Choosing a Baby Steriliser - Find One That's Right For You

Your baby's immune system is still developing and this makes him very vulnerable to infection. For this reason it is necessary to go to great lengths to avoid exposure to harmful bacteria. Almost paradoxically baby milk (human or formula) is rich in energy and nutrients and therefore presents the ideal growth medium for bacteria. For this reason it is necessary to ensure that baby feeding equipment is sterile before use via use of a baby steriliser.

There are a wide variety of baby sterilisers available on the market and this can make choosing between them very difficult. However once you start your research you will realise that there are just three broad categories of device available.

The most popular choice is the electric steam baby steriliser. These are stand-alone devices which have their own heating elements. To sterilise baby feeding equipment all you need to do is place the bottles into the sterilisation chamber, add a small amount of tap water, close the chamber and switch the device on. The sterilisation process is quick and entirely automated and the device will even tell you when the sterilisation process is complete. Once complete baby feeding equipment will normally remain sterile for up to 24 hours unless the sterilisation chamber is opened. The only disadvantages of these devices are that they are expensive in comparison to the alternatives and can be quite bulky.

A second alternative is the microwave baby steriliser. These are very similar to the electric steam steriliser with the exception that they do not come complete with a heating element. Instead to generate heat the whole device is placed into a conventional kitchen microwave. The sterilisation process is also very quick and these are ideal devices for all parents who are prepared to accept the obvious limitations of always requiring access to a microwave to use the steriliser.

The final option is the cold water steriliser. In comparison to the above devices these do not rely on heat. Instead the baby feeding equipment is soaked in a very dilute solution of bleach for a prescribed period of time. These devices are quite fiddly to use as you need to ensure that there are no bubbles trapped within the baby feeding equipment which could prevent the sterilisation fluid from making contact with the entire surface. At the end of the process it is also necessary to rinse off the baby feeding equipment with all the water prior to use. Some parents are therefore naturally concerned about the risk of exposing their baby to harmful synthetic chemicals.

There are many makes available both branded and un-branded. However it is normally sensible to stick to the well-known brands as you can be confident of the quality and have access to a better after sales service. Another thing to consider when buying a baby steriliser is the size of the device that you require as the larger devices tend to be more expensive. If you mainly breastfeed your baby for instance then you can probably make do with one of the smaller capacity products.