We chose a microwave steriliser over an electric one for ease of cleaning and time. It's very easy to clean and only takes eight minutes to sterilise items. It fits everything we need and is a perfect size for us. It can fit four bottles and accessories. I'd recommend this steriliser." All done in five minutes and the bottles or bits can stay in the container with the lid on for 24 hours. It came with the warmer, bottles, bottle brush, bottle warmer bags and little tweezers."

By the time they’re a year old, your baby’s immune system is much better developed so you can ease off sterilising toys and dummies then. We have a Tommee Tippee microwave one and it's so simple, no faff. Wash the bottles and pop them in the microwave."Tried and tested by Mumsnetter hereforfun.

6. Best self-sterilising bottles: MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottles

Capacity: Six bottles, plus breast pump parts | Materials: Plastic | Included: Container and weighted grid Good for parents who Last year’s Mumsnet Best winner is a spacious, professional-looking steriliser with a main compartment for six bottles and a top compartment for smaller items like dummies and teats. 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

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. She looked at whether each steriliser was available from a wide range of retailers, whether you’d need to buy any extras separately and whether it was possible to buy replacement parts. 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. The BPA-free bottles also promise to be anti-colic and offer a ‘SkinSoftTM' teat in different flows, to help your baby accept a bottle – which can be difficult if they've been exclusively breastfed. Starting from the completion of this transaction, you will automatically receive 1 brush head every 3 months, until you have notified us that you wish to pause or cancel your subscription.

Finally, she looked at whether the steriliser represented good value for money considering the features it provided for a wide customer base, noting whether or not she’d buy another if the sample model broke. The Philips Avent 3-in-1 steam steriliser is our favourite of the sterilisers the company makes. Their range provides every mum or dad with a version suitable for them, including a microwave option. As with any appliance, it's another piece of kit to have on your work surface and, if you don't use both compartments with this device you'll need to store them, which could be frustrating if you're short on kitchen space. Boil for 5 minutes. Make sure that the parts do not touch the side of the pot. This prevents deformation and damage. Are you using a 4-in-1 Electric steam steriliser? Fill the water reservoir with exactly 100 ml (3.5 oz.) of tap water

Capacity: Two bottles | Materials: BPA-free plastics and metal electrical components | Included: Sterilisation unit, measuring jug and tongs Good for parents whoThis only applies to electric sterilisers but is worth bearing in mind nonetheless. Several make loud beeps at the beginning and end of their cycle and some even during, making a dishwasher-like hum. I’ve always opted for a microwave one. Very easy, no faff. We use avent bottles do have the avent microwave steriliser." Tried and tested by Mumsnetter Moominmiss Our verdict It's been Mumsnet's mission to make parents' lives easier for over 20 years, so we know how much difference choosing the right product can make. That's why we obsessively research, review and vet everything we recommend - from the best breast pumps to the best changing bags. 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? Do you have enough kitchen counter space to keep a sterilising unit out all the time? Would you want to if you did? Electric units usually stay plugged in on the counter – they’re too large to store and too bulky for it to be convenient to move them often.

Drying function means bottles can be used immediately after the cycle without you waiting for them to dry or cool down There’s an on-off switch on the base of the steriliser that isn’t mentioned in the instructions, which is confusing

3. Best cold water steriliser: Milton Cold Water Steriliser

The genius design means you don't need an actual steriliser, but you do still need a microwave, so may not be quite so ideal if you're away and there isn't one available.