6 Best Baby Bottle Sterilizers, According to Moms

As you make your baby registry, you might find yourself debating whether you really need certain items. One of the items in question: a baby bottle sterilizer. Although some find this product to be a not-so-useful item that takes up space, many parents see it as a pretty handy tool. For those parents, a bottle sterilizer is one of the most efficient and effective ways to ensure that your baby's bottles and other feeding supplies are safe and germ- and bacteria-free.

Bottle sterilization is important for newborns whose immune systems are still developing and may not be able to fight off infections yet. A bottle sterilizer uses steam or ultraviolet (UV) light to eliminate bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful microorganisms. For the first few months of your baby's life, you can use these machines to sterilize baby bottles, nipples and other feeding equipment quickly — typically in under five minutes. Although they take up counter space, they can be pretty handy to have around. 

How we chose the best bottle sterilizers 

• We spoke to two What to Expect staff members who have three children between them and have tested several of the products on this list, in addition to my own experience using a bottle sterilizer for my two children.

• Based on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we ensured that all bottle sterilizers on this list are specifically designed to effectively remove potentially harmful bacteria and viruses from baby bottles and other feeding supplies using steam, heat or UV light. 

• We read reviews from the millions of parents in our What to Expect Community and included picks that had overwhelming praise for their:

• Ease of use

• Speed and convenience

• Overall value versus expense

Other factors to consider when buying bottle sterilizers

Here's what to consider as you're shopping and registering for bottle sterilizers:

• Capacity: Consider how many bottles the sterilizer can hold and what size bottles will fit in the sterilizer. Some sterilizer brands are best suited for bottles made by the same manufacturer, whereas larger-capacity bottle sterilizers can often hold bottles of any brand, shape or size. If you don’t know which type of bottles your baby prefers yet, choosing a sterilizer that can accommodate various brands might be wise.

• Cycle time: The amount of time it takes to clean bottles may be longer with some bottle sterilizers than others. For most parents, time is of the essence, so the faster, the better. How long it takes the bottle sterilizer to complete a cycle can also depend on whether or not the sterilizer has a drying setting, so that’s another thing to keep in mind as you shop. And, if you get a microwave sterilizer and have an older microwave with lower wattage, it may take a few minutes longer to sterilize (you can confirm this in the instruction manual). 

• Footprint: Consider where you’ll keep your bottle sterilizer — in a cabinet out of the way, on the counter for easy access, or even in your microwave — and then take a look at the sterilizer’s size. If you’re short on space, a smaller, more compact sterilizer is the way to go. On the other hand, if you have room to spare, a larger-capacity sterilizer that can hold more bottles or has more features may be the right choice. 

• Versatility: This is the top consideration for many parents in our What to Expect community when choosing a bottle sterilizer to make them worth the cost. Bottle sterilizers that can accommodate bottle of various shapes and sizes, sterilize other items (like breast pump parts or pacifiers), and have multiple functions like drying or warming are some of the main reasons parents end up loving or recommending specific sterilizers. Some even allow you to choose a "dry only" setting, which might be useful when you're still washing bottles, but don’t need to sterilize them. 

Another option that might be useful is a "holding" feature or auto shut-off, so after the cycle ends, bottles can stay sterile inside for up to 24 hours as long as the lid remains closed. And, if you plan to travel with your bottle sterilizer, portability is another factor to consider.

How often do I need to sterilize baby bottles?

Sterilizing baby bottles daily for the first few months of your baby's life can help reduce their chances of getting sick. The CDC recommends sterilizing bottles and parts once a day if your baby: 

• Is younger than 2 months

• Was born prematurely

• Has a weakened immune system

Some pediatricians may also recommend sterilizing bottles after each feeding on a case-by-case basis.

Though the practice isn't recommended explicitly by the AAP, many pediatricians recommend sterilizing baby bottles before first use. This suggestion is also sometimes included in bottle manufacturers' directions.

Is a sterilizer necessary for baby bottles?

Although a bottle sterilizer isn’t necessary, the right one can make life easier for busy parents. If your pediatrician recommends sterilizing bottles between feedings, you might like the convenience of being able to load and run a sterilizer without needing to boil water every time. (This is especially true if you're feeding multiple babies.) 

A bottle sterilizer can also be handy if you're traveling and staying somewhere without a full kitchen. Note, however, that you will still need to clean your bottles and accessories before sterilizing them since putting unwashed items into one of these appliances may cause residue to build up.

Additionally, bottle sterilizers can be used to sterilize other items like pacifiers and sippy cups as your baby grows. And, if you don’t have a dishwasher at home, it might be easier to continue using a bottle sterilizer for a deep clean even when you’re past the need for daily sterilization.

How do I sterilize a baby bottle?

Each sterilizer has its own instructions but there is one constant: All bottles parts should be fully disassembled and cleaned with soap and hot water before sterilizing. 

Most bottle sterilizers create steam after you add water to a reservoir. They can either stand on the counter (powered by an electrical wall plug, battery or USB cable) or go into the microwave, generating heat to create steam. Note that using distilled water will help prevent mineral scale build-up in steam models. Some countertop sterilizers might also use UV light, rather than steam, to sterilize.

If you don’t have a designated sterilizer, you can sterilize bottles after cleaning with soap and water by placing them disassembled in a pot of water. Boil for 5 minutes and remove with clean tongs, per CDC recommendations. You can also use steam to sterilize bottles by placing them disassembled in the microwave or plug-in steam system per the manufacturer’s instructions. 

If you can’t boil or steam, or you don’t have access to clean water, CDC guidelines recommend using a prepared solution of one teaspoon of unscented bleach per 16 cups of water, soaking disassembled bottles for 2 minutes. Then, allow all bottle parts to air dry thoroughly before use. 

One lingering question you may have is, can I put baby bottles in the dishwasher? If your dishwasher has a sanitize setting and your baby’s bottles are dishwasher-safe, the CDC says that this is an acceptable method by which to clean bottles. However, it’s important to note that sanitizing is not the same as sterilizing baby bottles — so your dishwasher is not able to sterilize bottles.

When can I stop sterilizing baby bottles?

For most babies, you can stop sterilizing baby bottles after the first few months once their immune systems start to kick in. However, babies born prematurely or with a weakened immune system may need to continue having their bottles sterilized for longer. Your pediatrician can offer the best guidance for how long you'll need to continue daily sterilization.