Baby Bottle Sterilizer: Which is Right for You?
A baby bottle sterilizer is one of the must have products for every expectant mother. Even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, there may come a time when you will want some time off for yourself, in which case you can use a breast pump to express your milk. This method will allow you to feed your breast milk to your infant with a baby bottle. However, you need to be aware that feeding your baby through a baby bottle requires a great deal of care, since there are various contaminants around that may harm your baby’s health. If you bottle feed your baby with breast milk and formula then by purchasing a baby bottle sterilizer kit you will achieve better peace of mind when it comes to cleaning their bottle. Most important, you will know that your baby will never ingest any of these bacteria and contaminants through their feeding bottle.
You may be a first time parent wondering how you can choose a baby bottle sterilizer, this can be very confusing. Firstly, you need to be aware that there are several types of sterilizers, most of which are easy to clean. Each sterilizer has its own advantages and disadvantages. Aside from boiling baby bottles, these sterilizers also operate through steam or through microwave steam.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Bottle Sterilizers
When you are a first time parent you need to learn so much. The first thing to learn is about hygiene. Never assume that after your child has had their milk that you can clean your babies feed bottles in the wash basin or dishwasher as this is not effective. There are many types of bottle sterilizer available. Some use the intensive heat to clean the bottles whereas others use steam to reduce harmful bacteria. There are many different sterilizers, all of which will be able to offer you different benefits and most importantly they will be able to provide you and your baby with the ultimate in protection.
Steel Baby Bottle Sterilizers
Steel pots are especially designed to become a sterilizer for parents who do not want any plastic substances to touch their baby bottles. Some parents may be wary and could feel that plastic sterilizers will leach into the products. However with this method of sterilization there are quite a few disadvantages. With a steel sterilizer you will always need to be there throughout the process and available to turn off the stove when the process is complete. Unfortunately this method can result in cloudy baby bottles because of the mineral build-up. Plus it will require you to use more water and consume more energy in order to carry out sterilization.
Electric Sterilizer
An electric steam sterilizer is another way in which you can make your baby bottles free from harmful bacteria. There are many brands available with varying features. The Philips Avent electric steam sterilizer is a great example of this type of baby bottle sterilizer. An advantage of using an electric steam sterilizer is that it uses a small amount of water and the bottles can be sterilized in as little as 8 minutes. This product is convenient to use, and extremely portable. Should you be going out for the day to visit family then you can simply pop it in the car and take it with you. Just plug it into an electrical outlet and you’re good to go. Depending on your requirements, there are electric sterilizers that can hold varying numbers of bottles. Philips Avent offers models that can hold a single bottle or large scale models that can hold up to 6 x 260 ml Avent bottles at any one time. Though using this electric steam sterilizer unit the Baby bottles remain sterile for up to six hours.
Microwave Baby Bottle Sterilizers
This has become a popular method of sterilizing feeding bottles. Since most homes are equipped with a microwave, you might want to consider the microwave steam sterilizer. This kind of sterilizer product is made of microwaveable plastic and can fit into any standard size microwave. All you have to do is to add a little water and pop the bottles in the microwave unit. This unit then goes into the microwave for the stated length of time. The heat of the steam sterilizes the bottle. The steam that the microwave produces will kill off any bacteria that will make your baby sick. The Munchkin steam guard microwave sterilizer has an award-winning design; this is a popular choice of microwave bottle sterilizer. Many parents also choose the Dr. Brown sterilizer. These units have a large capacity which means you can sterilize several bottles and teats at once. They are compact and lightweight; therefore they are ideal for home and travel usage.
Other Kits and Products Available
Another breakthrough product available on the market uses dry heat to clean and sterilize the bottles. It does not use steam or hot water. The Germ Guardian Sanitizer operates on this principle of intensive heat. This is perfect for plastic toys and other baby bottles as well as bottles and nipples.
The First Years bottle sterilizer kit is another popular product. This comes with the essential items to get you started. This includes a bottle nipple brush which will help you to clean the inside of the bottle and nipple. It also comes with a dishwasher drying rack so that you can wash teething toys and small sizes hard to clean kitchen items. Purchasing a kit can work out more economical, especially for new parents who will need to purchase a large amount of baby products.
Hygiene is the most important factor when feeding your baby, regardless as to whether you feed them formula or breast milk. With so many different products to choose from, choosing a baby bottle sterilizer that will fit your needs and lifestyle may be daunting. However, because we have so many excellent products and alternative, you’ll be sure to find one that is perfect for you.