Baby bottle sterilizers are on the rise with new options available at regular intervals. As a matter of fact, the sterilization market is on the rise and likely to continue as parents become more informed and better understand how germs are spread. The Papablic Bottle Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer holds bottles of all sizes, steam cleans and uses a steel plate to prevent rusting. Take a look at all of the best bottle sterilizer options on the market now, including all three styles of sterilizers.
Best Bottle Sterilizers
There are multiple price points when it comes to baby bottle sterilizers. If you have a large budget or someone buying you a gift, the Wabi UV-C Sterilizer and Dryer is a large unit that uses UV light to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria’s. If you have a tight budget, the Munchkin Microwave Sterilizer Bags are microwavable, reusable bags that give 180 cleanings for under $10 and also kill 99.9% of germs. Mid-priced options include the Papablic Steam Sterilizer and Dryer, Dr. Brown’s Sterilizer, and the Philips Sterilizer with Dryer.
Papablic Bottle Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer
The Papablic Baby Bottle Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer won’t take up a huge portion of your counter space as its thinner than it looks.
Even better, it uses steam to clean and sterilize bottles for a more encompassing cleaning process.
Steam disinfects at a higher temperature meaning this device will kill more germs than your dishwasher. Like the other sterilizers listed, this one also kills over 99% of germs. Twist the dial and try all three settings, sanitize, dry, and extra dry. The electric sterilizer includes a large compartment for bottles and a smaller stackable basket for bottle nipples, pacifiers, and toys. Also, the device works in just six minutes.
Lastly, with three stacking options, you can customize what you need to sanitize for up to 11 bottles and accessories. You will also love storing bottles off the counter and in the device for a more sterile environment for over 12 hours. The unit is also easy to clean and use which makes this a great option for most families.
Pros
- Thin space-saving design
- Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria with steam in 6 minutes
- Three settings (sanitize, dry, extra dry)
- Features a large space for bottles and a small space for accessories
- Fits up to 11 bottles
Cons
- Need to descale the device to prevent calcium deposit
- Water can leak out of the bottom
- Unit can take up to an hour to fully dry depending on the setting used
Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer
The Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer is easy to use and comes with an accessory tray that lets you sterilize bottles, nipples, pacifiers, and other small parts all at once. Just add the water, place the bottles in place, set the accessory tray on top of that, and close the machine. Then, you are ready to start.
There are two buttons you need to push to get this started. First, you preheat the device. Once it is ready, you can push the start button and wait. Added accessories like tongs and a measuring cup for the water are included. It is also nice that the way the bottles are inserted allows steam to blow directly into the bottle.
You will need to rest the sterilizer for at least ten minutes between cycles. Additionally, minerals from water can build up on the heating plate. It is best to use distilled water if your home has hard tap water.
Pros
- Accessory tray makes cleaning bottle accessories and pacifiers easy
- Steam directed into bottles for thorough sterilization
- Tongs make handling bottle pieces safer
- Included measuring cup makes measuring water easy
Cons
- Minerals/residue can build up on the hot plate
- Need to wait through the heat cycle, then turn on the machine
Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer
For moms who want fast and affordable. try Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer to sanitize your baby bottles in two minutes.
Also, the shape and size allow you to sterilize other items as well, just not anything metal, electronic, or magnetic!
The plastic bottle sterilizer pops into the microwave to kill off over 99% of harmful bacteria with steam. Pop some bottles, breast pump parts, pacifiers, teething rings, and other plastic items in to sanitize. If you keep the lid on, the contents can stay sterile for up to a full day.
Because the sterilizer goes in the microwave, it won’t take up any counter space. Store either in the microwave or in a cabinet if need be.
Finally, the container is BPA-free and works perfectly with Philips AVENT bottles, but will also work with similarly sized options. Fit four bottles in at the same time. If you need to and have space, you can pack the container up and take it with you to use anywhere where there is a microwave.
We’ve got a comparison of Tommee Tippee vs AVENT bottles.
