Questions re sterilising bottles

[123456kent]

I am bfeeding but attempting one bottle of formula a day (with mixed results). Looking forward to ffeeding one day but am a bit confused with it.
I have a few questions:

1. We have Avent bottles and Mam bottles but havent used the latter yet. Why are all bottles not self sterilizing like Mam? I.e can I not put some water at the bottom of an Avent bottle, microwave it with the teat down and the sterilise it that way? If not, why not?
   
2. My microwave is not big enough to fit a tall Mam bottle plus teat plus lid on top. Can I just sterilise it without the lid on top? If not, why not? I dont want my LO to get into Mam bottles if we can’t use the tall ones when she is bigger.
   

Thank you!!

[arbrighton]

1. no, not sure why but if they don't fit anyway, it's pointless
   
2. no, as they won't be sterile

[123456kent]

An Avent bottle would fit in my microwave. I just wondered what it is that makes a Maam bottle self sterilising that other bottles don’t have. Google isn’t answering this either.
Even with the teet down in the bottle it wouldn’t be sterile without the lid on?

[karmakitty]

Not sure why other companies haven't jumped on it but I know the mam bottles are very thick. Putting in the microwave with them unless you have a very small microwave should be ok as it's all dismantled and the teat goes inside at the bottom of the bottle, the lid just rests over the top of the bottle which makes it lower than normally assembled ( hope that makes sense)

You can buy cheap microwave sterilisers I think Lidl had some tommee tippee ones before for less than a tenner. Most bottles fit any steriliser

[123456kent]

Thanks Karmakitty.
Sorry, I am being stupid here, but Mam bottles are the same height when sterilising as when feeding aren’t they, as it’s only the teet that moves from facing down to facing up?
I think we have the worlds smallest microwave as I dont think a steriliser would fit in there either!
Really want to use Mam as it seems so convenient to just take one bottle round to people’s houses and use their microwave to sterilise in between feeds rather than needing a steriliser

[DailyMailareDicks]

I FF from the beginning and used Tommee Tippee bottles with a microwave steriliser that held 4 bottles at a time.

When DS started having less feeds later on, I switched to a single bottle steriliser that could be microwaved or used with Milton. OMG I wish I had considered cold water sterilisation earlier; that is definitely what I would do if I had another. So much easier than faffing with the microwave!

[Sparky888]

Maybe the plastic isn’t safe to microwave repeatedly?

There are steriliser microwave bags which are easy to take to friends’s houses.

[Jaffacakesinmypocket]

We used a cold water steriliser too, it was fab. Also great for breast pump if you want to express. Once bottles are sterile (20 mins or so) you can take them out and assemble and they stay sterile for 24 hours as long as you are scrupulous with hygiene and don't touch the inside etc. Then we used cartons of formula when out and about

[123456kent]

I am currently using a cold water steriliser and it’s getting on my nerves being in the way in the kitchen, and changing it every day, but perhaps I’m just being too fussy. Maybe it’s the easiest way to sterilise, I was just hoping to switch to Mam bottles and be done with it
(Currently use it for dummies too but read on Mam website this week I shouldn’t be doing that - oops)

[BertieBotts]

BPA is banned in baby bottles now so I doubt they will be unsafe to microwave.

Do you have a dishwasher? Apparently if you dishwash them it's not necessary to sterilise as well.

[peachweach]

I've used mam bottles from birth for my FF fed DD, they are brilliant and so the self sterilise thing is handy. We have the mam microwave steriliser too, so we chuck everything in that normally, however when we do need to sterilise just one bottle it's really easy - you put the white rubber thing in the base of the bottle, add 20ml (if I remember right!) of water to this, then put the teat in the screw top and put this in the bottom of the bottle on top of the white rubber and water. Then the actual bottle just sits on top of the base, don't screw it on and put the bottle cap just resting on the top of the bottle. Then pop in the microwave for 4 mins (again if I remember right without checking!). It means that the bottle is shorter than when it's properly assembled for feeding, as it's inside the bottle at the bottom. If it was the same height for the sterilising as when it's made up for feeding it wouldn't fit in my microwave either!

[peachweach]

Also when the bottle is done in the microwave be careful when you remove it as they get really hot and some water remains in the bottom of the bottle, just empty this before you assemble the bottle!

[karmakitty]

Peach is spot on, you explained it better than me

[eternalopt]

This sterilised is lovely and compact. I had a tiny microwave too and it worked a treat. Took a couple of dismantled bottles and some dummies at a time.
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6863148?storeID=436&cmpid=GS001&$ja=tsid:59156%7Ccid:596683589%7Cagid:28645054045%7Ctid:aud-144400486596:pla-401901810125%7Ccrid:96086295085%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:8854706363292569012%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o6%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007416&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7dHSBRDEARIsAJhAHwgMdK-XRJZW62cXNS80GwWBnq3zWn-zNOW2cuLniQoElx3XIiWSzrkaArQVEALww_wcB

[123456kent]

Thanks all.
I get it now why the bottle is shorter than when feeding.
I’m going to try and get her interested in Mam bottles now, she only takes 4oz max (due to being full from regular breastfeeding) so we don’t need to worry about the taller ones.
When she gets bigger and wants more milk will need to find a new way - either a microwave steriliser, keep using the Milton, or buy a bigger microwave!!
Thanks

[Madbee]

Or give her two small bottles?

[123456kent]

This is a good idea

[mrkaykay]

Have you tried tilting the bottles slightly as you put them in the microwave. Only slightly as to not spill the water. That's what I have to do. (the inside of my microwave goes up a bit after the door

[123456kent]

Yes I do this for the small bottles, but this doesn’t work for the taller ones. Thanks for the tip though

[Frusso]

Why don't you use the sterilising bags for the microwave?
I used to have a tiny microwave and sterilised bottles and pump parts that way.