If you use powdered formula and mix it by shaking the bottle, liquid can get into the vent. The solution for this is to mix the formula by stirring it with a spoon rather than by shaking. 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. 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. Rachel Jeffcoat has worked for 15 years as an editor and writer, after starting her career managing science and technology journals. Relatively new to the steriliser market are UV sterilisers, which use UV light to kill bacteria. Their versatility means that you can use them to pretty much sterilise anything, including mobile phones and keys, however some UV sterilisers may not be suitable for sterilising natural rubber and latex (think certain dummies and the ever-popular Sophie La Girafe).

We sought guidance from the AAP and the CDC on what parents should look for in baby bottle sterilizers. Per their advice, all the bottle sterilizers on this list:Electric, 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. Karen adds that the Hauture fits comfortably on her counter, and likes that the machine can be used to sterilize, dry, and store bottles. On the downside, the heating plate will almost certainly attract limescale over time so the steriliser will need descaling once or twice a month. You can buy descaling liquid for this, though all steriliser brands now include instructions for natural descaling liquid from store cupboard ingredients which is a more eco-friendly option. Electric sterilisers are also the most expensive to buy. 3. Microwave steriliser I got the Dr. Brown bottle warmer and sterilizer. I sterilized all the bottles, parts, and nipples once a day until I was done with it at 11 months. The warmer was handy for those late night feeds so you don't have to wait longer for the milk to warm from the fridge."

The system my own mother used (‘and nobody died’, she tells me), and still a favourite on maternity wards, the so-called ‘Milton method’ has been trusted for more than 70 years, and it doesn’t get much simpler. 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.Capacity: Six bottles, plus breast pump parts | Materials: Plastic | Included: Container and weighted grid Good for parents who

Not the most budget-friendly electric steriliser we tested, and a more expensive initial outlay than microwave or travel versions For pure versatility, and if you’ll be using it daily, this model takes the cake. It works as an electric steriliser, microwave steriliser, cold water steriliser, food and bottle warmer, breast milk defroster, and has a ‘keep warm’ setting. It may be all you’ll need from day one until after your baby is weaned. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about how we tested the products we recommend. We won't always recommend the cheapest products or the ones with the most extra features. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones we'd recommend to our own friends and family.Microwave steriliser bags have also become more popular in the last few years. These are reusable pouches made from a tough plastic and work by sealing baby equipment in the pouch with some water and microwaving for a set time. These tend to be more roomy than the cup model, with the best fitting two bottles in at a time, and able to be reused around 20 times per bag. Key methods include cold water sterilising (which requires a chemical to disinfect the water), steam sterilisers (electric appliances that generate hot vapour to clean items), microwave sterilisers (containers that also use steam, which you put in the microwave) and, more recently to the market, UV sterilisers (which use ultraviolet light; the only water-free method).”