Your baby is most vulnerable to diseases and illnesses during their first year. You want to ensure that you provide the safest environment when feeding your baby. Sterilizing your baby’s bottles and pacifiers helps protect your baby against germs. With so many sterilizers on the market, it’s hard to know which one is best.
We at Kids Play and Create researched products and contacted moms to bring you the best baby bottle sterilizers list.
Why use baby bottle sterilizers?
Baby bottle sterilizers today kill up to 99.9% of the germs and bacteria found on bottles. This eases parents’ minds and ensures they provide the safest feeding environment. Some feel it is no longer necessary to sterilize baby bottles and to be cautious; many still choose to sterilize their baby’s bottles. The choice is yours.
We at kidsplayandcreate.com created a list of the best baby bottle sterilizers on the market today. We created our list based on product research, talking to parents who have used the products, and personal experiences.
Here are our top picks in baby bottle sterilizers.
Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer
Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer
The Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer is a safe and efficient way to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria on bottles and nipples right in the microwave in as little as 2 minutes.
This handy device can also sterilize pacifiers, teething rings, small microwave-safe baby toys, and accessories for breast pumps. This bottle sterilizer can hold up to 4 baby bottles (standard or wide mouth) and two breast pump shields simultaneously.
The large space is great for busy on-the-go parents and is a time saver. It is equipped with a locking tab to keep all the contents inside the sterilizer and prevent accidental opening. This sterilizer helps prevents burns with a heat-resistant handle and tongs.
Features:
- Lightweight, great for traveling
- Compact dimensions are 12.5 x 11.3 x 6.7 inches
- Kills up to 99.9% of bacteria in as little as 2 minutes.
- Heat-resistant handles and open-away latch helps prevent burns from steam.
- Holds up to 4 bottles wide mouth or standard and two breast pump shields simultaneously.
- Works in all standard US microwaves
- Latex, BPA, Phthalate, PVC, and Nitrosamine Free
Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer
The Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer kills up to 99.9% of harmful germs in as little as two minutes.
It operates at a higher temperature setting than a dishwasher. Just add water and place it in the microwave. You need 2 minutes for a 1,100-1,850 watt microwave, 4 minutes for an 850-1,100 watt microwave, and 6 minutes for a 500-850 watt microwave ( not sure about your microwave wattage? Check on the microwave, owner’s manual, or look it up online).
It is equipped with safety clips to keep the lid closed. It also has side grips that stay cooler for safe handling. Once sterilized, it can keep contents inside sterile for up to 24 hours if unopened.
The Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer can hold up to four 9-ounce bottles or two 11-ounce bottles. This sterilizer can also sterilize pacifiers, small microwave-safe baby items, breast pump shields, and up to 4 breast milk storage cups and lids.
Features:
- Lightweight 2.1 pounds
- Compact, great for traveling
- BPA Free
- Kills up to 99.9% of germs in as little as 2 minutes.
- Easy to use, add water and place it in the microwave.
- Holds various bottles, breast pump parts, and small microwave-safe baby items and toys.
- It works in most US standard microwaves.
Dr. Brown’s Microwave Steam Sterilizer Set
This Dr. Brown Microwave Sterilizer set is a natural, secure, and efficient way to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria and germs on bottles and nipples right in your microwave. This sterilizer is a great baby shower set. not only do you get a powerful sterilizer that kills 99.9% of bacteria, it also comes with 2 8oz narrow anti-colic baby bottles, a bottle brush, and silicone pacifiers for babies 0-6 months. It provides a deep clean and operates at a higher temperature than a dishwasher. The Bundle Tumble Microwave Sterilizer is made from a sturdy plastic that is BPA, PVC, and Latex free.
Features:
- Kills up to 99.9% of bacteria and germs
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- BPA, PVC, and Latex-free
- Comes with two 8oz anti-colic baby bottles, one bottle brush, and a silicone pacifier.
- Compatible with all standard US microwaves
Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Sterilizer
This sterilizer by Tommee Tippee received excellent reviews. However, they are made especially for Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature or Ultra bottles.
This microwave sterilizer is a fast and simple way to sterilize your Tommee Tippee bottles and nipples to protect your baby against harmful bacteria and germs. It kills up to 99.9% of bacteria in as little as 4-8 minutes.
This sterilizer can also keep the bottles and nipples sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid stays closed. This sterilizer is lightweight and can hold up to 5 Closer to Nature bottles or 4 Ultra bottles.
It’s also easy to use. Just fill the base with cold water, place the bottles and nipples in the basket, and microwave for 4-8 minutes, depending on your microwave’s watts. It is BPA and Phthalate free.
Features:
- Kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria and germs on bottles and nipples in as little as 4 minutes.
- Made for Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature or Ultra bottles.
- Lightweight and compact.
- Easy to use just fill the base with water, add bottles to the basket, and microwave
- BPA and Phthalate Free
Papablic Portable UV Pacifier Sterilizer
Although this isn’t used to sterilize whole bottles, we thought this was a pretty cool device. How often are you out with your baby when they drop (or throw) their bottle or pacifier on the floor, say in the middle of the wall or in the dirt at the park?
It happens to everyone. If you have a portable UV pacifier sterilizer, you can sanitize your baby’s pacifier or nipples in minutes.
Papablic Portable UV sterilizer uses advanced UV-C light, the same technology used in hospitals and dental offices, to kill 99.9% of germs, viruses, and bacteria such as E Coli, H1N1, and dust mites.
UV light has been used to purify water for decades due to its ability
to kill germs and bacteria without chemicals. This portable device can easily fit in diaper bags and most pocketbooks.
It’s great to have on the go. The cleaning and sanitizing are done in a few easy steps.
