Buying guide: Sterilisers

Our guide to what too look out for when buying sterilisers.

• There are three different types of steriliser to suit your requirements: If exclusively bottle-feeding an electric or microwave steam steriliser would be handy as they can hold at least six bottles and can save time with speedier sterilisation.
If only sterilising occasionally, cold-water sterilisers with sterilising fluid is a cheaper option.

• Some models can be used for dual purpose with a microwave setting and the option for cold-water sterilisation as well.

• Some sterilisers come in a pack with extra baby essentials such as water measuring cup, bottles, teats, tongs, bottlebrush, soothers and other accessories. Buying a steriliser that comes equipped with bottles makes it easy when trying to fit them into your steriliser and ensures maximum efficiency from your steriliser.

• The time it takes for most sterilisers to complete sterilisation varies between four to eight minutes. This can be handy when you don’t have much time as a new mum.

Checklist

• Choose the type of steriliser to suit your situation: If you’re exclusively bottle-feeding a quick and easy steriliser like the electric models may be better for you.

• If you’re only sterilising occasionally you may not want to splash out on the more expensive electric sterilisers. Cold-water sterilisers only take a few minutes longer to complete sterilisation and are a cheaper option.

• Invest in a steriliser that comes with bottles and accessories, this will save you having to buy them separately. It also means that the extra products included are designed to work with the steriliser, meaning all the bottles and teats will fit perfectly into the steriliser.

Buying guide

A steriliser is a vital piece of equipment. But even if you’re breastfeeding, you’ll still need one if you’re expressing and using a breast pump. Milk can harbour bacteria that can make your baby ill, so it’s important to keep everything scrupulously clean.

There are three main types of steriliser. Electric steam sterilisers have a large capacity and usually hold at least six bottles. Items are loaded into the unit, water is added and the sterilisation cycle usually takes around six to eight minutes to complete.

Microwave steam sterilisers are smaller than electric sterilisers, and are usually cheaper. The speed of the cycle will depend on the power of your microwave.

Check the capacity-some models may only take four bottles, which is fine if you’re only using the steriliser occasionally, but if your baby is completely bottle-fed you may need something larger.

Also, before you buy, it’s always worth checking that it will actually fit into your microwave!

Cold-water sterilisers are used with either sterilising solution or tablets, and items are usually sterilised within around half an hour.