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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Steam sterilisers - which make do I buy?

18 replies

NWise · 09/02/2006 14:28

Do you have to use the same brand of bottles etc or can you mix and match?
I had heard that the microwaveable ones weren't a good idea.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 09/02/2006 14:32

have you got a dishwasher? if you have you don't need a sterliser just put the bottles through on hot wash

hornbag · 09/02/2006 14:36

We had a microwave one for a while but the microwave didn't seem to like it and almost packed up.If we went away we also had to make sure we had access to a microwave which was a PITA!

We ended up with a Lindam electric one -really pleased with it -its been passed around and used by friends with babies too and is still going. The only negative was we had Avent bottles and you couldn't fit as many of those in as you could the taller, slimmer bottles. However that wasn't a massive pain as by the time we moved onto bottles DD/DS were down to only a few milk feeds day.
HTH

KBear · 09/02/2006 14:49

I had microwave ones - Maws I think. No problems at all and if you can't access a microwave on holiday you could just use a tablet in it instead.

Agree with the dishwasher thing too - HV said it sterilised them as they were so hot.

MamaG · 09/02/2006 14:52

I used Avent steam microwave one and was always happy with it.

mommie · 09/02/2006 14:53

but don't you have to rewash anything for a baby that goes in a dishwasher?..i always fear traces of salt from the dishwasher tablet.

Original poster
NWise · 09/02/2006 15:09

Isn't the temperature supposed to get to 100% to sterilise? I don't think our dishwasher gets that hot. I don't want to buy anything I don't need though!
N

OP posts:
Smellen · 09/02/2006 15:47

I think the dishwasher washes on 60-65celsius, but in the States they apparently don't bother with sterlisers and just use the dishwasher. There was another mumsnet thread about sterlising, and they basically concurred that later on (5 months +) there was less need to sterilise, as long as bottles and teats were scrupulously cleaned with hot, soapy water.

giddy1 · 09/02/2006 15:59

Message deleted

Nbg · 09/02/2006 16:01

We had the Avent Steam Sterliser.

At first dd had the avent bottles but we swapped to the Dr Brown bottles later on and they fitted in fine.

If I had a dishwasher wouldn't bother.

suzi2 · 09/02/2006 20:23

I have a tommee tippee steam steriliser. Got it half price at Tesco - and offer that comes up every now and then. Does the job but has a really annoying alarm to tell you it's finished. Frightens the life out of us every time it goes off . Not sure if others do the same though.

TBH, I'm pretty pants about sterilising. DS is now 6 months old and as long as things are clean I tend not to worry. I've been like this for a few months. But in the early days I did it all by the book. I guess what I'm saying is don't spend too much as you may not use it as long as you'd expect.

alliep30 · 09/02/2006 20:25

avent one is good.. you can get them dirt cheap on e-bay. saw my one on there sold for £3 immaculate.. I paid £30

MamaG · 09/02/2006 20:31

I'm selling my microwave avent sterliser for a fiver

hjscho · 10/02/2006 09:39

The great thing about a microwave steriliser is that you can keep it in the microwave out of the way. I borrowed an Avent steam steriliser and was then given a tommee tippee microwave one. The avent one was so big and took up loads of room in my small kitchen whereas the other one is hidden in the microwave.

I think the only problem with microwavable ones is that some people suggest that you don't put certain breast pumps in...both of mine go in just fine though!

I use avent and Dr Browns bottles. Both fit in fine.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:50

I had a tommee tippee microwave steriliser, it also came with 6 bottles.
No complaints at all. Also agree that you can 'store' it in the microwave.

Kathy1972 · 10/02/2006 16:34

We use a Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser - we think it's great as it weighs nothing to take on holiday and you can use it for cold water sterilising if there isn't a microwave.
Then I read in Gina Ford something along the lines of 'Don't be tempted to buy a microwave steriliser - you will [you WILL!] find it's always in the way when you want to use the microwave for something else!' WTF? We have never found that....

Mfer · 10/02/2006 18:03

Controversial addition here - we NEVER sterilised anything (shock) - well I say that - we used the playtex nurser sytem which comes with pre-sterlised bottle liners - use once then throw away. The teat are put in boiled water for 5 minutes when you start using and the rest of the time hot soapy water or top rack of dishwasher - boil again weekly. As anyone will tell you boiled water is just as good as steriliser. We used this for all 3 of my kids - great also for travelling leaving bottles with willing grandparents etc.
Interestingly sterilisers are very much a UK market thing - in the USA where Playtex seems to be the leading brand - a bit like Avent in the UK - they don't advocate sterilizers. The cynic in me would say that steriliser units is just another way of exntinding brands and making more money out of us............said it was contraversial!!

Mfer · 10/02/2006 18:05

Me again apologies for appaling spelling in last post - child managed to knock over huge vase of flowers that I had stupidly put on coffee table ready for tonights girlie night - stupid stupid stupid............ roll on bedtime!

Original poster
NWise · 15/02/2006 21:24

Great stuff. Thanks for all your thoughts ladies. N

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