Pros
- Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria
- Pops into microwave
- Contents stay sterile up to a full day with the lid on
- BPA free container
- Fits four bottles at one time
Cons
- Plastic can deteriorate quickly
- Some reviewers say they don’t feel like the bottles are actually getting sterilized
- Bottles tend to fall over
Philips AVENT Premium Electric Steam Sterilizer with Dryer
Though the Philips AVENT Premium Electric Steam Sterilizer with Dryer is one of the more expensive sterilizers, it is the only one on this list with a drying function. It is also very compact, allowing you to sterilize bottles and attachments without taking up a lot of space (or time).
The Avent baby bottle sterilizer is constructed of BPA-free plastic and uses a stainless steel heating tray. The sterilizer comes in multiple layers and offers a sleek design. With an automatic shut-off function and the ability to maintain a germ-free environment, you can start this and forget about it until the next day.
You can use the functions together or separately, by sterilizing and drying, just sterilizing, or just drying. It can hold up to six bottles and accessories at once, despite its small appearance. Its shape lets it be used with a wide range of bottle types and sizes, too.
A twist knob with a button makes it easy to see how much longer your bottles will take. While the sterilizing function is fast, it takes 30 minutes to dry a partial load and an hour to dry a full load of bottles. You can preset to switch to drying after sterilizing too, which is a nice feature when you want to wake up or come home to bottles that are ready to use.
Pros
- Stays sterilized for 24 hours
- Works as sterilizer, dryer, or both
- Very sleek and compact design
- Preset sterilizing and drying, for ready-to-go bottles effortlessly
Cons
- Takes a long time to dry the bottles
Baby Bottle Warmer and Sterilizer by Grownsy
The Baby Bottle Warmer and Sterilizer by Grownsy offers a touch screen to help you sterilize one bottle. It also comes with a few settings and you can use it to heat bottles too. What’s more, the sterilize includes 24-hour constant mode.
With this 5-in-1 bottle warmer you can sterilize, defrost, warm, steam, and more. You can even do a warm bath and steam to keep a bottle on reserve and maintain the best health in the formula or breastmilk. It’s all-in-one to save your money, time, and patience too!
The sleek design barely takes up any space on your kitchen counter. It comes with an LCD screen for precision temperature control. Pick your setting quickly without twisting knobs or other crazy antics. Use the presets to save even more time.
Get accurate temperature readings and adjust them to suit your exact needs. By keeping bottles at a low constant temperature, it can keep milk and formula safe for your baby and on tap! Also, you can heat up the bottle fast in just four minutes. The bottle warmer also has a high-temperature disinfect cycle to clean 99.9 percent of bacteria off the bottle about to touch your baby’s lips.
Pros
- 5-in-1 design
- Sleek and space-saving design
- Heats bottles within 4 minutes
- Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria
- 24h constant mode
Cons
- Only holds one bottle
PureBaby Microwave Bottle Sterilizer
The PureBaby Microwave Bottle Sterilizer is affordable and simple to use. It also features an open-away design and comes with heat-resistant tongs and a removable basket, minimizing the risk of burns.
The PureBaby microwave sterilizer has a compact design, so it holds fewer bottles than the electric models. Its size is necessary for fitting inside standard microwaves, though. It can sterilize eight small bottles and pump parts at once.
Even though it only takes minutes in the microwave, you still have to let the product sit for ten minutes after the heating cycle ends. This can be difficult to time when you are busy with your little one, especially when you need the bottles cleaned now.
One major downside is the way the lid of the sterilizer is designed. A handle pops up when the bottles are ready, but it is not secure enough to pull the warmer out of the microwave without losing water. Instead, you have to support the warmer on a towel in your opposite hand as you remove it from the microwave. Otherwise, there is a risk of spilling the warmer or burning yourself from the steam.
Pros
- Opens away from you to prevent burns
- Tongs included for grabbing sterilized parts
- Fits most standard microwaves
- Roomier than microwaveable sterilizing bags
Cons
- Need to set a secondary timer to know when ten minutes have passed
- Handle is poorly designed
Gourmia Jr. Baby Bottle Sterilizer
The Gourmia Jr. Baby Bottle Sterilizer is quite similar to the Papablic model above but with a different shape and works a bit differently. For one, this model is round to hold more items than a long oblong shape.
