Kate Bennett says, “This is such an individual choice. It depends on what you find easiest, what your budget is and how much space you have. That’s before you think about what you’ll be sterilising and how you plan to feed your baby.” 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 This unit is one of the most advanced on the market, and a typical clean and dry cycle takes around 30 minutes. It has four operating modes. Sterilise mode uses a UV light to clean items in seven minutes, while a Dry mode has all items dry in 17 minutes. Auto mode switches from drying all equipment to sterilising mode automatically, and a Store mode activates the UV light for 60 seconds every hour after drying and sterilising, to keep everything sterile for up to three days. Can easily be scaled up and down for different quantities of equipment and equipment in awkward shapes

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. Whether you want the ease of a sterilising solution, a steam-sterilising microwave option or the latest electric all-rounder, we've looked at all the options on the market. We've also listened to our BabyCentre parents to find out which sterilisers they are raving or ranting about. 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. 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 Instructions are clear and easy to follow, but the Dr Brown’s Deluxe Electric Steam Steriliser is really intuitive to use – three lights on the front let you know instantly whether the eight-minute cycle is heating up, cooling down or completed.

One method is to use a unit that plugs straight into the mains, while others can be placed in the microwave to heat up. Another clever and easy technique, which takes around 3-6 minutes, is to use microwave bags. This is perfect for those times you might be travelling (although you do have to find a microwave). How do I use a cold water system? MAM’s contribution to the steriliser market is this all-singing, all-dancing multi-part steriliser with six functions: microwave sterilising, electric sterilising, express bottle warming, gentle bottle warming, a defrost and warming option for milk and food, and, finally, a keep-warm function. I have the Nuby UV one and I love it. I wash the bottles and let them air dry and then put them in there dry for three minutes and it's done! If you're formula feeding Nuby had a sale on their UV steriliser and Rapidcool (can make milk to NHS recommendations and they be cool in 3/4 minutes) bundle." Loved by Mumsnetter Grace185 Our verdict Once you are ready to use a bottle from the sterile water (after at least 15 minutes), you can do so by washing your hands and taking the required parts out. It’s that easy and this is our preferred method of sterilising MAM bottles when we are away from the house. How To Store The Bottles Once Sterilised

You don’t have to use Tommee Tippee bottles either, as it fits most brands of baby bottles. If you'd rather have the plug-in version this appliance is also available as an electric steriliser.

No drying feature, but any residual water issterile,and the outside of the bottle can be wiped with a paper towel. The caveat is that you’ll need a microwave to use them, which might not always be available – and, more importantly, sterilising just two bottles at a time won’t be feasible if you’re bottle-feeding full-time.

It's not too bulky and claims to fit in most microwaves. Parents really like the ease of use and the cheap price of this, making it a good option when there are so many other items to buy for your baby. With the soapy solution ready and the bottles swirled out, you can begin to dissemble the bottles. To do this, pop the lid off, spin the collar off, push the teat out, spin the bottle from the base and then pull out the plastic (referred to as a valve) at the base. You can then leave these in the soapy water for a few minutes to soak. 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.We wash and place the unsterilised bottles in the steriliser until it's full and start the process again. It's handy to have a place to put them before I start another cycle."

Some parents have said they have to clean it frequently. One BabyCentre parent said: "We have to clean it quite often, just with white vinegar on the heat plate and wipe it round, but this may be due to the water in our area." 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. If you buy the mam bottles they can just go in the microwave by themselves, would highly recommend!"Loved by Mumsnet user Roboticcarrot Our verdict Baby sterilisers have come a long way, especially in the past five years. The three main types of sterilisers are steam units (which can be used electronically or in the microwave), cold-water systems, and UV light sterilisers. Some have two tiers, while others are combination sterilisers suitable for both microwave and cold-water sterilising.

Can I sterilize bottles in a microwave?

After the sterilisation cycle is complete, you can leave the items inside without opening the lid and they’ll remain sterile for a set period of time (often 24 hours, but it varies between products). Or you can take them out and use them once they’re cool.