Best Bottle Sterilizers 2023

Sep 13, 2023

The best bottle sterilizers streamline a time-consuming parental chore: constant bottle washing. Keeping baby bottles washed, dried and sterilized isn't as simple as doing the dishes, especially for first-timers. Babies can go through up to eight or more bottles a day—and many baby bottles have tiny parts that require special care to scrub and dry. Add feeding supplies, pacifiers, breast pump parts, teethers and baby toys to the mix, and your kitchen counter quickly becomes covered with baby gear. The best bottle sterilizers help you organize and complete this task faster, so you have a full, happy baby and more time for snuggles.

Keep your baby bottles clean and ready for the next feeding with one of these best bottle ... [+] sterilizers.

To prep baby bottles, you need to clean them with hot water and soap and then sterilize them to kill germs. "Cleaning and sterilization are not the same," explains Sarah Huff, community and customer service manager for BabyQuip, a California-based company that rents and deep cleans baby gear like car seats, strollers and sterilizers. "Cleaning involves hot water and soap. Sterilization involves using heat or chemicals to kill germs and microbes."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends sterilizing bottles until babies are at least 2 months old or longer if they are immunocompromised or premature. You can use a dishwasher with a high heat or sanitize setting or boil items on the stovetop, but the best bottle sterilizers make cleanup much faster and easier.

Huff's key advice: "Make sure the sterilizer you choose is the right size for the type of bottles you’re using for your baby. Not all sterilizers are made to hold all types and sizes of bottles and parts."

Read on to learn more about the best sanitizers for baby bottles and more. You might also want to check out our articles on the best bottle warmers, best breast pumps, nursing bras and tested best high chairs.

Amazon

Capacity: Up to 8 bottles | Modes: Sterilize, dry, storage, descale | Cycle time: 18 minutes (sterilize and dry)

This Wabi Baby sterilizer is so sturdy that BabyQuip stocks it to rent to traveling parents. "It holds up very well, holds a lot of bottles and pieces and is super simple to use," says Huff. It has a unique storage mode that automatically restarts the sanitize cycle every four hours, so you can keep bottles in it and know that they’re as germ-free as possible. You have the option to run sanitize, dry and store settings by pushing one button. We also like the descale mode to help maintain it. The water you use in any sanitizer can leave traces of minerals behind that build up over time; a soak in vinegar and scrub removes it. Wabi Baby makes it a little more straightforward to do with its descale mode and descaling solution that will be familiar to those who do this with their coffee makers.

What the reviews say: Compared with the hassle and time involved in stovetop sterilizing, shoppers say this countertop model takes a little bit of the stress out of the day. "I purchased this sterilizer a week or two into having our newborn once I realized that boiling water to sterilize the multiple bottles all day was just completely overwhelming," says one Amazon reviewer. "This is by far one of the most used and godsend items we purchased. I still use it now for my toddler."

Amazon

Capacity: 6 bottles plus accessories | Modes: Sterilize, dry, auto (sterilize and dry) | Cycle time: 10 minutes to sterilize, another 45 minutes to dry

This sterilizer and dryer fits much more than its Dr. Brown's bottles and their vexing little parts. The main compartment is wide enough for breast pump flanges and milk containers, and the upper tray (which is not removable) holds and corrals tons of pacifiers and duckbill valves into their own separate area for cleaning. It lacks a digital display and other bells and whistles, but it gets the job done, holds plenty and is easy to use. It also uses two HEPA filters for solid cleaning of airborne particles during the dry cycle.

What the parents say: I personally used this sterilizer right after my daughter was born. We chose it because we use Dr. Brown's bottles (I had heard that feeding specialists recommend them), and it's designed to fit them with room to spare; the 8-ounce bottles are too tall to fit in some other sterilizers. I mostly used distilled water, but there were times when I didn't have any and used filtered tap water in a pinch. We do have hard water in our area, and I found that scale built up quickly, and I wasn't able to remove it effectively. I ended up recycling and replacing the unit after about six months, so I would only recommend this inexpensive pick if you have access to filtered or distilled water.