With the press of a button, you can sterilize lots of baby products. The quick clean function destroys up to 99.99% of germs with steam. The container’s round spacious design accommodates up to 2 bottles even angled bottles, wide-neck, and reflux bottles.
The heating plate is made of stainless steel to avoid rust and hard water build-up. Place smaller toys on the steam plate over the basket to steam pacifiers at the same time as bottles. You can even steam breast pump parts or toys in the basket. In addition, the device is dishwasher safe and uses auto shut off for safety.
Pros
- Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria with steam
- Holds up to 2 bottles
- Heating plate won’t rust
- Dishwasher-safe
- Auto-shutoff feature
Cons
- Round shape can be bulky on countertops
Wabi UV-C Sterilizer and Dryer for Bottles
While the Wabi UV-C Sterilizer and Dryer for Baby Bottles is rather pricy, it’s the best of the best with two shelves. It’s extra large and uses ultraviolet lights to sterilize anything you put in the container. Furthermore, it comes with a space-saving design.
The user-friendly touch panel makes eliminating germs an easy process. It removes 99.9 percent of salmonella, staph, e. coli, and so many other harmful bacteria’s and germs. No need to try and fit bottles into specific slots!
Finally, the device measures 13.75 x 11.50 x 16.50 inches. It’s ready to save you and your family from tons of potential illnesses on so much more than just bottles or pacifiers but even electronics and beauty brushes or hairbrushes.
Pros
- Use UV light to sanitize
- Touch controls
- Multiple settings and modes
- Cleans/warms multiple items at once
- Gets bottles 99.9% clean and sterilized
- Auto power-off
Cons
- It’s heavy weighing 16 pounds.
Munchkin Jumbo Microwave Bottle Sterilizer Bags
For a quick and portable way to sterilize your baby bottles, the Munchkin Jumbo Microwave Bottle Sterilizer Bags offer the perfect solution. Available in an 8″ x 11″ or 8″ x 14″ size, this Munchkin bag sterilizes bottles and accessories in as little as 90 seconds eliminating 99.9% of bacteria.
Each Munchkin bag includes 6 reusable sterilization bags. Each reusable sterilization bag can be used 30 times. To track how many times one bag has been used, there is a tracker on the front to mark so you don’t lose count. No worries about pulling a hot bag out of the microwave because the Munchkin features a cool-touch grip at the top. Parents absolutely love this method of sterilizing because it’s so fast and convenient!
Pros
- Sterilizes in 3-7 minutes (depending on microwave wattage)
- Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria
- Includes 6 reusable sterilization bags (each bag can be used 30 times)
- Available in small or large
- Portable
- Bag features usage tracker that can be marked
- Inexpensive price
Cons
- Need to buy more reusable sterilization bags after 30 times of use
How These Bottle Sterilizers Compare
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Wabi UV-C Sterilizer and Dryer for Bottles | 9.2 | 9.6 | 281.67 |
| Gourmia Jr. Baby Bottle Sterilizer | 3.9 | 8.2 | 119.00 |
| Philips AVENT Premium Electric Steam Sterilizer with Dryer | 9.8 | 9.2 | 109.95 |
| Papablic Bottle Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer | 9.8 | 9.4 | 69.95 |
| Dr. Brown's Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer | 9.9 | 9.2 | 45.99 |
| Baby Bottle Warmer and Sterilizer by Grownsy | 9.9 | 8.6 | 39.99 |
| PureBaby Microwave Bottle Sterilizer | 7.9 | - | 24.99 |
| Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer | 9.8 | 9.6 | 23.89 |
| Munchkin Jumbo Microwave Bottle Sterilizer Bags | 9.9 | 9.6 | 8.99 |
FAQs – Baby Bottle Sterilizers
Do I need a bottle sterilizer?
