which is best? steam sterilizer or microwave sterilizer 4 babies bottles?

Answer 1

Steam

Answer 2

I've never tried a stand alone steam sterilizer, but I have extensively used a microwave sterilizer (and it used steam to sterilize). What I used were plastic bags made by the Medela brand. They were bags made out of a stiffer plastic than a food bag, they had a ziploc top, and an opening on the top of one side to let steam out. I used it at work 3 times a workday for my breast pump. I'd wash my pump, put it in the bag, and add the appropriate amount of water. After 3 minutes in the microwave the water was supposed to have steam sterilized it...and it was mighty steamy in that bag when I got it out of the microwave. The bags were supposed to be good for 20 uses...It seemed like they could have had many more uses after the 20...sometimes I did need to use them more than 20 times. The nice thing about the Medela Sterilizer bags is that when you were finished with a sterilization you could fold it up and not take up much space like some of the other microwave sterilizers I've seen. Hope this helps.

At home we always used a pot of boiling water.

Answer 3

Steam does good job of sterilizing because it can get to all spots of the bottle. Sterilizing dry bottles would not do the job. But if there is some water in or around the bottle, the water will turn into steam under microwave and will result in steam sterilization too.

Answer 4

I would definately go for a steam sterillizer. I had a microwave sterillizer with my first baby, you can only fit 4 bottles in at a time with a steam you can fit 6 which is brilliant if you plan on making bottles in advance.

Answer 5

i use steam at home when i went holiday i used microwave.. microwave i think easier.. but steam sterilizer takes 6 bottles microwave takes 4.. steam takes 8 minutes to steril.. microwave takes 5 minutes..

Answer 6

Steam

Answer 7

Or you could just boil a pot of water on the stove top and save money and counter/cabinet space. Sterilizers are a waste of money if you ask me. After the initial sterilization, which is easily accomplished by boiling bottles and nipples for 5 minutes on the stove top, there is really no need to sterilize baby bottles. Just washing with hot soapy water will do fine.

Answer 8

Yes, steam would most certainly do the best job of sterilising the bottles.

HOWEVER, if your overall kitchen and family hygiene is relatively good it doesn't make much of a difference, and you should go for the cheapest or least time-consuming method (depends on your priorities).
Babies who ingest germs might get ill from them, but usually it helps build their immune system.

The most common condition caused by unsterilised bottles is gastro-enteritis, presenting with diarrhoea and vomiting. The best treatment for this condition is keeping your baby hydrated (LOTS of fluid with electrolytes - you can get mixtures from your pharmacy but mixing 1/2 teaspoon salt and 8 tsp sugar with 1 litre boiled water is exactly the right balance of electrolytes) because it's not the germs that kill, it's the dehydration.

How to know if your baby is dehydrated :
Sunken fontanelles
Lethargic/not crying at all
Sunken eyes
Sunken temples
Loss of skin elasticity

Answer 9

Steam, but I never sterilized bottles. Soap & hot water do the trick just as good.

Answer 10

Steam - Quicker, less hassle and hold more bottles. I have a Tommee Tippee and I love it. I had to use a microwave steriliser when I went away for a week, it drove me potty, I could only do 4bottles at a time and then the lids and teats, where as I can do all at once at home.