For Mumsnetters who want to avoid buying a steriliser altogether, these MAM self-sterilising bottles are a great option. The bottle comes apart and can be assembled in such a way that they work as their own steam steriliser in the microwave, making keeping them hygienic a doddle. With steam sterilising, water is added to the sterilising unit which then boils to create steam that kills the bacteria. Some steam sterilisers are standalone and will plug into the wall, whilst others are super simple and can just be popped in the microwave. If you sterilise your baby’s bottles and feeding equipment, this will kill the majority of bacteria and protect them from potential illnesses.

Harmful bacteria can grow in milk residue left on bottles, which can leave your baby vulnerable to infections. Sterilising your little one’s feeding equipment will help to protect them, particularly from bacteria which cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Sterilising items is particularly important in the early days due to your little one’s immature immune system, which only begins to develop at around 6 months of age. By your baby’s first birthday they will be producing their own antibodies The items are sterile after a manufacturer-recommended 15-minute cycle – the NHS recommends 30 minutes – and remain so for as long as they’re in the solution. Plus, they don’t need rinsing off when they’re needed. Items can continue to be added and removed as necessary over 24 hours when the solution will need to be remade. More expensive than some other electric models, like the Tommee Tippee Super-Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser or the Nuby Natural Touch The length of a sterilisation cycle varies wildly between brands. If you’ve got a set-up where you intend to batch-sterilise once a day, a longer cycle won’t matter so much. But if you’re planning on sterilising more often, you won’t want to wait by the steriliser juggling a hungry baby. 4. Noise

Cold-water units vary in size, and you’ll also need somewhere to safely store the dissolvable tablets. Microwave steriliser bags take up minimal space and can fit in a nappy bag or even a drawer with your sandwich bags. Anything else I need to consider? Each cycle takes just three minutes in the microwave – very useful when you’re caught short with a hungry baby. Once the cycle is finished and you’ve tipped out the water, the items inside can be transported in the bag without opening it, which, again, is a good feature when travelling or on the go. Milton do a travel steriliser that fits 1 bottle in. In theory any clean plastic container with a lid will do, but the travel sterilisers have the lines on so you put the correct amount of water in (as do the normal Milton sterilisers)." Recommended by Mumsnet user confused123456 Our verdict For cold water sterilisers, a full container will be very heavy and should be kept away from children so they can’t pull it over onto their head. Sterilisation fluid is made from sodium hypochlorite, a mild, non-toxic bleach that decomposes into water and a small amount of salt. The bags are made of polypropylene, a tough heat-resistant and BPA-free plastic, and are sealed with a strip along the top edge. Our tester, Maisie, found that the seal remained firm throughout all 20 uses – the bag didn't leak hot water or burn fingers.

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 Not the most budget-friendly electric steriliser we tested, and a more expensive initial outlay than microwave or travel versionsSterilising 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? Guidance from the NHS recommends sterilising for at least the first 12 months. After your baby's first birthday, you can start phasing our sterilising as their immune system will be strong enough. However, it's important to continue cleaning all bottles, dummies and other feeding equipment thoroughly even after you've said goodbye to the sterilising tablets. What are the different types of steriliser? Make sure no air bubbles are trapped in the bottles or teats when you put them in the sterilising solution.