Another great feature is the easy-to-navigate digital screen that allows you to customize times and temperatures. There’s also a built-in light to help you see in the dark for middle-of-the-night feeds. But if you’re bottle-feeding full time or expressing breastmilk regularly, you should find each of the different modes very helpful – and the fact that the warming unit handles food as well as milk means it should continue to be useful, even once you’re done with sterilising completely. We spend hours researching, speaking to parents, analysing data and listening to experts before we test out the products on our shortlist. There are four main sterilisation units on the market: cold water sterilisers, microwave sterilisers, electric sterilisers and travel sterilisers. They all have their own pros and cons. 1. Cold water steriliser Capacity: Six bottles, plus breast pump parts | Materials: Plastic | Included: Container and weighted grid Good for parents who

They are essentially a large, round, plastic box with a screw-on lid, usually with an internal basket to hold the bottles. Water is poured into the bottom (under the basket) and in the microwave it boils to create steam. I recommend Mam bottles, so easy to sterilise in the microwave!" Recommended by Mumsnetter Isababybel I find the nuby natural touch steam steriliser really good - it dries the bottles too. It is tall and fits lots of different shaped bottles and other bits!" Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Sjh84 Our verdict After the sterilisation cycle is complete, you can leave the items inside without opening the lid and they’ll remain sterile for a set period of time (often 24 hours, but it varies between products). Or you can take them out and use them once they’re cool. Like any electric steriliser, it attracts limescale on its heating plate so will need regular descaling. Our tester also didn’t like its short cable, which limits where it can be placed in the kitchen, and that it arrived wrapped in a lot of unnecessary plastic.All bottle sterilizers on our list are compatible with most bottle brands, shapes, and sizes. For example, you don’t have to only use Dr. Brown’s bottles with the Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Warmer and Sterilizer—this unit is compatible with all of the company’s bottles and most other brands. Finally, she looked at whether the steriliser represented good value for money considering the features it provided for a wide customer base, noting whether or not she’d buy another if the sample model broke. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about how we tested the products we recommend. We won't always recommend the cheapest products or the ones with the most extra features. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones we'd recommend to our own friends and family. Consider how many bottles or other pieces you want (or need) to sterilize simultaneously. Because bottle sterilizers come in varying sizes, they don’t always hold the same amount of items. For example, if you’re the parent or caregiver of twins, opt for a large bottle sterilizer, like the Papablic Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer, which fits up to 11 bottles and accessories, such as pacifiers, plastic toys, and teethers. Even if you don’t have twins, a bigger bottle sterilizer accommodates enough bottles for a day of feeding, breast pump parts, and more. On the other hand, some units only hold one bottle, such as the BÉABA BabyMilk 3-in-1 Bottle Warmer, so you can sterilize as you go (and save counter space).

She investigated best practice safety recommendations from the NHS and sourced expert advice from Kate Bennett, a midwife of nine years and course teacher with antenatal education provider, New Life Classes. We appreciate the clear instructions that are easy to follow, like putting water into the base at the “MAX” line and putting the steam plate on top. There’s even a light beeping sound to alert you when the bottle is done warming, but it’s not loud enough to disturb a sleeping baby.

7. Best multipurpose steriliser: MAM 6-in-1 Electric Steriliser and Express Bottle Warmer

Rachel Jeffcoat has worked for 15 years as an editor and writer, after starting her career managing science and technology journals.