The box contains five capacious, well-designed bags that can fit two bottles apiece and each bag can be reused 20 times, so they’re much more economical than they might first appear. Realistically, it’s not always possible to pay out a whole week’s grocery money for a steriliser, even if you know you’ll be using it regularly. There is a solution. If your budget is a little tight and your sterilising needs aren’t too heavy, these reusable microwave bags from Medela are reliable, compact and surprisingly good value for money. Capacity: Six bottles, plus breast pump parts | Materials: Plastic | Included: Container and weighted grid Good for parents who Feed. Sterilise. Repeat. It can be a bit of a task to stay on top of sterilising with a demanding feed schedule; thanks to our cool touch microwave steriliser bags, it’s easier than ever to clean your baby bottles and stay on top of your baby feeding routine. One of the many benefits of breastfeeding is not having to sterilise equipment between feeds, however, if you are expressing your breast milk, the NHS advises that you should sterilise any bottles used to store it.

Key details – Type: Electric and microwave steam steriliser; Capacity: Approx 5 bottles; Travel-friendly: Yes Place the sterilising bag into the centre of the microwave, ensuring the bag is upright. Follow the instructions for your microwave. Microwave on high power using this guide:Capacity: Four bottles | Materials: BPA-free plastic | Included: Sterilisation unit, bottle/food warming unit, two 160ml MAM Anti-Colic bottles, two 0-2 month dummies, and teat tongs Good for parents who Can sterilise two baby bottles per cycle – so if you’re getting through more than four bottles a day, it’s fairly labour-intensive

She looked at whether each steriliser was available from a wide range of retailers, whether you’d need to buy any extras separately and whether it was possible to buy replacement parts. If you buy the mam bottles they can just go in the microwave by themselves, would highly recommend!"Loved by Mumsnet user Roboticcarrot Our verdict Reusable steam bags for bottles, pump parts, and more: Each bag can be used up to 20 times and is designed for durability and convenience, whether at home or at work; bags also double as a great option for neatly organizing and storing pump partsMost of them are cup-shaped microwave sterilisers large enough for one bottle or one breast pump – though you might not always have access to a microwave when away from home so look out for ones that can be used with cold water solution as well. This brilliant 2-in-1 option from Milton gives you the best of both worlds, with the option to either microwave or cold-water sterilise your baby’s bottles. The BPA-free tub is somewhat bulky but it’s lightweight, with a strong and sturdy carry handle that makes it an excellent choice for trips away when a microwave might not be readily available. Much like the brand’s cold-water option, the solution in this steriliser will also remain sterile for up to 24 hours, allowing you to conveniently use throughout the day or store overnight ready for the next morning. Not the most budget-friendly electric steriliser we tested, and a more expensive initial outlay than microwave or travel versions

Once the cycle is done, there’s a cool marked area to hold the bag and a hole to tip out the hot water into a sink before opening.

Best budget microwave steriliser bags: ASDA Little Angels 5 Microwave Sterilising Bag s - Buy from Asda For a fast-sterilising system without the need for water, this UV steriliser plugs in and has everything sterile and ready for instant use after seven minutes. In addition to sterilising bottles, dummies and teats, it also cleans keys, cosmetic brushes, toys and mobile phones, for added versatility. We love that this is a modern, compact unit that doesn’t look out of place on a countertop. It’s very quiet when in use, too. mouths!) around them. This new generation of sterilisers use light rather than heat, steam or chemicals to eliminate germs and other nasties. Things to consider before buying a steriliser

Yes, it’s important to wash your bottles before you sterilise them to ensure you remove any dried-on milk which could be harbouring bacteria. You can thoroughly wash them in warm soapy water or put them in your dishwasher. Make sure you place your bottles and teats face down in the dishwasher so they don’t fill with dirty water. If you’re washing them by hand, use bottle and teat brushes to ensure you clean every part of the bottle. I recommend Mam bottles, so easy to sterilise in the microwave!" Recommended by Mumsnetter Isababybel I have the Nuby UV one and I love it. I wash the bottles and let them air dry and then put them in there dry for three minutes and it's done! If you're formula feeding Nuby had a sale on their UV steriliser and Rapidcool (can make milk to NHS recommendations and they be cool in 3/4 minutes) bundle." Loved by Mumsnetter Grace185 Our verdict The disadvantages are the smell, the need to continually buy new tablets and the inconvenience of keeping a large container full of water in a corner of your kitchen – especially relevant if you have other small children. 2. Electric steriliser Microwave sterilisers are smaller, but not exactly portable. They could sit on top of the fridge or stay in the microwave itself if you’d rather not keep them out. 3. Cycle timeKate Bennett says, “This is such an individual choice. It depends on what you find easiest, what your budget is and how much space you have. That’s before you think about what you’ll be sterilising and how you plan to feed your baby.” With steam sterilising, water is added to the sterilising unit which then boils to create steam that kills the bacteria. Some steam sterilisers are standalone and will plug into the wall, whilst others are super simple and can just be popped in the microwave. The length of a sterilisation cycle varies wildly between brands. If you’ve got a set-up where you intend to batch-sterilise once a day, a longer cycle won’t matter so much. But if you’re planning on sterilising more often, you won’t want to wait by the steriliser juggling a hungry baby. 4. Noise Usually, they’re of a size that isn’t truly portable, however, and you still might find it inconvenient to find the cupboard space or take it with you to a grandparent’s house. Some of the larger models might not fit inside more compact modern microwaves either.