8 best baby bottle sterilisers that will make life easier for new parents

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

Designed to sterilise, dry and offer storage, this UV option from Tommee Tippee is a bit of a no brainer. It looks a bit like a small microwave, and while not the most compact, doesn’t have any fiddly bits or complicated shelves and compartments to think about – if like us, you’re easily put off by too many features, you’ll still enjoy using this.

It has four pre-set functions including sterilise-only, dry-only and a storage mode. The storage setting emits a UV light and five minutes of drying time every two hours. This keeps baby bottles sterile throughout the day and night after cleaning, and was one feature we particularly liked. The sterilise-only setting can be set to either 35 or 45 minutes while the dry-only mode uses a 30, 40 or 50 minutes drying cycle, depending on how many items you put in.​

We’re big fans of UV sterilising and like that this model is really easy to use and has drying options. In short, we think it’s a great all-rounder.

Best: For convenience and speed

Rating: 9/10

Finding space for baby bottles to dry in a hygienic space can be tricky if you don’t have a large kitchen. Enter Vital Baby nurture’s advanced pro UV 3 in 1 UV steriliser, dryer and storage which solves this problem pretty impressively.

First of all, we found its glossy white design very pleasing and four-mode control panel refreshingly easy to operate. It also has a spacious interior that is designed to fit bottles, accessories, toys and even remote controls. Auto mode sets the device on a 29-minute sterilising cycle which begins by drying the contents before automatically moving on to sterilising mode which takes just seven minutes to kill 99.9 per cent of germs. There’s also a separate drying mode that takes 17 minutes and can be used straight after cleaning and before sterilising. Finally, the 72-hour store mode dries and sterilises the contents before sterilising for one minute every hour, for up to three days.

It’s on the higher end of the price bracket but for convenience and speed, you can’t go wrong.

Best: Value for money

Rating: 8/10

If you aren’t sure whether your baby will take a bottle and don’t want to initially spend a lot of money on a flashy steriliser (or you simply just don’t have the space), microwave steriliser bags are a great option. These quick clean bags from Medela can be used almost anywhere where you have access to a microwave and have space for all the essentials such as breast pump parts, bottles, teats, dummies and cups.

Faster and easier than boiling water, sterilisation takes around three minutes in which time the bags eliminate 99.9 per cent of germs. You just need to let the steam out and the contents cool down before drying them off with a clean towel. We popped a couple in our baby bag to use when visiting friends and family, and found that they even came in useful for toddler-age children (who have a habit of throwing their toys and cutlery in unsanitary places).

We were a little worried about creating unnecessary plastic wastage until we noticed that each bag can be used up to 20 times which we think is pretty good going. There’s also a handy numbered tick-box on the back of bags so you can keep track of how many times you’ve used each one. They’re super popular though, and as such are currently out of stock. But you can sign up with your email to receive notifications about when these are available to purchase.

Best: State-of-the-art technology

Rating: 9/10

If you appreciate the latest technology, you’re sure to be as blown away by this steriliser as we were. The Nuby portable UV steriliser doesn’t require any water, chemicals, cooling time or drying – making it perhaps the most convenient of all the products reviewed. It comes in a stylish grey shoulder bag with a zipped compartment at the top for sterilising, and another at the base for storage.

To get started, you simply have to charge the accompanying portable battery before plugging it into the cable attached to the steriliser (it sits at the back of the bag). You then pop your bottles on the metal shelf inside, zip the lid up and press the Nuby button at the front. It flashes while it completes a three-minute sterilisation cycle and remains on a solid light when it’s finished. You can then take your bottles out straight away to use.

It works by using ultraviolet light to draw on electromagnetic radiation to kill microorganisms (a process widely used in the medical industry). So it still kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria but just doesn’t need water or chemicals to do so. The battery also lasts for about 17 cycles when it’s fully charged so you can throw it on the back of the pram and not worry about it for a while. We think it’s great for overnight stays at the grandparents, holidays and play dates where you need quick and convenient sterilisation.

Best: For large families

Rating: 7/10

This is one of the larger sterilisers that we reviewed and it did feel slightly overwhelming when we pulled it out of the box. It does have space for up to six bottles at a time though, so this could be a good option if you have two under two, twins or multiples.

It works with clean steam that kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria and keeps the contents sterilised for up to 24 hours after a cycle has finished. HEPA filters also catch 95 per cent of airborne particles so the air used to dry the bottles inside is purified. The easy-to-use control panel also has options for sterilising only, drying only, or sterilising and drying together.

If we were to be picky, the cons of this steriliser are that you’ll need to replace the filters every six months and wait around ten minutes for the contents inside to cool down after a cycle. Other than that, it’s pretty easy to use but is slightly more fiddly to use than some of the other options on this list.

Best: For days out and weekends away

Rating: 9.5/10

Munchkin’s microwave sterilise bags work in exactly the same way as Medela’s (£12.99, Medela.co.uk), but offer slightly more space inside and can be used up to 30 times. Not that the aesthetics matter that much, but we love their colourful design and zip-top opening. They also feature a cool-touch grip so you won’t burn yourself when removing steamy bags from the microwave.

Depending on the wattage of your microwave, a full sterilisation takes between 1.5-5 minutes and they can be used straight after, once the contents has been dried off with a clean towel. There’s also a handy numbered chart on the back which you can tick off each time you use the bag. These bags are great for emergencies, days out and weekends away and are also great value for money.

Best: Cold-water option

Rating: 9/10

No steriliser review would be complete without mentioning Milton’s cold water steriliser. With no need for electricity points or hot water, this simple-to-use system has been popular for 70 years and has long been used in hospital maternity wards and by parents with multiple babies.

All you need to do is dissolve tablets into the 5l capacity bucket and leave your equipment to soak in cold water for 15 minutes inside. A locked lid and weighted grid help to keep bottles and other items submerged in the water for the allotted time and, once finished, they remain sterile for up to 24 hours.

The bucket fits six full-size baby bottles and can also be used to clean breast-pump parts, dummies, cutlery, and even weaning bowls. It’s our favourite no-frills option that does what it says without the need for hot water, electricity points and complicated instructions.

Best: For travelling

Rating: 7/10

If you’re looking for a compact option that you can pop in your baby bag and take everywhere, Tommee Tippee’s travel steriliser is a safe and affordable option. Totally versatile, it can be used on the go, in the microwave or with cold water sterilising tablets and is designed to keep a single bottle sterile for up to three hours.

Before purchasing, it’s important to note that it’s only designed to fit the accompanying award-winning closer to nature baby bottle (£7.49, Tommeetipee.com) or similar smaller bottles. So if your baby prefers a larger type, it may not be the best option for you. With that said, if it fits the bottles you use, we don’t think you can go wrong for value for money. It also makes life much easier when you’re out and about, travelling or taking an overnight trip.