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Gone are the days when you had to throw all your baby bottles in a pot full of boiling water and keep it heated over a stove till everything’s considered nice and sterile. Nowadays, there’s a nifty little machine called a bottle steriliser that does all the work for you, leaving you with more time to play with your baby or catch up on your favourite TV series.
Bottle sterilisers are essentially steam chambers that heat water up using electricity till the environment is hot enough to kill off most bacteria. But the top-tier models usually do more than just clean your bottles, as they also keep them sterile for extended periods of time. You usually get some handy extras as well, like various kinds of brushes, bags, and bottles.
TL;DR: The #1 Baby Bottle Steriliser for Most People 👇
If you’re in the market for a versatile, high-quality, and affordable bottle steriliser, it’s hard to look past the Philips Avent!
It fits 6 bottles, takes just 40 minutes and even has a drip tray to prevent odours. 🙌
The thing is, bottle sterilisers have been around for quite a while and the market is saturated with different models to choose from. Of course, not all of them are as great as they claim to be and you don’t want to end up purchasing a second-rate product when your child’s health is on the line. To help you make the right choice for you and your baby, we’ve made a list of the top bottle sterilisers available to people living in Australia.
The Best Baby Bottle Steriliser Australia
1. Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Light 3 in 1 Steriliser
Why we like it:
- Gorgeous design
- Less mess and clean up
- Works as a dryer as well
What customers say:
“I have lots of toys that said “wipe only” which I think is not hygienic enough for my baby. This device serves that purpose and is so convenient and easy to operate. I also use it with the Microwave steamer and I love the drying function- no more wet bottles! The product is a bit pricy but it is beautifully designed and very functional.” – Grace.oz
The Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Light 3 in 1 Steriliser utilizes an advanced ultra-violet technology to remove bacteria and keep your bottles and other products clean and sterile. It doesn’t require water, leaves pretty much no mess, and requires far less cleaning than a traditional steam variant. There’s a reason it takes the top spot on this list of the best bottle sterilisers.
The device can be used as a storage container for your baby’s stuff and you can use it to sterlize all sorts of items, including face masks, glasses, toothbrushes, and more. Aside from sterilizing, you can even use the device to dry out wet products. It features a sleek, minimalist design that’s cube-shaped with rounded edges, sort of like a tiny refrigerator.
The Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Light 3 in 1 Steriliser is pretty pricey, as more UV devices are, but its stellar design combined with its ranges of uses and hassle-free operation and maintenance make it well worth every penny.
2. Philips Avent 4-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser
Why we like it:
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Sterilizes quickly
What customers say:
“Used ours for over 6 months now and swear by it. We have a little one on special meds that are diluted in the bottle but the water has to be at an exact temp. After testing bottles we have found the perfect spot for the bottle to be a the right temp every time the consistence of the temperature control is awesome.” – Jimmy G
Philips is one of the most popular electronics brands on the planet, and it comes as no surprise that they’d try their hand at making bottle sterilisers. Their Philips Avent 4-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser is an affordable and effective way to constantly keep your baby bottles spic and span and it’s really easy to use to boot.
The product promises to get your bottles clean in just six minutes flat and the machine automatically shuts off once the bottles are good to go. Similar to the previous product on this list, this sterlizer is also capable of keeping your bottles hygienic for the entire day as long as the lid is never opened. The machine isn’t only intended for bottles either, and can accommodate other baby products, such as breasts pumps, pacifiers, and more.
The Philips Avent 4-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser is known for producing limescale stains fairly quickly, so you may have to clean the machine more than most which isn’t exactly ideal. But if you’re after a cost-efficient and reliable way to keep your baby’s bottles clean, then this stabilzer is an excellent choice.
3. Tommee Tippee Essentials Starter Kit with Steriliser
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The aims to be an all-in-one solution for infants transitioning to bottle feeding. It includes the steriliser itself, along with some bottles in two different sizes, a bottle bag, food and bottle warmer, a cleaning brush, and a pair of tongs – pretty much all you need to have your child regularly feeding out of a bottle.
The device is capable of sterilising a maximum of six bottles in just five minutes and it can keep them clean for up to a whole day as long as the lid is closed. The bottles are BPA (bisphenol A) free, which is a type of chemical used in plastics that a lot of experts deem harmful to a child’s health, meaning they’re safer for your babies to use.
Certain users have reported issues with having to constantly clean the steriliser due to quick limestone build-up, as well as certain machines turning off unexpectedly even though it should’ve been sterilising. It’s worth checking if your stabilizer is exhibiting similar defects so you can report it to the manufacturer.
Potential factory defects aside, the is one of the best ways to kickstart your child’s bottle-feeding journey.