Amazon

Capacity: 6 bottles plus accessories | Modes: Sterilize, dry, sterilize and dry, delay start | Cycle time: 40 minutes for full cycle

This large sterilizer has a slim, sleek profile and open main chamber to fit bottles of all sizes. Surprise! It has a mini mode too: You can set the upper tray on the base to use solo for smaller items like pacifiers and nipples. It doesn't require distilled water—tap is fine—and the metal heating plate is coated with ceramic to help prevent mineral buildup and rust.

What the parents say: I personally switched to this bottle sterilizer when my daughter was about 8 months old. I wanted a unit that could dry lots of bottles at once and sterilize and dry a day's worth of breast pump parts in a second load. I find that it dries items fully on the first try–it really does remove all condensation, as the company claims. I also love how much the top tray of this sterilizer can hold, and I appreciate that it has an alert that tells you when to run its descale mode. (I’ve been using it for about a month with tap water, and I haven't needed to do this yet.) My only quibble is that it's not quite tall enough to close when I load it with the 8-ounce Dr. Brown's baby bottles.

Baby Brezza

Capacity: 6 bottles and 2 pump parts sets | Modes: Sterilize, dry, sterilize and dry, storage | Cycle time: 10 minutes

This Baby Brezza sterilizer and dryer is the fastest I’ve come across yet. Other sterilizers take at least a half hour to sterilize and dry. This one sterilizes in six minutes and dries in four minutes—less time than it takes to change a wiggly baby's diaper. Other benefits include a good capacity (six bottles, plus room for a few more small items), flexible space for a variety of bottles and a relatively small footprint. Of course, it has a steep price tag to match its power clean speed, but for those who plan on primarily bottle feeding, those with multiples or for any busy parent who is tired of waiting on the bottles to dry, this bottle sterilizer might just be worth the splurge.

What the reviews say: Parents love how this Baby Brezza unit simplifies bottle prep and who wouldn't? This bottle sterilizer truly lets you claw back some extra minutes, or at the very least, get that bottle ready faster. "We bought this product more for the drying capabilities than the sanitizing function," says one. "I HATE washing and drying bottles, and this has made that process so much easier and more convenient. This is a must-have product in my opinion."

Amazon

Capacity: 1 bottle or jar of food | Modes: Warm, sterilize | Cycle time: Not listed

Have a discerning baby who prefers their milk warmed? This little device not only sterilizes baby bottles and storage containers, but it also gently steams formula, fresh, refrigerated or frozen milk and food to get it to the just-right temperature. Glass and plastic bottles are both OK to use in this simple bottle warmer, and there's an auto-shutoff feature to prevent overheating. Just remember that there's room for only one bottle in this sterilizer, so if you plan to do lots of sterilizing and lots of bottle feeding, you might want to consider a device with more capacity.

What the reviews say: Some reviewers note it's difficult to fill the water tank without spilling and that the temperature settings can be imprecise, but others think its two-in-one design wins the day. "Great two in one!" says one Amazon reviewer. "Sometimes the temps are off when warming bottles but it's easy to adjust. Other than that, wonderful sterilizer! Definitely recommend if you’re looking to save money and want a warmer and sterilizer."

Nanobebe

Capacity: 2 to 3 bottles as well as parts | Modes: 1 | Cycle time: 4 minutes

If you need to sterilize bottles or pump parts while you’re at work or while traveling, this little sterilizing pod is for you. It goes right in the microwave and does its job in four minutes. It's also a great option for people who don't want to allocate kitchen counter space to a full-size sterilizer, or if you’re looking for a more affordable sterilizer. With a 9.8-inch square base and a height of 6.7 inches, this Nanobebe model fits in most current microwaves. Its interior pegs are removable to hold a variety of baby items. Unlike other sterilizers, it's less likely to burn your hands when you take it out because the handles are made of heat-resistant rubber. It's also dishwasher safe—win!

What the reviews say: Microwave sterilizers may not dry items as fully as countertop sterilizers do, but they’re really fast and many reviewers appreciate the convenience of them. "My wife and I love this sterilizer," wrote a Walmart reviewer. "With a newborn in the house we are constantly sterilizing bottles, pacifiers and other things baby is dropping or putting in the mouth. Helps to know they are germ free." Others called it "quick" and "simple to use." Some reviewers don't appreciate its girth and lack of height, though.

