8 Best Baby Bottle Sterilizers and Warmers

Since anyone can remember, cleaning and sterilizing baby feeding equipment has always been a concern. As late as the 19th century, the use of dirty feeding devices, combined with the lack of proper milk storage and sterilization, led to the deaths of one third of all artificially fed infants during their first year of life.  

Because all parents want to ensure that their little ones are kept safe, the modern industry of manufacturing bottles, sterilizing equipment, and feeding implements has been given substantial importance. However, it’s puzzling why there’s hardly any information on the invention, development and manufacture of the baby bottle sterilizer.

One entry in the U.S. Patent Office records show that in July 1937 a patent application was filed for inventor Martin W. Connors. His invention relates to bottle sterilizers, and more particularly to a device that allows multiple nursing bottles to be rapidly, effectively, and thoroughly sterilized at the same time. As it was then, the concept for baby bottle sterilizers remains the same today; except these days we have a lot more options and brands to choose from. 

So, with the wide selection available out there, how do we know we’re picking the right bottle sterilizer and warmer for our precious babies? And even before that, must we even sterilize? 

In general, sterilizing baby bottles is an added step beyond traditional cleaning that provides extra protection against germs. But apart from the initial sterilization, it’s not absolutely necessary to do it after every feeding, except if your water supply isn’t reliably clean, or if your baby was born prematurely.

A thorough washing with hot, soapy water is all your bottles really need. That being said, the existence of baby bottle sterilizers and warmers is really mostly just for convenience. Still, it’s a good idea to sterilize all baby feeding equipment to be on the safe side. 

Importance of Proper Sterilization 

Whether formula-feeding or expressing breastmilk, it’s vital to keep equipment and baby bottles clean and safe. Sterilizing helps protect our babies against germs and infection, as harmful bacteria grow quickly in milk. This is why it’s recommended that sterilizing bottles, teats, dummies, breast pumps and other feeding accessories be continued until your baby is a year old.

Moreover, if you decide to start feeding solids before your child is the recommended six months old, you’ll also need to sterilize their spoons and bowls. Although sterilizing can easily be done by just dunking the bottles and other equipment in boiling water for five minutes or so, a sterilizer will help you do the job faster, easier and more efficiently. 

Choosing the Right Baby Bottle Sterilizer 

So, after you’ve done your research and decided on the best bottles for your baby, there’s still another step to consider: how to clean them. Whether you’ve chosen glass, plastic or silicone bottles, you’ll have to keep them as germ-free as possible to protect your baby’s developing immune system.  

There are several factors you should consider before buying a baby bottle sterilizer. 

• The number of bottles it can store
• The time it takes to deliver sterile bottles 
• The length of time the bottles stay sterile 
• Whether it’s chemical–free sterilizing 
• Whether it can sterilize other products 
• Price 

You may also want to look out for extra features, such as: 

• an alarm to let you know when sterilization is complete 
• automatic sterilization of contents every few hours, or after you remove or add a bottle 
• extra bottles 
• a signal to let you know when the sterilizer is hot 
• a water filter to control limescale 
• an accessory tray 
• tongs and bottle brushes 

Types of Sterilizers 

There are three main types of sterilizers in the market: electric, microwave, and UV. 

Electric 

These sterilizers use hot steam to kill germs and bacteria. There are some that not only sterilize, but dry and even deodorize. They’re the most convenient way of sterilizing, particularly if you have a lot of items.

Often, all you need to do is put the bottles and other feeding gear in, press a button, and grab them later. Depending on the model, sterilizing takes 5 to 15 minutes, and items remain sterile for up to 24 hours with the lid closed. While they’re more expensive and will take up room on the counter-top, they’re simple, fast and efficient. 

Microwave

Same as electric, these sterilizers use high heat steam to kill bacteria and germs. To use them, the bottles are placed in a container with water added and then placed in the microwave for the required duration, which depends on the wattage of your microwave – usually two to eight minutes.

Depending on the model, microwave sterilizers can keep items sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid remains closed. Remember that metal items cannot be sterilized in a microwave. This option is low cost and can be stashed away when not in use.  

UV (Portable Bottle Sterilizer)

Specifically designed for travel, the UV bottle sterilizer uses ultraviolet light, not steam, to kill germs and bacteria. By far the most portable, they are compact and lightweight. But, because they are so small, they will often require you to dismantle the bottle and sterilize parts separately. 

Also, there are models that only sterilize the nipple of the bottle, which is not ideal. They’re still a great choice when you’re out of the house because there’s no need for an external power source, either directly or with a microwave. UV sterilizers are also often cheaper than many electric options, and the time they take to sterilize is roughly the same, usually upwards of 10 minutes. 

Important Note Before Sterilizing 

Before you jump in and start sterilizing your baby’s feeding gear, watch out for BPA in plastic baby bottles and other feeding equipment. BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. Plastic baby bottles can contain BPA that can mix with your baby’s formula or milk when heated. Studies have linked BPA to development problems in young children and because most common methods of sterilization rely on heat, it is vital to look for plastic baby bottles that are BPA-free.

Many moms choose glass bottles as they are widely considered the safest for young babies. Also, you have to clean bottles, teats and other feeding equipment in hot, soapy water and rinse them in clean, cold or warm running water before sterilizing. Or, you can wash the bottles in the top rack of your dishwasher before sanitizing.  

When to Sterilize 

Sterilize brand new bottles – Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s germ-free. Every time you purchase a new bottle, nipple or other feeding device, be sure to always clean and properly sterilize before having your baby use them. 

Sterilize more vigilantly when your baby has been sick –If your baby has recently come down with the cold or flu, you will want to be extra vigilant with sterilizing. You do not want to re-infect your baby with germs from his or her last bout of sickness. 

Sterilize glass baby bottles – Unless the instructions indicate the contrary, glass baby bottles can be sterilized the same way as BPA-free plastic baby bottles.  

Sterilize borrowed and second-hand bottles – With all the gear and supplies that babies require, some moms hit up consignment shops or borrow baby bottles from friends and family. In these cases, it’s critical to sterilize pre-used bottles before having your child use them for the first time. The same goes for bottles that have been used for older siblings in your own home.  

Sterilize if baby was premature or has health issues –According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sterilization is particularly important if baby was born prematurely or has a weakened immune system. 

Sterilize if you don’t have access to clean drinking water – If your home isn’t part of a municipality with clean drinking water, you use well water, or you’re traveling in a country with questionable water purity, you may need to sterilize your baby’s bottles more often; once daily or even after each use would be prudent to avoid buildup of harmful microbes.  

After Sterilizing 

• It’s best to leave bottles and teats in the sterilizer or pan until you need them. 
• If you do take them out, put the teats and lids on the bottles straightaway. 
• Wash and dry your hands before handling sterilized equipment, or better still, use sterile tongs. 
• Assemble the bottles on a clean, disinfected surface or the upturned lid of the sterilizer. 

Do I Really Need A Bottle Sterilizer? 

The simple answer is – not really. If you don’t mind waking up at 3am to boil water to sterilize your baby’s bottles, assuming that they’re glass or BPA-free plastic, and waiting at least 10 minutes for the bottles to be ready for use, then no, you don’t need a bottle sterilizer.

But if you’re looking for ease and convenience, a bottle sterilizer is definitely the way to go because it not only safely sterilizes bottles, the device also functions as a bottle dryer, food warmer, egg boiler and milk warmer! So, when your baby wakes up at the dreaded witching hour, you’re a fairy with a magic wand! Just grab that bottle and off you both drift back to dreamland!