Steam sterilizers- advice please!

[Bekki]

I am completely bewildered by the choice in sterilizers and I've had enough of looking at them. Can someone suggest a brilliant all singing all dancing steam sterilizer that holds wide neck and normal bottles 6-8 bottle capacity, thankyou!

Think the avent electric Steam Steriliser fits the bill - it's the one we use at the hospital anyway, and seems pretty good - is quite big tho'. Can't really advise you personally, as I had a microwave one.

I bought the Mothercare microwaveable bottles that sterlise all in one. That saved me having to get the sterliser as well. You don't need any tablets or anything to sterlise and it literally is an all in one system. They cost me £20.00 for six bottles. If you already have the bottles can you buy a cheap microwave steamer that will do the same thing and save you money that way.

If you do find one that suits you as my suggestions aren't what you are looking for then have a look on Ebay or the Loot to pick one up secondhand maybe. When I was looking for baby stuff before ds was born a few places I went to were trying to offload a range of baby things and they had sterlisers.

I bought the Maws one that is either cold water/microwavable - it holds small, tall, wide necked/normal sized bottles. Brilliant. Comes with four bottles, little tongs. Can't remember what I paid for it but it was good calue - boots/mothercare.

We used a Lindam Universal Steam Sterilizer - it worked well for us.

Lindam Universal gets my vote as well (think it is sold by either Index or Argos). I have used mine for 6 years (3 sons). As I b/f and express fed, it was great for fitting in all the bits of my breast pump plus bottles. Even if you are not b/f and need room for a pump, it is just good and roomy for different shaped bottles, cups, plates (during early weaning stage) etc.

Hope this helps.

I also use a Lindam sterilizer and have no problems at all with it

microwave one

I have the Avent and have found it to be great for getting everything in. The only thing that I will say is that it is expensive (I paid £39.99) compared to the Lindam and its cycle does get longer with age despite regular descaling sessions (every 2-4 weeks).

BTW, I've been using mine every day (sometimes twice a day) for 10 months

I've had no problems with the Avent one. I managed to melt the microwave one (melted lid all over the bottles inside) - major disaster as I was still a new, only just coping mum. I think I must have forgotten to put water in it.

have to agree with eidsvold, i got the maws one and it is great, lightweight! so portable if you are going somewhere, and simple no leads, just a microwave or cold water. 15stg i paid, bargain.
a friend had the advent one and found it cumbersome, especially if she was going to her mums for the night.

maws is easier to rinse out and clean too. i know its sterile but it gets grimey on the outside.

Bekki, you asked specifically about steam sterilisers - is this because you don't have a microwave? If you do, I'd also like to recommend the MAWS microwave one (can also be used for cold water sterilisation, as others have mentioned).

MAWS microwave/cold water one here too, obviously not much good if you don't have a microwave but if you do very easy and great value (especially as I borrowed mine from a friend .

If you plan to b/feed I would be wary of spending too much on a steriliser, I am very grateful to the friend who lent her one to me as I only used it a handful of times.

we used the toys r us own brand one and havn't had any problems - they all seem pretty much of a muchness to me!

I find the Avent one brilliant. My mum bought one in a car boot for £3! They have them on ebay too, much cheaper than the shops.

The ones you put in the microwave are excellent. You can easily take them with you on days out in the car to see people and they work in any microwave.

but you have to be a bit careful that the people you go and see do actually have a microwave, otherwise its a bit hopeless. as I discovered when went to stay with MIL for 5 days clutching a small baby and a microwave steriliser only to be confronted with... an AGA.
Maybe stick several milton tablets in your nappy bag in case of such emergencies!

Also you need to check the size of the microwave. Mil bought me the MAWS one when I was 12 weeks pg (!) and it didn't fit in there so I had to ise it as a cold water one. The bottles were not much good either. Also it only fits 4 bottles in not 6. Next time I will bebuying the Avent steam one.

I liked the MAWS bottles and teats and much preferred them to the Avent ones. It's possible to get 5 bottles and bits in the MAWS steriliser at once, and it only takes 5 mins to run so you can always run it twice.

Agree with Mothercare steriliser bottles, go straight in microwave (anywhere) and no extra steriliser or other equipment needed. Word of warning, all tongs broke within 1 month & must be small enough to go inside bottle but got replacements easily & fast from M/C cust svs at website.

have found the avent microwave steriliser a godsend as we don't live in the UK have found it travels well and can be stocked up with other things in ur suitcase also can use in any country where they have a microwave.

We had the avent steam steriliser, elecric one, when dd was born. It was great I really liked it. My cousin had given me a boots microwave steriliser but we have a small microwave and it wouldn't go in the door. We have since given our steriliser away, many years ago now but when we have baby #2 I plan on getting the bottles from Mothercare that just go in the microwave, what a fantastic idea.

Thanks for the advice, theres too much choice its bewildering. i decided to go for a £35 Maws steam sterilizer to match the breastpump I already have. It looks great but I'm slightly concerned as to the dangers of my 3 year old getting hold of it when its heating up. Hes already completely fascinated by it. I suppose its a complete ban from the kitchen for him now.