Which microwave to buy?

[mpops]

I'm going to be a mum for the first time in October and we've never had a microwave but I'm told they're very useful when you have a baby, so I'm wondering which one to buy. What do I need to look out for? I notice there are many different sizes: does it matter for bottles etc.? Thanks!

I have a microwave but sometimes, I'll be honest, I wonder if I should just get rid of it and have some extra worktop instead :) I used to use it for warming bottles when DS was a baby - brilliant in the middle of the night when you have a screaming hungry baby and no time to boil kettles and wait for things to gradually warm through. NB You're not supposed to do that because it creates hotspots - but I never took any notice and no-one died. Later on it was also good for heating up my home-made frozen baby dinners.

Go for the one with the highest wattage as it'll work faster. Many come with special functions like defrosting or 'baked potato programme' but I think that's all a bit of a red herring and never use them.

Thanks for your help! We haven't got much worktop space at all either so it's something I'm only grudgingly willing to do.

I would go for an 800w or whatever the heating is on these things (had one for years should know by now!). Also the smallest one you can find as I haven't got too much worktop space either and the amount of use mine has had over the years doesn't warrant the amount of space it takes up however, it is really useful when I do use it.

I thought I needed one before I had my son, but in actual fact its never come up at all. I still don't have one and can't see any reason to buy one.

I have to say I have a combi microwave/grill/convection oven 1000 watt jobby & I never ever use anything other than the convection oven bit,dh may occasionally heat some cheese up in a sandwich (& I mean about twice a year).I never used it to heat anything up for my babies as I was totally against it (hotspots & all that) so if you don't use one now already then you don't need one with a small baby,only when like me & they are at school age & you need extra oven space may it become necessary.Save your pennies as babe will cost enough :o

Ooh, alright. Thanks everyone! It sounds like it's not really necessary then. Brilliant. :)

i have a Samsung 28L White Combi CE107 V-W.bought online thru tesco.they are the best people 2 deal online for aplliances and all

Had a few different Sharp combi models - all have lasted well but we use them lots both as micro to warm stuff / melt stuff and do combi cooking. Combi cooking shortens times down quite a bit so you get the real oven effect but just done a bit faster.