Which Steriliser?

[tlise]

need some advice as uptil now, as my mother did before me, I have only ever used water ones. but tbh never have liked the thought of them as its ok saying Milton is harmless, it doesn't smell nice, so how do we know babies don't mind it. So I thought about a steam one (not microwave), and my niece is very kindly waiting for a link, so she can get it for us but I haven't a clue.

I had a look on mothercare and babiesrus, so any prices are irrelevant as its sale time, which means everything decent is sold out. But they don't really say a lot in any case.

What I would like is one that I can put varying bottles in. I had a look at mothercare, and that said something about fitting Natures best (or something like that) bottles, but didn't have any separate to buy, so I don't want one that's bottle specific. Until I have the baby, I don't know what sort of bottles it will like.

Can anyone recommend one that you can put different shaped bottles in and that is actually a good one without being really expensive?

Re which bottles to use. I think that babies will accept what they are given so you dont need to wait and try lots of different ones. If you are aiming to combine bottles and breast then maybe go for bottles that are supposed to be 'breast like'?

I am expecting #3 and combined breast and bottle (1 bottle/day from about 4 weeks) for #1&2. I had an avent electric steriliser and used avent bottles for #1 and closer to nature bottles for #2; they fitted fine into the avent steriliser but could only fit 5 at a time rather than 6 avent bottles.

If you are planning to solely bottle feed then I would get the steriliser that fits the most bottles so you won't be forever sterilising. Once the baby is on 6 bottles a day then you can sterilise and make up all the bottles for the day (with boiled water no powder) it makes the interval between screaming hungry baby and milk ready much smaller!

HTH a bit!

Yeah thats what I want, much better than having to make up bottles while little one is screaming lol. I found with my others the wider the bottle, the funnier shape teats and they didn't like them.

Theoretically I would prefer to BF but whilst having enough milk for most of britain usually, my lack of nipples has prevented it in the past despite trying all sorts.

So I don't want to buy loads, just in case, but want to have something to be prepared :)

Sory to hijack - but is there anything to worry about with microwave sterilisers? I have bought one in the Mothercare sale. I don't know yet if I will BF or FF but wanted to have something on hand just in case that wasn't too expensive if I didn't end up using it.

Thanks!

I used the Avent microwave steriliser with both of mine. It's redundant now, but we never had any problems.

I used a tommy tipee one, which took my nuk bottles.
The avent steriliser are quite small so won't fit all bottles.
My mum had one from Asda which took 20 minutes, so not ideal. Have a look around to see which fits your needs and price. I combined breast and bottle feeding too.

My son would only use the nuk teats so we were stuck with them, but they worked out quite well.

Nothing wrong with microwave ones either for quickness, they are excellent to take away on holiday, but used a steam one for everyday.

I bought the tommee tippee microwave sterilizer set in the mothercare sale for £12.50...but when I got it home it doesn't seem to fit in my microwave?! Too large- My plan is to mainly BF but combine with an occasional bottle feed. I want something that is similar to breast, so as to not disturb feeding too much- any ideas anyone?? First baby you see, Ta!

Nothing wrong with microwave ones as far as I know, but I would think they are quite small....but mainly as we have a fridge freezer, and the only place for our microwave is on the top of that. I can just about open the door if I tiptoe, so would be easier, not to be a microwave one :) x

i had a microwave avent one for my first and it was brill im planing on using it for my second too but have got tommee tippee closer to nature bottles so hoping they will fit in it ok.

Microwave sterilisers are brilliant because they are so fast. 4 minutes for the Avent one IIRC? There is no difference in terms of the effectiveness of the sterilisation.

I had an electric one first time and it kept getting furred up with limescale - our water is bad for that. In the end it died because of it just before ds was a year. I didn't like it and will be getting a microwave one this time a then it can live in the microwave for most of the day without cluttering the kitchen.

I've got the plug-in avent one, but really wish I'd bought the microwave one. They are so quick and easy.

I have microwave Avent as you can also transport things sterilised inside (remains sterile until opened). It's also more economical for tge occasional feed.

If you FF please don't do as Zipity suggests. Make sure you add the powder to 70C water as formula powder IS NOT STERILE. It can be contaminated by very dangerous bacteria which has resulted in deaths in Europe.

You can, however, make up bottles with hot water and powder, cool them rapidly and leave them in the fridge for up to 24 hours (not for v young babies and only 4 hours if you've had to transport the bottle say from your house to nursery) although the best and safest way is fresh every time with hot water.

Detailed Dept of Health guidance

I have always made up a batch of 6 when the water is still steaming and then kept them in the fridge, that way I just have to warm them, its the way I always have right from birth. But I don't transport them if I need to go out.....I cheat g I buy disposable bottles and cartons of premade milk. Its so much easier.

I always treat it as fresh milk, which it is in effect so most of what they advise is common sense. I never did think it was sterile. And as for the bacteria being present on surfaces etc, I thought that was why we had to make sure that we used sterilised items and didn't touch work surfaces etc with parts, such as the teats, or knives you use to level the scoops.

I wonder if its been brought about by people who think that its too much trouble to sterilise and then justify why they don't.

Thanks for the link though, will read it again tommorrow x

I have no idea why people think it's okay to sterilise the bottles, then handle them or boil the water and leave it uncovered to cool or be scrupulous about everything and then add something as petnetly non-sterile as formula powder which has gone from factory to tin to being opened and closed 5 times a day in the kitchen to a spoon to a little transporter pot thing to a bottle.

It annoys me just as much when people say 'oh but I made it with mineral water'. Cos mineral water's magic, is it?!

Bottles shoul never be made with mineral water- babies can't handle the mineral levels IIRC.

Another shout for microwave sterilisers. Our tommee tipee one was fab til we got a new microwave and it didn't fit!

BUT did you know you don't have to bother sterilising? A good scrub in hot soapy water rinse well and air dry is fine (what they did on NICU for most vulnerable babies so good enough for me!) also dishwasher is v.effective steriliser. If bottle has had breastmilk in is less need to sterilise as BM has it's own antimicrobial properties so nasties won't grow. From birth I only used to sterilise if bottle had had formula in it that had been left too long rest of time hot soapy water or dishwasher was fine.. Even if I sterilised then I would air dry them all which obviously means they are all non sterile but you aren't going to get formula milk nasty pathogens growing on a dry clean recently sterilised bottle so wasn't worried.

Some mineral waters aren't recommended, but others can be a safer alternative to tapwater, although that doesn't hold true for 99% of the UK where tapwater is the best choice!

When I used to travel for work with tiny babies and the tap water wasn't 100% safe (eg lead pipes) I used to boil Evian as that's one of the waters recommended as safe by the French govt, however I would always boil it and never risk just adding powder (especially in France!).

Sterilised bottles are sterile until you open the container, so air-drying not necessarily needed, and then if you make up the bottles quickly there isn't too much time for contamination. Interesting point about the NICU though. Did they use any special soap or would any do?

I don't use mineral water..and I do use baby milk, so would prefer to sterilise it just to make sure. At least till they are old enough to be putting things in their mouths themselves anyway lol.

Surprised about just using soap and water for vulnerable babies, would be interesting to know the rate of deaths compared to other hospitals that do sterilise. All the ones I have been in always have but maybe they use different soap? Although I can't see that being any better for them. I don't know.

The only dishwasher I have has 2 hands....usually me or hubby as teenagers don't seem to have any hands when you need them :(. My Gran used to boil things but other than odd dummy, I never have...too much trouble, too much steam lol.

Bog standard soap used- was only good thing about Dd being in nicu that week- learning that and not faffing much with sterilising after! Saves time and stress.