Sterilizer and bottles questions?

Question

Which method do/did you use?
Which is best out of microwave and steam?
I know with the (avent) steam one you have to descale it regularly with citric acid, do you have to do it with the microwave one too?
Can you buy the satchets anywhere, from mothercare to boots?
Does 3 4oz and 5 9oz baby bottles seem enough to you? Only reason was because i was told they end up drinking more than 4oz quickly so i decided to buy more bigger bottles to save money.
Thanks

Answer 1

I have a tommee tippee steam steriliser, and it's been brill. My son is one in a couple of weeks so I won't be using it for much longer, but it has served me well!

Answer 2

I have a 6 week old daughter and we use the Avent steam steriliser every day, about three to four times a day. Some comments in this thread say not to sterilise bottles before use - you are asking for your newborn to pick up bacterial infections! You have to sterilise them - it is the safest way. The avent system is very good and comes with descaler. The guidelines on this system in to descale once a month and we have only descaled ours once. The free standing steam steriliser is so easy to use, you just throw in 90mils of water (it comes with a little jug too) and add the washed bottles and it about 5 minutes lates its all done! The descaler is actually only citric acid and this you can buy anywhere. You have more than enough bottles. If you haven't bought anything yet and if you are in the UK Babies R Us do a brill deal on a steam steriliser, with breast pump, about 9 bottles, 2 magic cups and some of the Via sysem to £50. We bought this and never had to buy another item and my daughter is soley bottlefed. Hope this helps XXX

Answer 3

I used the avent steam steriliser and it was fantastic. Before that, I had a steriliser which you used sterilising tablets with and it was a nightmare. The Avent one is really easy to use and I never once descaled it, my secret was to use filtered water-just the same as I do with the iron and that hardly ever needs descaling. If ever I just needed one bottle, I would boil water on the hob and pop the bottle in that. Good news is that as baby gets older, you don't have to be as meticulous with streilising. From 1 year old you don't really need to do it anymore, just make sure that all bottles, plate ,bowls etc are washed really well. You sound like you have the ideal amount of bottles, I also had a tiny one from Boots that I just used for cooled boiled water when my daughter needed a drink but was not hungry. Good luck.

Answer 4

Hello. I like the steam sterilisers, they are very quick and efficient, easy to descale once a month. Bigger bottles are definitely best, my boy was taking 5 oz feeds from week 2/3.
You have the right idea getting lots of bottles though. I started off with 4 thinking it would be enough. At least 7 is necessary really.
Just my opinion.

Answer 5

I use both steam and microwave as I had to express my breast milk. Sometimes it was just convenient to have both.
I use the Tommee Tippee Steam sterilizer and I also have to descale every 4 weeks with Citric acid. I got my citric acid from my local chemist who ordered it in for me as many places don't stock it as drug users apparently use it, so you may be asked what you need it for. I would advised that you take along the sterilizer instructions so they can see for themselves.
I found that it was easier just buying the 9oz bottles from the start because they can end up increasing the amount they drink very quickly and buying smaller bottles that may only last for say a few weeks is a total waste of money.

Answer 6

I used the steamer with all my kids, and sterilised bottles until they were 1 yr old. then I just used dishwasher after that. You don't need to descale them very often, and you can use vinegar to give them a scrub. The bottles don't touch the grimy parts at the bottom of the steamer anyway, so the descaling is more of an aesthetic thing than anything. I had previously borrowed the steamer from a friend that has moved away.... I'll definitely buy one for my new baby due in a few weeks. Boiling them requires too much supervision when you are tired!

Answer 7

I use steam steriliser, never had an issue descaling it, only needs done occassionally, much less than a normal kettle does. I also have the tablets/liquid for cold water sterilising so if Im away from home just need to pop the bottles into a basin or something, cheap and easy but the bottles are not dry like they are with the steam steriliser.
Sounds like plenty bottles, you may need a variety of teats tho depending on the flow of the ones you already have.

Answer 8

when my sister had her first baby she had the microwave one but she did not like it because it did not get the bottles clean enough so she went out and brought the steam one. i started off with the steam one and had no problems with it you do have to descale it about once a month i think it was but you can buy the sachets at boots for a couple off pounds you cant use the tablets it has to be the sachets.

when it came to bottles i had 4 4oz and 4 9oz. when i started using the 9oz i used the 4 oz for juice

Answer 9

hiya! i used the steam steriliser method with both of my kids. i had a boots one with my daughter but but the avent isis steam sterilser for my son.
both microwave & steam sterilisers are excellent but the with the nmicrowave one, check the size of your microwave. my friend bought a mocrowave one, only to find that it was too big for her microwave!
the citric acid sachets can be bought from boots - in shop or on line. you can also buy them from avent as they have an on line shop. they are really simple & easy to use - even my husband could use them :)
the amounts of bottles you`ve bought seem fine. i only had 2 4oz bottles & 6 9oz avent bottles for my son & that was more than enough.
the first link will take you to some more detailed info about different types of sterilising methods. the second link is for the avent website.
enjoy your baby!

Answer 10

I used the avent microwave sterilizer, but only for water bottles and milk on the rare occassion it was needed as I breast fed.

I never had to descale, and was using it probably on average, once a day.

Later on I used to just put a sterilizing tablet in the washing-up bowl and do a couple of bottles in there.

Sterilized upto his 1st birthday, which was a bit over the top, but hasn't done him any harm - almost two now and bug free.

Answer 11

We are also using an avent microwave steriliser and are very happy with it.

We have never descaled it but we do live in a soft water area so don't have to descale the kettle either.

It sounds like you have enough bottles.