Friday, September 4, 2009

Baby Sterilizer - Absolute Must Have For All New Mums

By Danny Crispin

New babies are very important arrivals to all families and it's not surprising therefore that all parents want to do their utmost to ensure the health of their baby. One important aspect in preventing illness is ensuring that your baby's bottles are adequately sterilized before feeding. This involves purchasing a baby sterilizer to kill off harmful bacteria which could replicate in the bottles before and after feeding.

When choosing a baby sterilizer you need to think carefully about what's right for you. Although there are many makes and models available these all fit into one of three categories - electric steam sterilizers, microwaveable sterilizers and chemical sterilizers. In terms of the type that you actually go for there is no right or wrong decision. It all depends on how you want to use the device.

One of the big advantages of steam sterilizers is that they have their own heating element. All you need to do is add a small amount of water and push a button. The sterilization cycle is 100% automated and bottles remain sterile for some time after the cycle is complete (provided that the compartments are not opened). If you are away from home they can be taken away with you. Some of them are however quite big and bulky and may be more expensive in comparison to the alternative options.

Microwavable sterilizers do not come with a heating element and you need access to a microwave in order to use them. This can occasionally be a problem if you are using the microwave for cooking food or are visiting a friend without a microwave. However, in terms of the latter this is rarely a problem as most modern households now have one. You do of course have to add water to the device. However, once again they are very easy to use.

The chemical sterilizer is the simplest of all the devices and just involves exposing the bottles to a chemical antimicrobial. These are very portable. However, many parents are often understandably concerned about exposing their babies to synthetic chemicals.

When choosing a device it is important to remember that there are subtle differences between all products. It's normally preferably to go for a well known brand to be sure that the device will be reliable and will last. This capacity of devices also varies. If your baby is predominantly breast fed then you can probably make do with a smaller device.

Often devices will come with bottles. Some of the bottles are highly advanced with teats and functionality to mimic the human breast. This is particularly helpful if you switch between the breast and the bottle. Some will even come with color coded teats to enable you to quickly identify the teat that's appropriate for you baby or the formula milk that you are using.

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