Cold water sterilising...

[penguin7]

Hi...I'm due my first baby in Sept and about to start a list of items I will need to buy. I have been thinking about sterilising products for the bottles, soothers, etc
I have always thought to get a microwave steam steriliser and then yesterday I had a chat with a friend who had her baby last year and she mentioned cold water sterilising. I have just been reading about that and found the Milton sterilising bucket where you add the Milton tablet or Milton liquid. The reviews for this sound really good and it sounds so simple and easy to use and it states this is what they use on maternity units? Does anyone else recommend this? Also...if choosing this option you would not need to buy any other sterilising product? Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

Hi! We used this and it was great. You just have to buy the Milton tablets and replace the water every 12 hours (I think, could be 24). Just chuck the bits in (after rinsing off residual milk) and get them out once they've been in long enough (can't remember how long exactly). We found it really easy, though we weren't exclusively bottle feeding - I'm sure it would be more than adequate if you were just bottle feeding though. I'd really recommend.
And no, we didn't need any other sterilising stuff. It's very transportable too

I used cold water sterilising and found it great, you only need the bucket and tabs or liquid - most supermarkets do an own brand too I'm sure they will be along shortly to tell you how bad the chemicals are etc but it was the norm when I had my eldest and I just did the same for the rest, the steaming seemed like such a faff!

I exclusively bottle fed, it was great for dummies, spoons etc too as they got older

We did this. They did it in our NICU, so we continued it. Virtually faff free.

We had a steam steriliser at our house, then kept a microwave one at my mums and had a milton one for if we were elsewhere (ie holiday).

The Milton one is good - you put the tab in and its good for 24 hours, items need 15 mins to be sterilised. It does use a lot of water compared to steam sterilisers and there's a definite chemical smell (I actually like the smell in general but was a bit off putting for something my baby was going to have his mouth on).

Out of choice I'd use a steam steriliser again. The microwave ones then to be small so ok for a bottle or two but you can do a whole batch in a steam one and leave them in there till needed (with 24 hours I think).

Sounds similar to what my own mother used to do years ago with milton.

It's really cheap and easy. You just get into the habit of doing it each day, washing things up and then dropping them into the bucket.

I used to use the old water to clean the worksurfaces rather than just tipping it away when replacing it as well (but don't use disinfectants at the same time because it's a mild bleach solution) or soaking teatowels/cloths, then draining it into the toilet, so it saves even more money on cleaning products.

This is the method I've used with both of my children. Like pp have said it's so easy, just chuck everything in. I changed mine every evening and would use the old water to clean the sinks etc.

Milton is great. We used it for a while when I was bottle feeding EBM. Stopped when we managed to get bf established. We also used Mam bottles which are ‘self sterilising’ and I would really recommend those as well, especially for travel etc. (You know, if and when...)

I got the Milton cold water tub for this baby. We've had the steam sterilisers before which are good but our current microwave is too small for one. I have also got the mam bottles which can steam sterilise themselves in the microwave so I can switch between the 2 methods if I like.

I find the chemical smell of Milton really off putting. I use Mam bottles and they go in the dishwasher to clean then into the microwave to self sterilise. No special equipment needed.

I cold water sterilise when we camp. I do find that it can make some things feel a bit sticky though.
I use of of these type of tubs rather than the expensive Milton ones.

We used the steam one. The smell of Milton gives me the absolute boak.

I use a tommee tippee one- there is the option to do both steam and cold water. It’s been really helpful as some items like a teething ring, which have fabric are better off being steamed whereas I prefer to use Milton tablets and cold water for bottles

I have used microwave and milton. I equally didn't like the smell of Milton (no idea about the chemicals but it did feel counter intuiative). Be wary of some of the solutions/tablets as some then require rinsing after sterilising which is 1. A faff and 2. Seems somewhat self defeating. I also never bought the milton bucket just used a tupperware.

I 100% recommend the Tommee Tippee microwave steraliser... only a tenner and then you never have to buy anything else. Super easy to use. And you can take with you if overnight etc. You do need a decent sized microwave though.

Second the Mam self sterilising bottles... they are brilliant when travelling. Though I think the big microwave tub is easier for mass bottles.

Lastly, you can boil bottles/dummies etc. Not as convenient but most of my early sterilising was breast pump bits and I can't remember if they could be microwaved. Will need to check before this bubba arrives.

We used a microwave steamer once our electric one broke. However I found the microwave bags the best for smaller items and they are so convenient.

The smell of Milton is very “marmite”. You either love it or detest it. So, if you’re not familiar, buy a bottle and use it for general floor washing etc first, as a test.

The only other major issue with Milton is that it is essentially a bleach so will take the colour out of things if you allow it around.

Personally, I preferred steam for every day (just easier), but kept a cold water steriliser as back up.

Splash it around, not allow it around^