Bottle sterilizers are one of those optional parenting options. You do not necessarily need a bottle warmer, however, it does make sterilizing your little one’s bottles a lot easier and more convenient. There is still the alternative option of using boiling water as a sterilization method. If you are on the fence, here are some benefits of bottle sterilizers:
- There is less risk of burning yourself when removing items from boiling water
- It is faster since you do not have to boil water
- It helps you avoid warping and damage that can happen when boiling
- Sterilizing is more thorough than disinfecting with boiling water
Is sterilizing my baby’s bottles necessary?
Yes, sterilizing your baby’s bottles is necessary. The high infant mortality rate prior to the early 1900s was caused by the lack of sterilization. According to the history of baby bottles, those used in the 1800s featured long rubber tubes that were nearly impossible to clean.
The situation was made worse by a Victorian woman named Isabella Beeton. Beeton had written a popular book among Victorian women of the time, who considered the book the standard for household management. Among the many tips in Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management was the recommendation that women avoid washing the nipple for their baby’s bottle for 2-3 weeks at a time, concluding that this resulted in a deadly growth of bacteria.
Mrs. Beeton’s advice was wrong. As researchers uncovered the link between the bacteria left behind from mother’s milk and the formula’ used during the time, the bottles were discontinued and new sterilizing practices were advised.
Today, the traditional method for boiling bottles involves submerging all nipples, caps, bottles, and other equipment in boiling water for at least five minutes to kill the germs. It is necessary to sterilize bottles to prevent the build-up of deadly bacteria, especially in hard-to-reach areas of the bottle that might not be as easy to wash.
What features should I look for in a bottle sterilizer?
As you consider which bottle sterilizer is best for you and your baby, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Design – There are several styles of bottle warmer. Coldwater sterilizers require you to purchase sterilizing liquid or tablets to add to the water, while most others use heat as a sanitization method. Some are designed to work with a battery, while others require a power source. There are also sterilizers that work with your microwave. Recently, UV bottle sterilizers have been developed. These are portable and use UV rays to sterilize.
- Speed – Coldwater sterilizers can take up to half an hour, while most other electric sterilizers finish within ten minutes. Time is important since one of the major disadvantages of boiling is waiting for the pot of water to warm up.
- Effectiveness – Unless a bottler sterilizer is cleaning your little one’s bottles properly, there is no point in it. Consider your unique needs before deciding if a bottle sterilizer is a good fit for your family.
- Convenience – Bottle sterilizers are made to make life more convenient for parents. If they have small parts or are difficult to use, they are going to end up sitting on a shelf collecting dust while you boil bottles.
- Size – A compact bottle sterilizer will not take as much space, however, you will not be able to clean as many bottles at once. Overloading the bottle sterilizer is also a problem, since the bottles may not be as sterilized.
Do I need to wash baby bottles before putting them in the sterilizer?
If you put bottles with old formula or milk in the sterilizer, you are going to contaminate the sterilization area. You should always wash bottles with hot water and soap before sterilizing them. Rinse them thoroughly, too. You can start the sterilization process once they are clean.
Does every baby need sterilized bottles?
No. Many moms live just fine without sterilizing bottles.
But some moms may want them to be extra careful. A sick baby is no fun at all. Not to mention small babies cannot fend off illness as well as older children.
If you have a preemie or a sickly baby, you may want to consider one. If you, like me, find housework to be a bit daunting, you may want to invest as germs love to find babies.
How often do I need to descale a steam sanitizer?
The answer depends on how often use the sanitizer. If you use the device every day then you will want to descale with vinegar once a week. If you only use bottles to supplement then you may only need to descale once a month.
Keep an eye on the metal plate and the bottom part of the unit for the potential build-up and clean more often accordingly.
Can’t I just boil the bottles to kill germs?
Yes, you can, but it’s a lot more work! Boiling requires babysitting the pot at the stove and then pulling the bottles out without burning yourself. Sterilizers do all the work so you don’t have to watch a pot boil or burn yourself pulling bottles out.
Also, most sterilizers are multi-functional now and provide other added benefits than just sanitizing bottles.
