The three types explained
Electric steam sterilisers sit on your worktop, take 6–12 minutes, and hold 4–6 bottles at a time. They're the most popular choice for UK parents who bottle-feed regularly.
Microwave steam sterilisers are lidded containers you fill with water and run in the microwave for 2–8 minutes. They're cheaper, smaller, and great for travel — but you need a microwave big enough (check internal dimensions before buying).
Cold water sterilisers use sterilising tablets (Milton is the UK staple) dissolved in water. Bottles soak for 15 minutes. No heat, no electricity — useful for travel, power cuts, and bulk sterilising. Slightly more faff day-to-day.
See our top bottle and feeding picks →Our top electric steam picks
The Tommee Tippee Super Steam Advanced is the default UK choice — £40–£55, fits six standard bottles, and bottles stay sterile for 24 hours if the lid stays closed. It's the one most UK parents end up with.
For tight counter space, the MAM 3-in-1 (£55–£70) doubles as a bottle warmer and dryer — useful if your kitchen is small and you don't want three separate appliances.
At the premium end, the Philips Avent Premium (£85–£100) is quieter, dries bottles as well as sterilising them, and has a larger capacity. Worth it if you're bottle-feeding full-time and running multiple cycles a day; overkill for combination feeding.
Microwave steam — the budget/travel pick
The Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser (£20–£30) is the UK bestseller. It fits four bottles, works in 4–8 minutes depending on your microwave wattage, and stores flat when not in use.
Microwave sterilisers are genuinely the best option if you're tight on counter space, only bottle-feed occasionally, or travel often. They work with bottles kept bagged for up to 24 hours after sterilising.
Check your microwave first: the unit needs to fit inside with the lid on. Combi ovens and smaller microwaves can be too short. Measure the internal height before buying.
Cold water / Milton — when it makes sense
A Milton Cold Water Steriliser (£15–£25) plus the iconic blue Milton tablets gives you a 5-litre tub you can keep on the counter. Drop bottles, dummies, and breast pump parts in — sterile in 15 minutes, stays sterile in the solution for 24 hours.
This is the go-to for: families travelling abroad (no microwave or reliable electricity), sterilising breast pump parts regularly, or households with multiple items to sterilise at once. The downside is the slight chemical smell (it dissipates but is noticeable at first) and the cost of tablets over time (around £4 per 28 tablets, one tablet per refresh).
See our full 0–3 months picks →Dishwasher and 'self-sterilising' bottles
A hot-wash dishwasher cycle (65°C+) is not a substitute for sterilising under current NHS guidance, even though it kills most bacteria. If you're going to sterilise anyway, a dedicated steriliser is cleaner and faster.
Some bottles (like Mam Easy Start Anti-Colic) are marketed as 'self-sterilising' in the microwave with a small amount of water. They do work, but you're limited to that brand's bottles. If you're loyal to Mam, it's a genuine space-saver. If you use mixed brands, stick to a standard steriliser.
How long do I actually need it for?
The NHS advises sterilising all feeding equipment until your baby is at least 12 months old. In practice, many UK parents taper off once baby starts solids (6 months) and is exposed to non-sterile food and cups — but continue sterilising bottles and teats specifically until the first birthday.
If you're formula-feeding, sterilising is especially important in the first six months when immunity is lowest. If you're exclusively breastfeeding, you may not need a steriliser at all — just for dummies, breast pump parts, and the occasional bottle of expressed milk.