The Best Bottle Sterilizer

What makes a good bottle sterilizer?

Before the late 1890s, nearly one third of all infants who were bottle fed died in before they were one, leaving medical science baffled about the cause. It wasn’t until microbiologists of the time developed the germ theory that cleanliness and sterilization became the norm. Even with this knowledge, many parents still made formula in large batches and left them unrefrigerated. (Or sadly were sold “swill milk” by irresponsible dairies). This, along with questionable water supplies, led to bacterial contamination. That’s when the boiling method of sterilization became commonplace: bottles were placed in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes or more.

By the 1950s, studies showed that American parents knew enough about aseptic techniques and the nation’s water supply was so sanitary that bottles could be used safely if they were clean with hot tap water and soap. But by then, sterilization had become so ingrained in the American psyche that it was difficult to let go of the old ways.

“No one recommends ‘sterilizing’ bottles any more. Processes traditionally used at home don’t sterilize anyway, and baby’s mouths are not sterile,” said Dr. Roy Benaroch, a Georgia pediatrician, author and blogger. “Water that’s safe enough for adults to drink is safe enough for babies to drink.”

Even as the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that bottles and nipples only be cleaned with soap and hot water (or run through a dishwasher), some parents and pediatricians are hanging on to the old rules. The topic has become so polarizing that many doctors, while saying it’s not necessary to sterilize, recommend that parents go with their gut because it can’t hurt.

When it comes to sterilizing, it’s also important to recognize the role of the common plastic additive Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-mimicking industrial chemical. In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the chemical in baby bottles and cups because of a possible link to developmental disorders. The FDA recommends never putting hot or boiling liquid into BPA-containing bottles because the heat may cause the BPA to leach into the liquid. At the same time, it’s probably a wise move to use a BPA-free microwave sterilizer. To be on the safe side, never use plastic bottles or a microwave sterilizer made before 2012.

If you’re set on sterilizing and are confident that your bottles are BPA free, it’s time to look to either a microwave or electric sterilizer. Luckily, most aren’t that expensive.

On the top of the scale, an electric sterilizer can cost more than $100. Most, however, are in the $30 to $50 range. Some parents like the electric models because they’re sturdy and self-contained, while others swear by the microwave design for the convenience factor. Of course, you could always use the old pot-of-boiling-water method (put the bottles in a large covered pot of boiling water for at least 15 minutes), but it’s fraught with problems. That includes the time it takes to boil a large pot of water (what new mom has that kind of time?) and the chance for a serious accident.

Today, there are at least 15 electric and microwave models on the market. Like anything else, the more expensive the model, the more bells and whistles. But we’ve found more features don’t typically make a better product.

The few things that are required for bottles to be sterilized using the steam method (there are other methods that we’ll get to later) is high heat, moisture and time. Moist heat over 212 degrees kills most bacteria within minutes. Most, if not all, bottle sterilizers, either electric or microwave, are made to achieve this temperature.

Best Electric Sterilizer Features

The best electric bottle sterilizers have the following features:

• Compact—The perfect bottle sterilizer is compact enough to take up only a small amount of counter space but roomy enough to fit all sizes of baby bottles. For parents with limited counter space, this is especially important because the sterilizer will likely stay on a countertop for the duration of use. At the same time, the compact sterilizer must be big enough to handle some of the wide and tall bottles on the market (such as Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow and the Munchkin Latch.) If you have to lay your bottles in the sterilizer, water could collect in them and defeat the purpose of what you’re trying to accomplish.
• Ease of use—Some of the more popular sterilizer brands come with several parts that must be put together and taken apart for each use. This complicates the process because there’s a risk of breaking or losing an important component. Also, what parent wants to be fumbling with assembly at 4 a.m.? The best product is simplistic, with only a few moving pieces and parts.
• Reasonable price—Electric bottle sterilizers prices range from the astronomical (Wabi Baby retails for about $140) to reasonable (Munchkin Steam Guard Electric Sterilizer retails for less than $20). The average price for an electric sterilizers is about $50. No parent should pay more than $50 for a bottle sterilizer. Remember, it’s just a simple machine that creates steam from boiling water. (And one that, frankly, we’re not entirely sure you must have.)
• Quick cycling — For most machines, the amount of time it takes to sterilize is directly related to the amount of water put in the machine. The more water, the longer the cycle. There’s also a (wisely) recommended period of time that the bottles should sit in the machine after the cycle is complete. (Forget to do this and you could wind up with a nasty steam burn.) All that said, most machines have automatic shut-offs despite the amount of water. Some machines take up to 12 minutes to cycle through, while other can take as little as 6 minutes. When you add the 10 minutes rest time after the cycle, the total time could be as much as 22 minutes for some machines. That’s 22 minutes of torture for any parent listening to a hungry, crying baby.
• Versatile — Any bottle sterilizer should serve as a multi-function machine. In the infant years, it should hold bottles, nipples, caps and the like. It should also hold breast-pump parts including tubes and breastshields. Later, it should be able to hold toddler tableware, including plastic spoons and forks. It can also be used to sterilize nebulizer parts.

Smaller details of features, like an end-of-cycle beep and cool-to-touch body, differentiates good sterilizers from great ones. However, these are just wish-list items and aren’t required for the top model. Features like tongs, especially the ones we found included with most brands, are typically useless.

Best Microwave Sterilizer Features

• Fit—While microwave sterilizers don’t create storage hassles like their electric counterparts, they have their own set of challenges. They need to be big enough to hold a variety of bottles and accessories, but small enough to fit into most microwaves. With a wide variety of microwave sizes on the market, this makes finding the perfect fit challenging. For some parents, that might mean trial and error (read: more cost and hassle).
• Durability—The inherent problem with microwaving plastic is that it becomes soft and flexible. This is a problem when you’re removing a blazing hot sterilizer with steaming water and hot bottles from a microwave. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, sterilizers (in the same category with bottle warmers) caused an estimated 1,800 injuries in 2012 that required emergency room treatment.  The best product in this category will be sturdy and strong.
• Ease of Use—A good microwave sterilizer will not have too many pieces and parts to assemble. Again, no one wants to have to assemble a bottle sterilizer with a hungry baby on the prowl.
• Reasonable price—On average, a microwave sterilizer should cost about $25. It’s a simple product that performs the most basic of tasks—boiling water.