Philips Avent Advanced Bottle Steriliser, Kills 99.9% of Germs*, 10 min Sterilising Cycle - SCF291/01

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Most of them are cup-shaped microwave sterilisers large enough for one bottle or one breast pump – though you might not always have access to a microwave when away from home so look out for ones that can be used with cold water solution as well. One of the most essential features of a bottle sterilizer is bottle compatibility, Dr. Hayashi recommends. Consider what types of bottles the sterilizer allows, whether shape, size, or material, and if you have to accommodate a lid for sterilization. Some bottle sterilizers don’t allow glass, Dr. Hayashi explains, such as the GROWNSY 9-in-1 Bottle Warmer, while others struggle to close properly with tall baby bottles. It takes one touch of a button to start a cycle and, if you have any accompanying Tommee Tippee bottles, each bottle is clearly marked to show how much water to add to the steriliser – a thoughtful touch that our tester really appreciated. If you’re bottle-feeding or expressing full-time, you’re likely to get through a large pile of equipment in a 24-hour period and you don’t want to spend all of it refilling the steriliser.

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.” We filled baby bottles of various sizes and shapes with milk and turned on the warmers, noting how long it took to prepare the bottle warmer and sterilizers for use. Parenting editors set a timer on their phones to determine the timing of the warming process. After the warming cycles, we carefully removed bottles, swirling milk to ensure warming was evenly distributed. Next, we tested the temperature of the milk by lightly pouring it on the inside of the wrist. Moreover, we used a liquid thermometer to measure the temperature of the milk. Lastly, we unplugged each unit, waited for it to cool down, and cleaned them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 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. Can only sterilise two bottles per cycle – so if you’re getting through more than four bottles a day it’s fairly labour-intensiveElectric, microwave and travel sterilisers using steam will all get very hot, so the usual cautions apply: wait the recommended amount of time before opening the lid after a cycle has completed, open the lid away from you to redirect any steam, use oven gloves to retrieve from the microwave if necessary, and of course keep any hot items away from children. 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. In the hazy days with a new baby, keeping them safe is the number one priority – and also likely to be the biggest source of anxiety for parents. A steriliser can be used to kill bacteria found on lots of different baby feeding equipment like baby bottles, teats and breast pump parts. But which is the best steriliser to make your feeding schedules easier to juggle? After our latest intensive round of testing, we’ve got all the information you’ll need about our favourites.

Babies still need feeding on holiday (who knew?) so travel sterilisers are designed to provide a portable solution that works on the go.

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. They are essentially a large, round, plastic box with a screw-on lid, usually with an internal basket to hold the bottles. Water is poured into the bottom (under the basket) and in the microwave it boils to create steam. 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 In addition to warming bottles, baby food jars, and milk storage bags, the First Years Gentle Warmth Bottle Warmer features a sterilizing function to clean baby bottles and pacifiers. The compact size of the First Years bottle warmer and sterilizer saves space on the kitchen counter. However, in return, you can only warm or sterilize one bottle (or pacifier) at a time. Still, it’s large enough to accommodate different bottle sizes, making it compatible with most brands. With no need for steam, tablets or a microwave, this innovative UV steriliser from Nuby is a game-changer. While it looks a bit like a big makeup bag, the steriliser blasts bottles and dummies with ultra violet light, killing 99.9% of germs in just 3 minutes.