4. CHICCO Steril Natural 3in1 Steriliser
Why we like it:
- Has an “Eco” mode
- Spacious design
- Three different modes
What customers say:
“This is so much better than the Tomee Tippee we were replacing. As someone with a ridiculous milk producing ability we struggled to fit more than one or two flanges and 2 large medela bottles in the old steriliser.This is a game changer! Fits 6 bottles and 4 flanges plus bottle seals/teats etc. We’ve gone from 6-8 sterilizing sessions t just 2 a day!” – Trent Stollery
One of the things we liked most about the CHICCO Steril Natural 3in1 Steriliser is how spacious it is. It easily fits nine normal-sized bottles or six large ones, along with other accessories, like pacifiers, bottle nipples, or caps.
You can operate it in three different modes – the full-size mode that takes advantage of the product’s entire structure, the Eco mode that’s slightly smaller but is 30% faster and takes that much less energy, and the microwave mode which is the smallest of the bunch and can have your items steralized in four minutes.
Segmenting the different sections of the machine to utlize the different modes is an innovative idea and a very useful one at that. Its most significant draw back is its needlessly loud notification sound when the device starts or stops, which can easily wake a child if they’re nearby. Other than that, the CHICCO Steril Natural 3in1 Steriliser is an extremely useful machine that gives you a welcome set of options on how to use it.
5. NUK Vario Express Steam Steriliser
Why we like it:
- Catchy design
- Includes an option for a full starter kit
- Has a basket for accessories
What customers say:
“It works well and it’s quiet; my only comment is that it’s misleading to say it takes 6 minutes to sterilise because it actually takes 6 minutes to heat up and 6 minutes to steam-so total of 12 minutes (plus 3 min cooking time). So it is twice as long as the market leading steriliser brand. But as I’m mostly breastfeeding its not an issue for us as I use this to sterilise my pump and bottles once or twice a day. – ADEL
The NUK Vario Express Steam Steriliser takes us back to steam-based machines but this one features a handsome design that’s functional as well. It comes with a tray that can accommodate accessories like bottle lids and nipples, making it easy to place items inside the device and take them out.
You can purchase the steriliser on its own, or you can pick up the complete feeding set, which includes several accessories, like a bottle warmer, bottles, and a brush. Aside from that, it’s a lot like the other steam sterilisers on this list. It sterilises in around 6 minutes and can keep your items clean for 24 hours, provided the lid stays closed.
The most prominent negative feedback about this device is that it splashes water everywhere whenever the lid is open and the metal plate is very prone to limescale in a short amount of time. Disadvantages aside, the NUK Vario Express Steam Steriliser remains an excellent option for keeping your baby’s bottles bacteria-free.
6. Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser Set
Why we like it:
- Lightweight build
- Fast sterlising
- Easy to use
What customers say:
“Save yourself the hassle and just buy this steriliser and Avent bottles exclusively! This is the best value steriliser kit on the market. It’s nice and tall so you can fit heaps in the unit and unlike some terribly designed devices (with twist on lids) the clips are perfect for easily securing the lid. Avent bottles are excellent and can even fit your Spectra bottles/teats adequately if you run out.- Jim2906
We’re capping off our list with the Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser Set – an ultra-fast sterlizing solution that’s lightweight and exceedingly easy to use. Its wide design means you can throw in whatever needs to be sterilized without having to stack things on top of one another and its light enough to make storing and bringing out the machine a breeze and it wont be tough to take it with you if you’re going on a trip.
It’s also able to sterlize up to four bottles in just two minutes, which is a faster time than any other product in this list. While the product design looks nice enough, its height may make it unsuitable for smaller microwaves, so make sure you do your homework regarding the dimensions of this product and those of your microwave.
Small misstep aside, the Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser Set is our favourite microwave-based sterlizer and one of the best ones around for taking with you on the go.
How We Researched The Bottle Sterilisers
Putting together this list was no easy task, given just how many quality products there are in the market today. We started our process by scouring the internet for the highest-rated and most loved bottle sterilisers around. We checked out top online marketplaces, like Amazon and eBay, and read through more user comments than we care to remember.
We also checked out some of the more popular local baby products sites to see which models were frequently purchased by Aussies. In addition to all of that, we took into account baby blog posts and professional critic reviews to further cement our choices.
From there, we kept trimming down the list till we were left with six bottle steriliser models that were simply ahead of the pack. Whichever you end up choosing, you can rest easy knowing that all of these guys are a cut above the rest.
Bottle Steriliser: Buying Guide
Few things are as important as maintaining clean bottles when raising a baby. Infants nurse from them several times a day, and just one unsanitary container is enough to cause your child to become ill. That’s why you’ll want to put the bottle cleaning duties in the hands of a quality bottle steriliser to ensure that the sterilizing is done right each and every time.
The thing is, if you’re new to these kinds of products, it’s highly likely that there’ll be a lot of factors about them that you’re not yet familiar with. To fix that, we’ve put together a quick buying guide so you can read up a little about the important aspects of bottle sterilisers that you should keep in mind when you’re browsing models online or at your local stores. That way, you can put your mind at ease knowing that the machine you bought has the hallmarks of a great steriliser.
