what steriliser is best

[Tubbychook]

Hi i was wondering if any of the "experianced" mums out there can give me advice on what type of steriliser is best to use. I have yet to buy one. I know that the older style milton ones are good but my mum thinks that i should get the microwave steam type. I was wondering if the microwave ones are any good as i didnt think that you would be able to put the teats or dummies in them. Also what about the brest pumps i didnt think that they would be able to go in them either. Also which will stay sterilised longer the milton or the steam. Im guessing that as far as safety to the mum wouldnt the milton one be better as there would be less chance of a burn which i can gurantee that i will manage to do as well if anything is hot then i am sure to burn myself on it :eek: any advice would be very appreciated.

Shannon and Bubba Squirt

[Mamaduke]

Hi Shannon,
With my first son I bought the Avent microwave steriliser. It's good because you can fit alot of bottle and teats, as well as dummies. When my second son was born I went for the Pur self-sterilising bottles. They're great because you can sterilise anywhere there's a microwave. You don't need any special device to put them in, they just get popped into the microwave - they're great. You also get these little tong like things so after you've finished sterilising you don't need to touch the teat to put the bottle back together! I bought mine from Target.
Here's the link to have a look at them...
http://www.tommeetippee.com.au/p-b-prodpur.asp?id=177&pk=2&sk=21
If I had my time again, I wouldn't bother with the large steriliser, I'd just buy the Pur bottles - they're also a great bottle, no leaks and a nice wide neck (for tipping formula powder into - no spillage)
Hope this helps,
Carly

[aardvark]

I loved my Avent microwave steam steriliser.

I wish I had bought it sooner. I didn't buy it until I was returning to work, and wanted something I could easily use to sterilise my breast pump in at the office.

Before that I was using a Milton unit at home, and I could have just used the mircowave unit instead.

[stormanet]

Heya :) I like my pigeon bench top one. It holds heaps of stuff and is done in about 10 minutes. It has a separate shelf at the tpo for the teats etc. I haven't tried any others but as I am the type of person who prefers to do 1 big load a day.. this one is great for me :)
k

[rynosmum]

I also had the Avent steraliser and loved it. And it is fine for dummys, teats and breast pump bits - no probs at all. I did put a dummy chain in there once though - that wasn't a great idea...

[whatwasithinking]

I swear by the Kmart or Big W microwave sterilisers that are between $20-$30 if that.
Used them for both kids.
I did orginally with DD#1 buy expensive electric steriliser but only used it twice as it took too long plus I had to buy bottled water as apparently tap water has too much lime or something in it.

[LucyE]

I chose the Avent electric steam steriliser because I didn't like the idea of using chemicals and then have DS ingest them. If I had a microwave I would probably have purchased a microwave steam steriliser instead. There's a brand that has microwave sterilising bags which can do any brand of bottle and teats.

Our steriliser takes approx 8-15 minutes to sterilise (faster if it's full - strange) and will keep things sterile for approx 3 hours so long as the lid is not lifted. You can and should sterilise all your breast pump bits, bottles and teats - basically everything that comes in contact with milk.

[dormouse]

I use a microwave sterilser too.
Mine is just Target brand & it cost me about $30. It's really easy, just put the bottles in, add water & microwave for 5mins! It can do 5 bottles plus a few dummies at a time.
It is the best thing I bought!

[Ky]

OK, so I am old fashioned and boring!

I used a large pot on the stove and boiled all of my bottles and teats for 5 minutes at rapid boil then allowed them to air dry covered with a teatowel!

The other method I used (for my breat pump) was an icecream container with 2 litres of water and 10mls of bleach ... the solution is active for 24 hrs and is much cheaper than buying sterilising tablets, yet works just as well ... it is the method used by the hospital that my son was born at!

These are great if you are looking for a cheap method ... just don't forget the bottles and let them boil dry - my sister did once and had a lovely melted mess in her pot!

[Peaceangels]

I'm also a big fan of the Avent microwave steriliser.

It was a gift when DS1 was born (who was brstfed, with occassional bottles of brstmilk).

I have used it alot over the past three years and it is still going strong!

[Chickadee]

I bought a Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser. 2nd hand, I can't remember how much it was. It had spots for both regular and wide neck bottles, but where I could fit 4 regular bottles and all the bits, I'd have been hard pressed to get more than 2 wide neck bottles in it.

Before I bought the microwave steriliser I also used a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes, so Kyra you're not alone! I actually found the boiling pot easier to fit all the odd shaped breastpump bits into.

Interestingly, I've been told by many CHN and also read on goverment health info sheets that there is no need to sterilise if equipment is washed in hot soapy water. I'm a wuss and never have the wash water too hot (& hate gloves), but if I'd had a dishwasher I would have just used that for everything instead of sterilising separately.

[Mumoffour]

I have the luxury of the avent steam steraliser- its sooooo easy!:) i do the breast pump and everything in it. With my first two i used milton until one day for some unknown reason:o i put a sterilised dummy in my own mouth- it tasted like bleach!!!! yech!i boiled all their bottles after that in a big pot on the stove. With my toddler i picked up a steam steraliser out of the weekend shopper (classifieds) for $20! bargain.

[snoozy]

Im another fan of the Avent microwave steriliser. I put everything through it and never had a problem.

Its also great if you travel as its easy to take with you and hotels will put through the microwave for you through room service.

[jes]

I use milton tablets and wouldnt use anything else, if you rinse with boiled water it gets rid of the 'chemical' smell. I boil my teats and dummies for 5 mins on the stove!

[zenifa]

I used to use a big pot of boiling water on the stovetop, but I was boiling for 10 minutes (info I got when in hosp having DD). I recently bought the Tomee Tippee microwave steriliser on special at Target (30% off) and it is so easy, only takes 6 mins. :) Z

[Pixie]

I just bought the Avent breastfeeding starter pack has bottles/teats/breastpump/and microwave steriliser 10 storage bottles all up also came with 40 breast pads, a brush and 2 bigger feeding bottles all up cost me $180 was $235 but got it on sale :D haven't used it yet, but heard it was good :D

[ThomasMum]

Like MarthaM, we also use the Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser, JMHO m'wave sterilisier (any brand really) is so much easier than any other "gadgets", and it does fab job, it did kill the germs etc lol because look at Thomas, a healthy, happy and thriving baby! :D

TM