Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand steam sterilisers?!

20 replies

Imknackeredzzz · 19/08/2018 14:19

Ok so maybe I’m being utterly stupid- I’ve just bought a Milton cold water steriliser (which I think is amazing by the way!)

I did have a microwaveable steriliser but unless I’m being a complete dunce (possible!) I think they are not fit for purpose?! For example the one I had said that it could sterilise 6 bottles at once.. which it could... but it also said that once you opened the lid the contents were no longer sterile!

So you obviously have to open the lid to remove a bottle, so that would mean the remaining 5 bottles are no longer sterile then?! ... and need to be re microwaved before they can be used.

So what’s the point of doing 6 at a time?! Might as well only do 1... or am I missing something ?!

OP posts:
drastard · 19/08/2018 14:25

They're correct but in the 'you can't sue us just because you're an idiot' sense.

In theory you should re-microwave the remaining 5, 4, 3...

We left bottles and bits in milton until needed and then shook them dry. Babies lick floors. Relax.

NannyR · 19/08/2018 14:29

Technically they are not sterile but they are safe to use. You sterilize bottles to double check that there are no tiny traces of formula left on them which could grow harmful bacteria. Once you've removed those bacteria by sterilizing they can't grow back until you put new milk in it.

FromNowOn · 19/08/2018 14:32

I’ve had both and the Milton tank was by far the best. So much less of a faff.

justcontemplatingsomething · 19/08/2018 14:36

Put all 6 bottles together again once sterilised and they're sterile for around 24 hours.

dementedpixie · 19/08/2018 14:37

When the steam steriliser finishes, remove and assemble the bottles and they are ok for 24 hours

Hangingaroundtheportal · 19/08/2018 14:43

Yes this always used to confuse me as well, but I think it's just confusion around the word 'sterile'. Yes, once you open the lid the bottles are no longer 'sterile' in that they have been exposed to bacteria or whatever in the air. But they have only been touched with the same air that the baby is breathing all the time, so it's not going to be harmful!

We used to put however many bottles we needed for 24 hrs in the microwave steriliser, and once they were ready make up all the bottles at once and put them in the back of the fridge. Super easy and safe.

NapQueen · 19/08/2018 14:45

I used to sterilise four at a time, then make up all four bottles with fresh hot water. Blast chill under cold water and refridgerate. Sterile bottles, sterile powder. Kept in the fridge and served when needed. Fine as long as used within 24 hrs.

Pickleypickles · 19/08/2018 14:50

I asked my midwife about exactly that because I was confused too! She said that so long as you remove the lid get bottle and put lid back on straight away they are fine.

5000KallaxHoles · 19/08/2018 15:03

If you've got a very dinky compact microwave as well... check the steam steriliser actually fits in it - there are a few on the market that don't (I think it was the Avent one that didn't fit in ours). General principle was get 'em out, assemble them correctly and they'd be safe enough to use for the day when needed though.

We gave up and went for ye olde bucket o'Milton in the end as well - although with my second one we used the MAM bottles where you could stack them in such a way to sterilise them in the microwave if you needed to which was handy if travelling at times (although being honest - they had pretty pictures on).

Poodles1980 · 19/08/2018 15:16

You assemble the empty bottles and they stay sterile. Milton is the most grim smelling thing of all time, I don’t understand how you could have it in the house.

flamingofridays · 19/08/2018 15:21

I loved my milton sterelizer! Easiest choice i found.

poodles i assume you dont use bleach or ever go swimming then either!

5000KallaxHoles · 19/08/2018 15:24

I loved the smell of Milton- reminded me of cool swimming pools on a hot day!

Original poster
Imknackeredzzz · 19/08/2018 18:59

Thanks all! Have to admit I love the cold water Milton steriliser and that will be the way I go from now on!

OP posts:
Oly5 · 19/08/2018 19:01

You just assemble the bottles ready for use. Easy.
Milton sneaks vile in my opinion!

Oly5 · 19/08/2018 19:02

Smells that should say!

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 19/08/2018 19:16

They need to be sterilised, i.e. germs from the milk killed, rather than sterile. Once the milk germs have gone, general kitchen air germs aren't a problem.

BlueBug45 · 19/08/2018 19:24

OP not in all developed countries is there a recommendation that you need to sterilise bottles as there is a presumption that people use dishwashers that are hot enough, or scrub and rinse out bottles with very hot water. So once you have sterilised them as PPs said just reassemble them and they should be fine.

kaytee87 · 19/08/2018 19:25

The bottles don't have to be sterile though, just sterilised.

Amanduh · 19/08/2018 19:56

Mam bottles here too, straight in the microwave and done.

ChristopherKayDMUDesign · 15/11/2018 14:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page