Microwave sterilisers are smaller, but not exactly portable. They could sit on top of the fridge or stay in the microwave itself if you’d rather not keep them out. 3. Cycle time How much will I need to use the steriliser? This could help determine the size of the unit you buy and how much you spend. It takes one touch of a button to start a cycle and, if you have any accompanying Tommee Tippee bottles, each bottle is clearly marked to show how much water to add to the steriliser – a thoughtful touch that our tester really appreciated.

Having one sterilising solution all day is handy and it helps with multiple baby feeds, allowing you to take things in and out of it throughout the day. We love that there’s a spout to empty the solution and, as with most Milton products, there’s no need to rinse the sterilised items prior to using them. To use, simply wash your bottles, dummies and so on beforehand, put them in the solution, wait 15 minutes and you’re good to go. This steriliser is certainly well built, and although it takes up a fair amount of kitchen counter space, it actually looks like a sleek piece of equipment. It’s sturdy, and since it’s been designed to hold six Dr Brown’s bottles, it’s generously sized; these bottles are some of the tallest and widest out there. That means that even if you use alternative bottle brands, you’re likely to be able to fit in a good number of items.

What should I use a steriliser for?

To clean thoroughly, put bottles in upside down, and space out rings and teats to fully sterilise them. The time it takes depends on your microwave and the manufacturer's instructions, with times ranging from 90 seconds to six minutes. How long do bottles stay sterile in microwave bags? If you’re bottle-feeding or expressing full-time, you’re likely to get through a large pile of equipment in a 24-hour period and you don’t want to spend all of it refilling the steriliser. Microwave steriliser bags are bags that you pop your bottles, soothers, teethers, breast pumps, or teats into before adding the recommended amount of water. Then you simply pop these steriliser bags in the microwave, and within minutes they're ready to go. Microwave steriliser bags do rely on a microwave, so make sure you have one of these to hand if they're going to be a regular cleaning tool in your day-to-day life.

Since babies have such fragile immune systems, they’re more susceptible to stomach-related illnesses, so it’s important to wash bottles with soap and warm water before sterilising them. Warm milk, in particular, can be a breeding ground for nasty germs, so washing them first will ensure any remaining milk bacteria is eliminated. Capacity: Approximately six bottles | Materials: BPA-free plastics and metal electrical components | Included: Steriliser and teat tongs – larger sets are also available to buy Good for parents who

Do you have a microwave? Microwave sterilisers are great space savers, but pretty redundant if you’re missing one of the main components! We tried electric and microwave and ended up using cold water Milton - it’s so easy just keep adding bottles after washing them and they’re sterile in 15 min."Tried and tested by Mumsnetter CharlieB93 Our verdict Tommee Tippee has put a great deal of thought into the redesign of their electric steam steriliser and it really shows. The Tommee Tippee Super-Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser is made from tough BPA-free plastics and is exceptionally straightforward to use, with plenty of room for bottles and breast pump parts over two tiers.

MAM has long been a go-to brand for baby bottles, soothers, breastfeeding products and sterilisers, so it’s little wonder this all-singing, all-dancing piece of kit performed well in testing. Helpfully offering six functions in one, this steriliser can be used as an electric or a microwave steam steriliser, provides two bottle warming options, plus a keep-warm function, and can defrost or warm food when you eventually start weaning. Electric sterilisers attract limescale on their heating plate over time so will need regularly descaling (manufacturers will specify a frequency, but it’s usually once or twice a month). To reduce limescale build-up, pour out the water after every use and wipe down with a soft damp cloth. A steriliser is a piece of equipment that kills virtually all germs and other potentially harmful micro-organisms using steam, chemicals or UV light. There are a number of different types of the market, and across a range of price points, including microwave Sterilising baby bottles can seem like a chore (especially when you need to do those night-time feeds), but it is essential for the health of your little one. But you can stop eventually. So, at what age can you stop sterilising baby bottles?As well as baby bottles, teats and breast pump parts, you'll also want to steriliser dummies and teething rings, ideally once a day unless they are dropped on the floor outside. 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. If you’re using bottles and breast pumps regularly but not intensively, you might find that a travel steriliser is sufficient for your needs – it’s certainly cheaper to buy and easier to throw into a drawer. If you’re bottle-feeding full-time, though, sterilising one or two bottles at a time will be too inefficient and labour-intensive to manage. 5. UV steriliser Sterilising your baby’s feeding equipment before every use is essential for at least your baby’s first year – although this does not apply to weaning items such as spoons and bowls, if weaning from the recommended age of 6 months. If Unfortunately, a dishwasher alone isn’t enough to effectively sterilise your baby’s bottles. You will need to adequately sterilise all bottles and feeding equipment using one of the above methods until your baby is at least 12 months old.