Philips Avent Microwave Steam Sterilizer for Baby Bottles, Pacifiers, Cups and More (model SCF281/02)

Product Information

Capacity: Make sure the sterilizer you choose is big enough for everything you want to sterilize daily. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Cold water sterilisers involve filling a container with water and adding sterilisation tablets or fluid to make a sterilisation solution. The active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is a mild bleach that has been through a purification process to make it stable and non-toxic. It’s perfectly safe to use, but does smell vaguely of swimming pool.

Plus, they’re usually more expensive to run than electric sterilisers as they have a smaller capacity (so you’ll be running more cycles) and microwaves ultimately use more energy. 4. Travel steriliser Just feeding your baby a bottle is a complicated and multi-step process, so a sterilizer that gives them one less thing to worry about is helpful. This plug-in steam sterilizer is very easy to use: Fill the reservoir with water, turn the control knob to choose your setting, then walk away. The First Years sterilizer sanitizes your bottles or other feeding supplies and, if you choose, dries them for 40 to 60 minutes, then shuts off by itself. You can then leave the contents stored for up to 24 germ-free hours. But if you’re bottle-feeding full time or expressing breastmilk regularly, you should find each of the different modes very helpful – and the fact that the warming unit handles food as well as milk means it should continue to be useful, even once you’re done with sterilising completely.

Pros

Watch out if you have a small microwave though. Our tester struggled to fit the steriliser into hers, which, of course, impacted ease of use. For reference, the Philips is 16.6 × 28 × 28cm. Microwave sterilisers also use steam to sterilise their contents, which may appeal to you if you prefer to sterilise without chemicals. The box contains five capacious, well-designed bags that can fit two bottles apiece and each bag can be reused 20 times, so they’re much more economical than they might first appear.

Sterilizing method: Traditional sterilizers use steam to do the job; some plug in and sit on a counter, others go in the microwave. Some countertop sterilizers use UV light instead of steam to sterilize, but neither the AAP and CDC have weighed in on whether UV light works as well as steam to disinfect. I recommend Mam bottles, so easy to sterilise in the microwave!" Recommended by Mumsnetter Isababybel These are what they use at my local LC consultation place. I used them when I pumped for my DD for 9+ months & have been using them for almost 3 mo now w/ DS. I have never had any problems, and they are so convenient!" Our tester did say that it would be helpful to have the water level marked on the unit itself in case the instructions were lost. As the steriliser didn’t come with a measuring jug, you’ll need to measure that accurately yourself.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. To descale, you’ll need descaling solution which you can easily buy in supermarkets – though most brands now give instructions for an eco-friendly version using vinegar. Pour in the solution over the heating plate and leave to soak for between 30 minutes and 24 hours, depending on the extent of the limescale. Pour out, rinse with cool water, wipe with a damp cloth, then run an empty cycle before using the steriliser as normal.

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. Babies and germs go together like peanut butter and jelly. But when it comes to bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts, germs are an unwelcome guest. That's where a bottle sterilizer can help. Although sterilizing bottles Opens a new window fell out of favor for some time, parents and doctors are reconsidering it due to increased concerns about contamination in water supplies and food, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Have multiple babies, use a lot of bottles per day or want to sterilise a variety of items including breast pumps, toys and dummiesWe find it really easy and it just gets kept in the microwave when not in use. It does four bottles at once which stay sterilised for 24 hours if you keep the lid on."Loved by Mumsnet user OvertiredOverthinker. Our verdict 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. There’s an on-off switch on the base of the steriliser that isn’t mentioned in the instructions, which is confusing