Being a new mom is tiring. There are so many things to think about and prepare for, that it’s important to do as many things in advance as you can.
There are few things worse than waking up in the middle of the night to a hungry, crying baby, only to realize that you don’t have any clean bottles left.
I’ve been there, as have most new moms.
One of the secrets is preparation. Having a top-rated baby bottle sterilizer in your kitchen is key, especially if it can sterilize many bottles at the same time.
This simple piece of equipment can easily save you both time and frustration.
In this article I’m gonna talk about:
- How important to sterilize bottles for your baby
- Steam sterilization & three electric bottle sterilizers
- Microwave sterilization
- Other sterilization methods
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But if you don’t have time to read and you need a quick recommendation, you can find our top picks below:
- Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Sterilizer
- Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer
- The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer
Sterilizing Bottles for Your Baby
It’s no secret that sanitation has improved greatly in the United States over the past 100 years or so, but sterilizing bottles for your baby is still important.
Viruses and bacteria still build up inside the bottles, which can make your baby very sick. Babies have weak stomachs and underdeveloped immune systems, which cannot handle germs the way that your stomach can.
They cannot even handle germs as well as they would be able to if they were two years old.
Washing the bottles by hand cleans off some of the bacteria, but most of the time the bottles still have dangerous germs on them that can make your baby very sick.
You wouldn’t eat off a fork that wasn’t cleaned properly, and it’s even more important to ensure that your baby has clean bottles to drink out of.
It’s especially important to clean the nipple, as your baby’s saliva encourages bacterial growth.
on the other hand, The American Academy of Pediatrics says that is no longer necessary to sterilize baby bottles, hot water, and soap after every feeding is all that we need, BUT, some babies die each year because they get gastroenteritis.
This condition causes dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, gastroenteritis can cause your baby’s organs to fail.
In my opinion, if there is a small risk, why should I take it? and use only hot water and soap. That’s why it’s so important to buy the best sterilizer for baby bottles that you can find.
How to Sterilize the Bottles
Steam Sterilization
Steam is considered by many people to be the best sterilizer for baby bottles. This is the method that’s usually used in hospitals, because it is so effective.
One of the advantages to sterilizing a baby’s bottle using steam is that it is easier than boiling.
It is also less messy and burning yourself is much less common than with sterilization by boiling.
Another big advantage is that steam sterilizes quickly and can keep the bottles sterile for 24 hours, as long as the machine isn’t opened.
The reason that many moms shy away from steam sterilization is that it can be expensive.
A good steam sterilizer can cost up to $200 dollars, which is out of the budget for many families.
The good news is that many sterilizers under $100 work great for killing bacteria and helping to keep your baby healthy.
- Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Sterilizer
If you’re looking for a sterilizer that’s fast and can be used with any bottles, the Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Sterilizer is considered the best sterilizer for baby bottles by many parents.
This sterilizer takes just 8 minutes to heat up, sterilize the bottles, and cool down. It is designed to work with Closer to Nature bottles, but will work with any baby bottles that hold 12 ounces or less of milk.
It can even be used with glass bottles. One thing that parents appreciate about the design of this sterilizer is that it doesn’t have very many parts, making it easier to clean than many electric sterilizers.
- Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer
The Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer is unique because it includes a hot-air dryer that dries the bottles in a pure environment.
This sterilizer can hold up to eight bottles at the same time. It can also hold nipples, pacifiers, teething toys, and other baby accessories that should be sterilized.
In just an hour you can have eight bottles completely sterilized and dry so that you can feed your baby without worrying about bacteria getting into their tiny body.
This machine takes up a bit of space on your counter, but it is smaller than having to use both a sterilizer and a drying rack for your baby’s bottles and nipples.
Any type of bottles can be cleaned in this sterilizer.
- The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer
It can be difficult to find an electric steam sterilizer that fits tall bottles, so The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer is great for moms of older babies who need to clean bottles that hold 12 ounces or more.
You just need to remove the middle tray so that the bottles will fit into the sterilizer. This sterilizer cleans six bottles at a time and can have them sterilized in just five minutes.
Some parents noticed that water accumulated on the bottom rack of this sterilizer, so it may need to be emptied after each use.
This sterilizer is less expensive than many other electric bottle sterilizers and takes up little space on the counter.
It works for sterilizing both plastic and glass bottles from many different manufacturers.
| Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Sterilizer | Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer | The First Years Electric Steam Sterilizer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 Bottles | 8 Bottles | 6 Bottles |
| Sterilizing Time | 8 minutes | 8-15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Drying Function | No | Yes | No |
| BPA and Phthalate Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility With Other Brand of Bottles | Do not get anything taller than 12 oz bottles | You can load up to 9 oz bottles | Fits all bottles |
| Weight | 4.2 pounds | 5.5 pounds | 3.2 pounds |
Microwave Sterilization
Another option for sterilizing bottles is a microwavable tray. This method is less expensive than electric sterilization, but it is messier.
You just place the bottles and nipples on the tray, add water, and cover the tray with its lid. The water heats to boiling in the microwave, sterilizing the nipples and bottles.
There are a few different sizes of microwave sterilizers, and they hold different amounts of bottles and nipples.
One of the cons of microwave steaming is that you risk burning yourself when you’re taking the tray out of the microwave or taking the lid off of the tray.
So if you want to know how a microwave steam sterilizer looks like, enter here!
Here a video showing how to use a microwave sterilizer:
Other Sterilization Methods
Some moms choose to boil their bottles to sterilize them. This method is inexpensive, but plastic can break down when it is boiled in water.
Glass bottles can be well sterilized in boiling water, but it is hard to get them out of the water without breaking them.
You need to have a large pot and a good pair of tongs so that you don’t burn yourself when you’re sterilizing the bottles. (learn more about glass baby bottles, valuable alternatives to plastic, here!)
Another alternative to steam or boiling sterilization is chemical sterilization. Bottles can be sterilized using an antibacterial sterilizing solution.
They must be soaked for at least an hour for this method to be effective.
Most parents choose not to use a chemical sterilizer for their baby’s bottles because they don’t want to introduce those chemicals into their baby’s delicate system.
Sterilizing your baby’s bottles can seem like a never-ending task, but keeping your baby healthy is one of your most important duties as a parent.
Most parents choose to purchase an electric sterilizer for their baby’s bottles because they are fast, easy-to-use, and can sterilize many bottles at the same time.
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