Bottle Sterilizers: Why?

[zeitgeist]

http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Soothie-Microwave-Sterilizer/dp/B000BVKPO4/


The only microwave sterilizer to communicate completion of sterilization process and provide removable drying rack. Unique safety features: steam release vent on top of lid; ergonomic handles on sides double as pour spouts. Special "trees" designed to hold nipples and collars. It holds up to four complete bottles of any type. Removable drying / organization rack. Sterilized indicator changes color when cycle is complete. Moms often hold hot sterilizers against their bodies to try to pry them open to access the contents. We intentionally made our lid not "lock" onto the base, but rather put the carry handles on the base itself to eliminate the need to have the lid lock at all. We also incorporated a steam release valve to help the contents cool faster. And, we solved the "Is it sterilized yet?" question by adding a color change indicator, which visually shows when the sterilization process is complete. This is why we call the microwave sterilizer "Safe and Certain".


Hurray!

...er, why?

We have a dishwasher with an antibacterial setting. If I don't have a whole load to run but need a bottle fast, I have a pot, a lid, and a stovetop.

Heck, I have a kettle and two cups. One for the nipple and parts, one to make a cup of tea in.

I'm sure it's great and all, but isn't it overkill?

[craftyashley]

I thought this way as well.... until I had my twins. I don't think microwave sterilizers are a good idea. Too much weird stuff about microwaves that make me nervous. I had the first years bottle sterilizer that essentially had a hot plate at the bottom, I filled it with the required amount of water, loaded in my bottles & nipples, and walked away... 13 mins. later they were sterile! I didn't have to worry about the dishwasher- and I know it says sterilization setting, but I don't necessarily need it to use the extra effort to sterilize my dishes. I REALLY hated the boiling method. I had to dirty-up a pot, I had to sit there and watch it sterilize and time it and whatnot. Total hassle. That sterilizer I bought was some of the best use of my money.

[brandie1127]

I want a sterilizer. Purely for the convenience of it. I don't have a dishwasher but if I did I would just use that. I don't want to boil them because I want my life to be a simple as possible as a new mom and I don't want to fill a pot with water and have to keep an eye on it while boiling, then dump the water out dry etc.

... wait that actually doesn't sound that difficult ... huh!

Anyway I just want one.

[craftyashley]

With a new baby, you will want every spare second you can to do something else or just be with your baby! :)

[zeitgeist]

With a new baby, you will want every spare second you can to do something else or just be with your baby! :)
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That may be the factor I'm leaving out. :)
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Two people mentioned keeping an eye on the boiling pot of water. Whatever for? It'll keep boiling whether you watch it or not.
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In fact, some say it will never boil if you watch it. ;)

[Liana]

I bought a microwave sterilizer before the birth of daughter #2 because we don't have a dishwasher, I'm not thrilled with the quality of our tap water (too hard, plus we don't live in the States and it doesn't have the same potability requirements), and I thought a microwaver sterilizer would be more convenient than boiling water every time.

Daughter #2 is about to turn 1 on Saturday and I've only used our sterilizer a handful of times, if that. Mainly because I'm kinda lazy and decided I could live with handwashing in tap water after all :)

[ra11en]

My microwave sterilizer was one of the best baby showers gifts I received! I used it for the first year and used it for anything that went in baby's mouth. 4 minutes in the microwave and viola! LOVED IT! I think maybe this one is a little overkill (the one in the original post) but the concept of them is fantastic! I never boiled a single thing for my baby. Convenient, fast, and reliable.

[darplocho]

We only used those microwave steam bags (by medela) meant for sterilizing breast pumping accessories to do the bottles and nipples at first. Then after the first month or two we didn't sterilize at all...just used hot water and soap to wash things. (We didn't have a dishwasher at the time either.) I asked the pediatrician about it at the twins' well visit, and he said as long as the kids weren't high risk (they were 8 week preemies, but healthy) then hot water and soap would be fine because today's water systems are so regulated unlike years ago. We did, of course, boil anything new for the initial cleaning, but after that it was just hot water and Dawn soap.

[aglionz]

We don't have the luxury of a dish washer (well, other than my husband) and I LOVED my bottle sterilizer!! My son was a micro-preemie (born before 29 weeks) and was at very high risk for contracting germs so everything had to be sterile. This was a God-send and allowed me to put everything in the sterilizer at once and walk away. No timing boiling water...etc.

[Carrieberrie82]

Waste of money. If you really want to sterilize something fast, get the Medela quick clean micro steam bags. They cost $4.99 for 5 bags and each bag can be used 20 times.

[lena241]

We never used a sterilizer with my DD, and I had no intention on purchasing one for this pregnancy. I spoke to her pediatrician about the need for a sterilizer when she was a baby and the DR said it was a waste of money. She has said that boiling was
kinda pointless as well, because as soon as a bottle, or nipple hit the air, the bacteria is back. We washed my DD bottles in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes and hand washed in a pinch.

What is the reason each of you use a sterilizer? Im a pregnant with my 2nd and find this interesting to see so many still do this.