How to Choose the Best Baby Steriliser - A Guide

As parents we all understand how vulnerable our babies are to infection and will go to great lengths to avoid exposure of our babies to harmful microorganisms. This is because we understand that our baby's immune system is still developing and they do not have that protection against common infections that adults benefit from. In fulfilling this important role one of the precautions that all parents need to take is to ensure that their baby feeding equipment is sterile before use. As a result all homes with a young baby need access to a baby steriliser.

One of the problems that many parents face when choosing a baby steriliser is the broad range of options available. When faced with so many different types of products to choose between it can be very difficult to make a decision. However, once you start to research these devices, you will realise that there are just three broad categories of product available. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and your choice will ultimately depend on your preferences and lifestyle choices.

The electric steam baby steriliser is the preferred option of many. These are the most technically advanced and flexible products as they contain their own heating element. They are therefore standalone devices that can be used anywhere with access to an electrical power supply and a small amount of tap water. The sterilisation cycle is automated and the device will tell you when the process is complete. Once finished bottles will remain sterile for a set period of time (normally 24 hours) unless the sterilisation chamber is opened. These devices are however normally more expensive than the alternatives and can be quite bulky due to the technology contained within.

The second option is the microwave baby steriliser. These bear strong similarities to the electric steam steriliser, the only significant difference being the absence of a heating element. In order to achieve sterilisation a small amount of tap water is placed into the device together with the baby feeding equipment, the sterilisation chamber is closed, and the device is placed in a conventional microwave for a specified amount of time. In this way steam is generated which sterilises the products contained within. These devices are an excellent choice for all parents willing to accept the limitation of requiring access to a microwave in order to use the device. This can sometimes be problematic when using the microwave for cooking or when away from home.

The final option is the chemical steriliser which is often referred to as the cold water steriliser. In contrast to the other devices these do not achieve sterilisation by heat. Instead they involve soaking the baby feeding equipment in a solution of diluted bleach for a specified amount of time. These devices can therefore be used anywhere including locations without access to an electric power supply. You do however need to keep purchasing sterilisation fluid to use within the device. The process can be quite cumbersome as it is both lengthy and requires you to rinse bottles with boiled water after use. Some parents are also naturally concerned about the risk of exposing their baby to harmful synthetic chemicals.

When looking around it is normally best to stick to a well-known brand to ensure reliability and good after sales support. Also think about the capacity that you require as the larger devices tend to be more expensive. For instance if your baby is predominantly breastfed then you can probably get away with a smaller capacity device.