Do you need a bottle sterilizer? Which sterilizer is better to choose?
Any newborn goes through several stages, so to speak, of “ripening”, like a young cucumber or berries in a garden. The first few months, everything for him is completely new and unfamiliar, full of amazing colors. And for the immune system this is a whole test of strength. How can you help your newborn stay safe from all sorts of germs and “evil” bacteria? It's simple - buy a steam sterilizer for bottles and constantly disinfect your baby's equipment. And we’ll tell you in our article right now which is the best bottle sterilizer to choose and what its characteristics are!
The content of the article
Do you need a bottle sterilizer and when is it simply impossible to do without it?
Microbes multiply at a crazy speed in any nutrient medium, and this is a fact. For example, an active source of bacterial growth is a milk bottle that was forgotten to be washed in time and left near the sink. The consequences of drinking milk from such a bottle can be different: from a weakened immune system to various ailments even from a young age. Of course, if a young mother is still breastfeeding her baby, then a sterilizer is not needed yet.
But in some situations you cannot do without a bottle sterilizer. On their list:
- Artificial feeding and preparation of mixtures at home.
- The process of expressing milk and its further storage.
- If the baby is too weak (for example, born premature).
- After an illness or after buying a new bottle for a child.
What is this - a sterilizer? The device is many times better than standard boiling (cooking) dishes. There are several explanations for this: firstly, there is no risk of damage to the new dishes or the bottle exploding. Secondly, after using hard water, a residue may remain that a professional sterilizer does not leave behind. Thirdly, reducing the time spent on disinfection. All you have to do is put down all the devices, set the mode and time, and you can calmly go about your business without watching the machine.
How does a bottle sterilizer work?
How a sterilizer works - the principle is the same, regardless of its cost:
- The device contains all the necessary utensils for the baby;
- Water is poured into the container;
- Close the lid and press the power button;
- If the sterilizer cannot heat the water itself, but provides additional heating, put it in the microwave.
After heating the water to steam, the dishes begin to be disinfected. The sterilizer does not require additional care: you only need to wash the body parts and sometimes clean the machine from scale (for example, with a solution of citric acid).
Which sterilizer is best for baby bottles – we consider all types of instruments
Based on the operating principle of the machine, it is worth distinguishing several categories of sterilizers:
- For microwave oven – an easy-to-use chamber in which children's dishes are installed. The container itself is immersed in a microwave oven, as it does not have its own heating element.Depending on the power of the microwave, the procedure takes from 5 to 8 minutes. Disadvantages - restrictions on the size of the microwave and a ban on the use of metal devices during disinfection (there will be a spark and a short circuit).
- Steam - An excellent option for home use. There is enough power and productivity to provide your baby with clean cutlery for every meal. Consists of: container, water tank and water heater. The only downside is the relatively high price. But do you want the maximum result for your children? Then it's worth forking out.
- Working on the principle of “cold sterilization” – works in autonomous mode and is suitable for moving, traveling or long trips, where there is simply nowhere to connect the sterilizer. A baby bottle is placed in a special compartment, after which disinfectant is poured. Next, the used solution is drained, and the items can be stored in a clean form for even more than a day. Manufacturers have long proven that the liquid is absolutely safe for children, although mothers still believe the opposite. Why do you need a cold bottle sterilizer: to keep devices sterilized in a container or additionally process them after the main instrument.
- UV – kills germs without liquids and solutions, and this is its main advantage. Disinfection in this way is the most effective for 2021. You can safely use the tool both indoors and outdoors. Among the disadvantages is the highest price in the segment.
No one can say for sure which sterilizer is best for your child, because everything is selected individually. For constantly working mothers or traveling, the last two options have proven themselves to be excellent.If you want to save money, take a microwave oven. The steam engine is a “classic” and a proven quality standard. If you take it, you will never go wrong.
Bottle sterilizer – which one is better to choose? Equipment evaluation criteria
All parts of the device, especially those in contact with food, must be made from high-quality and environmentally friendly material. Therefore, to choose a bottle sterilizer, ask for a quality certificate from each seller. If there is no such document, it is better to look for another option. You never know where he came from to the store.
Where you buy it is an important part of choosing the right sterilizer. You can buy the device either in a specialized store for newborns or in any other pharmacy. It is better to avoid online markets, since there is no way to check the quality of their products. Give preference to models from well-known brands: consult your family doctor, pediatrician, friends or relatives.
Which sterilizer should you choose to get the best model in the segment? It's simple. There are several characteristics by which you can choose a bottle sterilizer:
- Price – don’t skimp on your budget, but don’t abuse your pricing policy either. A worthwhile device is not always hidden under the guise of high cost. It could also be a fake. It's best to look at the cost at the very end.
- The type of sterilization included in the device. Cold, steam, ultraviolet - we discussed all this above, and there is no point in repeating it. Whatever is more convenient for you to use daily, and sometimes several times a day, then take it.
- Machine power source.Electrical – I require a 220 V network; for a microwave oven you need the microwave oven itself; ultraviolet ones work only on batteries, and cold ones use a disinfectant in the form of a tablet or solution.
- Container capacity for dishes. Depending on the model, there may be a tank for one bottle or up to 8 pieces. Huge machines can accommodate breast pumps and even plastic toys. Let everything be clean for your baby.
- Does the future sterilizer have additional capabilities? They do not play a special role in productivity, only in ease of use: automatic on/off system, operation indicators, additional steamer, etc.
Rating of bottle sterilizers for newborns
What to choose when there is so much to choose from? And we want all the best for the child... In our small rating, we have collected those devices that have earned their place of honor among mothers’ kitchens and positive reviews on online store sites. Among them:
- Dr. Brown's Microwave
- Beurer BY 76
- Philips Avent SCF281/02 for microwave
- TEFAL Baby Home
- Tefal Baby Home BH 7300
- Chicco Steril Natural
- Beurer JBY40
- Maman BY-03
- Kitfort KT-2304
- CS Medica KIDS CS-28s
What advice would you give to future or current mothers? What do you think is the best bottle sterilizer among its competitors, what are its positive qualities and possible disadvantages? After all, everyone has their own subjective opinion, and the device simply cannot do without negative aspects. We look forward to active discussion in the comments!