First, wipe off any visible dirt or dust, then place in the UV sterilizer and press and hold the button on top. That’s it. Another great feature is that it can fit right on the baby bottle over the nipple. It’s quick and simple. It makes a great baby shower gift.
Features:
- Kills up to 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses found on pacifiers and bottle nipples using UV light
- Sterilizer pacifiers in 59 seconds, less than one minute!
- Four ozone-free and mercury free-UVC LEDs
- The same technology is used to sanitize in hospitals and dental offices.
- Completely portable, it can fit into any diaper bag and most pocketbooks.
- Cleaning is done in 3 steps: Clean off dirt or dust, place in the sterilizer, and press the button on top.
- Great baby shower gift.
Philips AVENT 3-in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer
This Philips AVENT Electric Steam Sterilizer kills up to 99.9% of germs and bacteria. It’s fast and easy to use. Simply fill the base with water, fill it with the bottle, then plug it into any standard electrical outlet.
It will then start to generate steam and sterilize your bottles. It operates in a six-minute cycle, then automatically shuts off when it’s finished. The contents inside will remain sterile for 24 hours as long as the lid remains shut.
This sterilizer is compact and won’t take up that much counter space.
It can fit both standard and wide-neck bottles and be used to sterilize breast pumps and cups. It can fit up to 6 11oz Philips AVENT bottles but can also fit other brands of bottles.
Features:
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs in 6 minutes.
- It can fit up to 6 11oz Phillips AVENT bottles, but it can work with other bottle brands.
- Easy to use, fill the base with water, add bottles to the rack, then plug it in.
- Automatic shut-off when the cycle is finished
Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer
This Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer not only sterilizes bottles but can also dry and store them.
Leaving bottles out to air dry can lead to them collecting household dust. If not dried properly, it can lead to breeding grounds for bacteria to grow, ultimately reversing the sterilization process.
With this electric sterilizer, you won’t have to worry about that. Immediately after sterilizing, it dries the bottles and acts as a storage device.
Allowing you to always keep your bottles safe and sterile for your baby. No need to have a bottle rack with this handy sterilizer. How does it work?
A specially designed bottle rack guides the steam and hot air into the bottles. It also has a special air rotator to increase air-flowing speed inside the chamber, reducing drying time.
Wabi Baby sterilizer also can be used to sterilize breast pumps, sippy cups, pacifiers, teething toys, medicine feeding tools, and kids’ dining ware.
Features:
- Kills 99.9% of household germs in 8-15 minutes
- Auto shut-off when the cycle is complete
- sterilize, dry, and stores bottles
- Can hold up to 8 bottles of any brand at one time
The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer
This electric sterilizer by First Years came highly recommended by moms. People I talked to liked it because it is tall, and they can fit a variety of objects into the sterilizer. The steam tower technology individually directs steam inside each bottle to sterilize inside and out. The racks are adjustable and can fit any brand of bottle. Besides bottles, this sterilizer kills germs and bacteria on breast pumps, small toys, teething toys, and pacifiers. The racks inside can also be removed and act as a drying rack. It is easy to use and works fast; the cycle is finished in 11 minutes.
Features:
- Kills germs and bacteria on bottles, pacifiers, breast pumps, teething toys, and other small toys
- Racks are adjustable and can fit any brand of bottles
- Racks can be removed and also act as a drying rack
- Fast and easy to use
- BPA and PVC free
How often should I sterilize my baby’s bottle?
This is a tricky question, and many people answer it differently. After researching, we found that sterilizing your baby’s bottles is a good idea before 1st-time use.
Just think about it, they are made in factories and then packaged and shipped; you want to ensure that whatever is on them is not there when it is time to feed the baby.
After the first use, we found that hot water and soap should do the trick. The exception to that rule is if you’re a nervous mom and want to ensure that the bottle is completely sterile each time you feed your baby.
The other exception is the water in your area.
If you live in an area where the drinking water is contaminated or you do not feel comfortable drinking it, sterilizing it before each use is a good idea.
Why is it important to sterilize baby bottles?
Your baby is most vulnerable to diseases and illnesses during their first year. You want to provide the safest feeding environment for your baby.
This is why many believe it is important to sterilize baby bottles. If you do not plan on sterilizing bottles at every use, the most important time to sterilize your baby’s bottles is before first-time use.
Just think about the process the bottles go through before you pull them off the shelves and take them home. First, they are produced in factories; then, they are packaged and shipped to stores where you find them on your local store shelf.
You have no idea what things it touched before it was packaged or what it went through to your store.
Why would you not want to sterilize it before placing it in your baby’s mouth?
Which sterilizes bottles better, an electric or microwave sterilizer?
They are equally effective. Both state that they kill 99.9% of bacteria and germs. It came down to personal choice in all the reviews we went over, and with people, we spoke to.
Many that we did speak to liked the electric sterilizers better. They felt they were a little less messy than the microwave sterilizers because you don’t have to move them, so there is less chance of water spilling out.
Electric sterilizers tend to be a little more costly than microwave sterilizers. However, many people thought the extra cost was worth it.
Other people said they loved their microwave sterilizers and felt they got the job done for less. It’s really what you find that you like better.
Do baby bottle sterilizers make good baby shower gifts?
Yes, we at Kids Play and Create feel that baby bottle sterilizers are great baby shower gifts. Many people often forget about putting one on the registry, so if you pick one up for someone, chances are that no one else will purchase it for them.
It’s one of those things that you may not think you need, but when you get it, you love it.
Especially with the Joy Baby Portable UV Sterilizer for pacifiers and bottle nipples, in my opinion, it is a perfect baby shower gift.
I hope you enjoyed our list of the best baby bottle sterilizers. If you own a sterilizer that is not on our list but should be, message us at kidsplayandcreate@gmail.com.
