Milton do a travel steriliser that fits 1 bottle in. In theory any clean plastic container with a lid will do, but the travel sterilisers have the lines on so you put the correct amount of water in (as do the normal Milton sterilisers)." Recommended by Mumsnet user confused123456 Our verdict Lastly, will you be mainly breastfeeding, pumping or formula feeding? If it’s the former, you won’t need much in the way of equipment so can get away with something cheaper and more straightforward, whereas if you’re exclusively pumping or formula feeding, you’ll rely heavily on your steriliser and will need something more heavy-duty with a bigger capacity. How do I descale a steriliser? 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

The crook of your arm is the perfect place for baby to get comfortable, where they can be held halfway between sitting up and lying down. Always tilt baby’s bottle so the teat is full of milk. I’ve always opted for a microwave one. Very easy, no faff. We use avent bottles do have the avent microwave steriliser." Tried and tested by Mumsnetter Moominmiss Our verdictKate 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.” Perfect for travelling babies and parents, the MAM Self-Sterilising baby bottles can be sterilised in just three minutes using a microwave. Pour 20ml water in the base of the container, arrange the components on the top (don't screw!) and in minutes your baby's bottles are safe to use. Items inside stay sterile for 24 hours and the lid is designed with a flat lip so it can be laid horizontally in a smaller microwave – a useful feature we didn’t find in any other travel steriliser. With midwife and One Born Every Minute star Lara Basini What’s the difference between steam sterilisers, cold water sterilisers, microwave sterilisers and UV sterilisers? Microwave sterilisers also use steam to sterilise their contents, which may appeal to you if you prefer to sterilise without chemicals.

I have the Nuby UV one and I love it. I wash the bottles and let them air dry and then put them in there dry for three minutes and it's done! If you're formula feeding Nuby had a sale on their UV steriliser and Rapidcool (can make milk to NHS recommendations and they be cool in 3/4 minutes) bundle." Loved by Mumsnetter Grace185 Our verdict Comfort for your baby is vital, and our baby feeding bottles feature the MAM SkinSoft teat, which has a 94% acceptance rate*. 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.I liked the tall, slimline design of this machine, which takes up less counter space than most comparable models, and the accessories tray that sits above (rather than around) the bottle grid. The tray is roomy enough for lots of pacifiers, teethers and other smaller items. The steriliser is also very light, with a nice digital interface, and comes with a handy measuring cup that takes the guesswork out of how much water to use. If you're on the move and are looking for a portable baby steriliser, the MAM Microwave Steam Steriliser can hold up to 6 bottles and sterilise in as little as 5 minutes. This steriliser also acts as a cold water steriliser, if required. Microwave sterilisers, my personal preference because they’re fast and relatively cheap, are more compact than standalone electric models, but in fact also use steam to sterilise items. They’re easier to clean, as there’s no metal element to descale – you simply heat the container up in the microwave with the bottles inside. You’ll need to make sure your model fits inside your microwave, and it’s worth having sterilisation tablets on hand in case the oven breaks or you have a power cut. Our tester, Maisie, is a mum of three with a six-year-old, four-year-old and an 11-month-old baby. She spent six months testing the shortlisted products with her own bottles and breast pump parts, each for a minimum of 10 days.