 10
popular sterilisers and give us their verdict.
What is a steriliser?
A steriliser is a special unit which allows parents to fully sterilise a
baby’s feeding equipment quickly and easily. Sterilising helps to protect your baby
against germs and infection and is recommended for equipment used by babies under 12
months. Harmful bacteria grows quickly in milk and it is recommended that you sterilise
bottles, teats, soothers, breast pumps and other feeding accessories.
Do I need one?
Cold water sterilising can, theoretically, be done in any kind of container – simply
buy the sterilising tablets or liquid and immerse the items you wish to sterilise –
but in practical terms a specially designed sterilising unit can be of great convenience.
If you intend to fully bottle feed your baby you will certainly need a steriliser and will
use it regularly. Babies who are fully bottle fed require at least six bottles a day
initially, so you will need a steriliser which holds at least this many bottles. Mothers
who breastfeed may not need a steriliser initially but may want to have one available for
soothers and for breast pumps if they intend to express. They may find two or four bottle
sterilisers more than sufficient or may simply use the cold water method with a bowl or
jug they already own.
What to look for
There are three different ways to sterilise baby equipment: by cold water, by microwave
and by electric steam steriliser. Sterilisers have varying capacity – from two to
eight bottles. Remember wide-necked bottles require greater space than standard bottles.
- Cold water sterilisers require sterilising tablets or liquid. Items must be immersed in
the solution for at least 30 minutes and will remain sterile if kept in solution for up to
24 hours. Solution can be reused as often as you wish within a 24-hour period. Items must
be rinsed in recently boiled water before use.
- Microwave sterilisers require no chemicals or rinsing. They kill bacteria using steam
heat. Sterilising takes from five to ten minutes and items remain sterile for three hours
if kept in the unit. Some of these are designed to double up as cold water sterilisers.
Remember that once your baby is weaning you may wish to sterilise spoons and bowls. Metal
items cannot be sterilised in a microwave steriliser.
- Electric steam sterilisers require no chemicals or rinsing and simply plug in at the
wall. They kill bacteria using steam heat. Sterilising takes 8-15 minutes and items remain
sterile for 1-24 hours, depending on the unit.
User tips
- Before sterilising always wash and rinse all items thoroughly and check items are
microwave-safe and boilable if using steam sterilisers.
- When using cold water sterilisers beware splashes as solution can bleach clothing.
- Take care when removing steam steriliser lids as steam will escape.
- Always use the recommended amount of water in a microwave or electric steriliser –
too little could damage your microwave and the items being sterilised.
- Never use chemicals in a microwave or electric steriliser.
- For effective sterilising always sterilise for the recommended time.
- Do not put anything on top of steam sterilisers.
- Keep sterilisers and sterilising chemicals away from children.
See which sterilisers we have tested
