Some bottle sterilizers like this Philips deluxe model retail for more than $60.
For as little as around $20, you can buy a bottle sterilizer or put it on your baby registry for someone to snap up. But it’s $20 (or a lot more, depending on how techy you want to get) that could go toward someone really essential, like diapers and more diapers. Hot, soapy water or your dishwasher will do the job of cleaning bottles just fine, lactation experts tell me. In fact, one lactation consultant mentioned this potenial downside to bottle sterilizing. That is, if a plastic baby bottle (BPA-free, of course) has any milk residue in it and it’s sterilized (heated to a high, bacteria-killing temp), the protein in the milk could bake against the sides, leaving little, microscopic ridges for bacteria to grow and hide in later, when you use the bottle again. That’s a nerdy take on what could go wrong with bottle sterilizing but it’s worth noting.
I know some people will swear by their bottle sterilizer. Feel free to weigh in on this blog if that’s you. But if you’re looking to downsize your stuff list, I say that it’s safe to omit this item. What else do you think could go? What baby products did you buy or receive that you ultimately didn’t need or use?