Bottle Steriliser Type
Bottle sterilisers generally come in four different types – electric, microwave, UV, and cold water. Each of these come within their own set of advantages and disadvantages, but all of them get the job done.
Electric Sterilisers: These function by taking power from an outlet and using it to heat water added to the container until steam is produced. This steam kills off any bacteria on bottles and other accessories and has the added benefit of deodorizing them as well.
They’re generally quite easy to use and modern models can usually heat bottles in under 7 minutes, provided that the water in the machine is already steaming.
Electric bottle sterilisers can often keep bottles bacteria free for about a day, as long as the lid remains closed, though they’re often messier and more difficult to clean than other models. The metal plates are also susceptible to limescale build-up which can be frustrating.
Microwave Sterilisers: These work in a similar way as the electric models, as you’d also need to add water to the device so that steam can be generated. The difference is, microwave sterilisers use microwave ovens to heat the water up.
As a result, these kinds of products are generally a lot cheaper than the other steriliser types and lighter and easier to take around. The trade-off, however, is that they don’t have deodorizing capabilities and, of course, you’ll need to find a model that is compatible with your microwave oven.
UV Sterilisers: UV-based sterilisers are the most expensive of the bunch and for good reason. They’re often more modern-looking and they offer a mess and hassle-free solution for keeping your bottles clean. They’re not just good for baby supplies either, since you can use them for your other things as well, like your face masks, eyeglasses, etc. – a characteristic that’s more important than ever in this day and age.
The thing is, UV models also tend to be smaller than electric ones, so they’re not exactly ideal for mass cleanings, but they are perfect for individual sterilizing and for bringing along on trips.
Cold Water Sterilisers: This kind of steriliser is the simplest to use and involves a large bucket or basin filled with cold water that you toss a sterilizing tablet into until it dissolves completely. While it is effective at disinfecting bottles, you still need to make sure the bottles are washed before putting them in and parents who are wary of sterilizing using chemicals may not be thrilled with this method. You’ll also need to constantly restock on tablets.
Steriliser Size
You’ll need to choose a steriliser that’s big enough to accommodate the load you plan on putting in it on a regular basis. Perhaps you prefer one that can handle a lot of bottles at a time so you can minimize the instances of sterilizing. With bigger models, you can clean six bottles or more at a time, which means that you only have to operate the device around once a day. You should also consider the space you have at home and select a product that can fit comfortably with the real estate you can provide.
Starter Kits
Some bottle steriliser models give you the option of purchasing a starter kit, which usually includes bottles, brushes, a bottle warmer, a carrying case, and more. These products were made to work seamlessly with the steriliser, making them a great pick-up if you haven’t bought your bottles separately yet.
Benefits of Using a Bottle Steriliser
There are lots of advantages to using a bottle steriliser over other methods of cleaning. Here are a few:
- Using a bottle steriliser is a lot easier than having to scrub bottles thoroughly until your hands are pruned just to get them clean.
- Sterilisers are capable of killing 99.99% of bacteria and germs from bottles, and most of them do so without the aid of any chemicals – aside from cold water models.
- Some models can provide you with a sterile storage space to keep your baby bottles and accessories spotless for up to 24 hours.
- UV sterilisers can be used for more than just baby bottles. You can use them to sterilize pretty much anything that can fit inside them and they can dry wet bottles with ease. This is especially useful given the Coronavirus climate we live in today.
Health Risks of Not Sanitizing Baby Bottles
There’s no overstating the importance of a thoroughly cleaned baby bottle, as not sterilizing properly can lead to some serious health issues. Here are some of the risks that come with unsanitary bottles:
Gastroenteritis
In the 2016 book written by Dr Roger Webber named “Communicable Diseases, 5th Edition”, it was observed that unhygienic baby bottles greatly increased the risk of babies contracting Gastroenteritis – a form of diarrhea that’s quite common. This can lead to dehydration which, in turn, can result in many different complications.
Germs & Bacteria
Handling your baby’s bottles with unclean hands and failing to properly sanitize them can turn them into breeding grounds for countless types of germs and bacteria. This may result in some serious illnesses in your child, including rotavirus, hepatitis, and even food poisoning. Milk, in general, is very susceptible to breeding bacteria and going bad, and not sterilizing bottles correctly after milk has been left sitting out too long can make your child very ill.
Do right by your child and only choose the very best in bottle sterilizing. After all, you can’t put a price on health and safety.
You may also be interested in:
- The Best Nappy Bins for Odour-free Living
- The Best Baby Bottle Warmers For Naturally Warm Milk
- The Best Baby Monitors for Complete Peace of Mind
- The Best White Noise Machines for Better Baby Bed Time
- The Best Night Lights for For Soothing Your Little One
- The Best Baby Car Seats for Safer Rides
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
