Milton do a travel steriliser that fits 1 bottle in. In theory any clean plastic container with a lid will do, but the travel sterilisers have the lines on so you put the correct amount of water in (as do the normal Milton sterilisers)." Recommended by Mumsnet user confused123456 Our verdict For cold water sterilisers, a full container will be very heavy and should be kept away from children so they can’t pull it over onto their head. Sterilisation fluid is made from sodium hypochlorite, a mild, non-toxic bleach that decomposes into water and a small amount of salt. We appreciate the clear instructions that are easy to follow, like putting water into the base at the “MAX” line and putting the steam plate on top. There’s even a light beeping sound to alert you when the bottle is done warming, but it’s not loud enough to disturb a sleeping baby. By the time they’re a year old, your baby’s immune system is much better developed so you can ease off sterilising toys and dummies then. I find the nuby natural touch steam steriliser really good - it dries the bottles too. It is tall and fits lots of different shaped bottles and other bits!" Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Sjh84 Our verdict

We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist. Can only sterilise two bottles per cycle – so if you’re getting through more than four bottles a day it’s fairly labour-intensiveDon’t rinse equipment off again afterwards as the water won’t be sterile. You don’t need to dry them as the cloth likely isn’t sterile either – just shake off the excess moisture and make sure it’s cooled down completely. When can you stop sterilising baby bottles? As well as baby bottles, teats and breast pump parts, you'll also want to steriliser dummies and teething rings, ideally once a day unless they are dropped on the floor outside.

I’ve always opted for a microwave one. Very easy, no faff. We use avent bottles do have the avent microwave steriliser." Tried and tested by Mumsnetter Moominmiss Our verdict There are four main sterilisation units on the market: cold water sterilisers, microwave sterilisers, electric sterilisers and travel sterilisers. They all have their own pros and cons. 1. Cold water steriliser An unclean baby bottle is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria to grow and can make a baby severely ill if they consume breast milk or formula from the same bottle. A bottle sterilizer helps ensure you kill more bacteria and germs than a traditional cleaning. Plus, many bottle sterilizers do more than sanitize—some can warm or dry bottles. Can easily be scaled up and down for different quantities of equipment and equipment in awkward shapes I have the Nuby UV one and I love it. I wash the bottles and let them air dry and then put them in there dry for three minutes and it's done! If you're formula feeding Nuby had a sale on their UV steriliser and Rapidcool (can make milk to NHS recommendations and they be cool in 3/4 minutes) bundle." Loved by Mumsnetter Grace185 Our verdict

How real-life comparative testing makes Mumsnet Reviews unique

According to the NHS, sterilising feeding equipment is necessary for the first 12 months to keep your baby free from bacteria that could harm their brand-new immune systems. If you’re planning on expressing breast milk, combination feeding or using a dummy during your baby’s first year, you’ll need to sterilise all the relevant baby equipment after every use. It takes one touch of a button to start a cycle and, if you have any accompanying Tommee Tippee bottles, each bottle is clearly marked to show how much water to add to the steriliser – a thoughtful touch that our tester really appreciated. Electric, microwave and travel sterilisers using steam will all get very hot, so the usual cautions apply: wait the recommended amount of time before opening the lid after a cycle has completed, open the lid away from you to redirect any steam, use oven gloves to retrieve from the microwave if necessary, and of course keep any hot items away from children. To select the best bottle sterilizers, we spoke with Tomomi Hayashi, MD, a California-based board-certified pediatrician, and Arunima Agarwal, MD, a New York-based board-certified pediatrician to find out what to look for in a bottle sterilizer and the benefits of bottle sterilization. We also reviewed guidance from the AAP, the CDC, and Texas Children's Hospital, on why it’s important to sterilize baby bottles. Moreover, we also put 20 bottle warmers, including some bottle warmer and sterilizer combos, through multiple tests at the Verywell Testing Lab in New York City with the help of Ebony Barrett, PNP. Consider how many bottles or other pieces you want (or need) to sterilize simultaneously. Because bottle sterilizers come in varying sizes, they don’t always hold the same amount of items. For example, if you’re the parent or caregiver of twins, opt for a large bottle sterilizer, like the Papablic Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer, which fits up to 11 bottles and accessories, such as pacifiers, plastic toys, and teethers. Even if you don’t have twins, a bigger bottle sterilizer accommodates enough bottles for a day of feeding, breast pump parts, and more. On the other hand, some units only hold one bottle, such as the BÉABA BabyMilk 3-in-1 Bottle Warmer, so you can sterilize as you go (and save counter space).