Amazon

Capacity: Up to 8 bottles or sets of pump parts | Modes: 1 | Cycle time: 3 to 7 minutes, depending on your microwave

These 8 x 10-inch sterilizer bags are the ideal on-the-go solution. Many other sterilizer bags aren't big enough to fit everything you need to do at once. One of these holds a full day's worth of bottle and breast pump parts, which makes them extra handy at the office or just whenever you’re in a hurry. Each one can be used up to 30 times, and there's a handy graphic on the front to track your usage. Let it cool 10 minutes before snagging the bag by its neatly marked heatproof corner and open the steam release tab.

What the parents say: I use these bags whenever my daughter and I travel to sterilize my breast pump parts and her teethers. I also love to travel with single-use sterilizing wipes, but I try to use them sparingly. These bags can be reused up to 30 times, so they feel a bit less wasteful to me. I appreciate how the handle keeps me from burning myself when I’m taking them out of the microwave in a hurry. It took me a little while to realize there's also a built-in spout to pour out the hot water, but it makes emptying the bag much easier.

I researched the bestselling baby bottle sterilizers on the market, spoke with Huff and other parents and looked into the top sanitizing features to compile this curated article. Also, as a mother to a new baby who relies heavily on bottles, I have tested out several sanitizers myself and fully understand how useful this type of gear can be to busy parents. I’m also a shopping writer and reviewer who regularly tests and reviews baby products, beauty items and more lifestyle items. We update this piece regularly to ensure accuracy. It was last updated in February 2023.

That depends on your baby, your personal comfort levels and your feeding style. Everyone has to sanitize many baby items things at least one time: when you unbox them. You can do that by boiling them in hot water, soaking them in diluted bleach, wiping them with special sanitizer wipes for baby items or running them through a dishwasher's sanitize cycle. (Note: Some dishwashers’ sanitize cycles work better than others. Look for NSF Certification; this label guarantees a dishwasher "achieves a minimum 99.999 percent or 5-log reduction of bacteria" and reaches "a final rinse temperature of 150 degrees F.") All of these methods kill germs effectively.

Items like breast pump parts have to be sanitized at least once a day, if not after every use. You may be using them seven to eight times a day. I can tell you from experience that a countertop sterilizer makes that much easier to do without losing your mind.

Beyond that, how often and how long you plan to sterilize your baby's gear will determine whether a bottle sterilizer will be worth the investment for you. As I mentioned earlier, the CDC recommends sanitizing baby bottles and feeding supplies for the first two months of your baby's life. If they have a condition that causes them to be immunocompromised or born prematurely, you may be sterilizing items for longer.

If you don't sterilize all of your baby's things daily, a bottle sterilizer can be really helpful for its drying function alone. Even in the latest, greatest dishwashers, items like baby bottles and nipples tend to hang onto condensation, and sometimes it just doesn't evaporate no matter how long you let them sit on the bottle drying rack. If you need to pack bottles for daycare or your babysitter, a sterilizer gets them dry so you can assemble them and move on.

UV sanitizing is as effective as steam sanitizing, but it may be more convenient for some. Steam sanitizers must be filled with water; if you have hard water, scale builds up quickly. That isn't an issue with full-size countertop UV sterilizers, which rely on UV light to kill germs. Wabi Baby, the makers of Huff's favorite model and our best overall pick, makes a highly rated UV countertop bottle sterilizer. You can also buy a diaper-bag-size UV sterilizer to kill germs on frequently dropped items like pacifiers and toys.

It depends on the sanitization method you use. If you use a countertop bottle sterilizer that has a sanitize-and-dry setting, it will use a fan to dry your bottles after it sanitizes them, so you won't need to dry them separately. If you’re using a steam sanitizer unit that doesn't have a drying setting (such as a microwave unit or bag), then you should ideally let baby items air dry on a drying rack to avoid reintroducing germs. Air-drying is also recommended after using wipes or a chemical solution.

A sterilizer won't get your baby's things cleaner than boiling—they’re equals in that department. What a sterilizer does better is save you time and effort. "You can definitely stick to the boiling method. However, countertop sterilizers are much more convenient and take care of the job much faster," says Huff.

Steam bottle sanitizers, if used properly, get your baby gear as clean as possible, killing up to 99.9% of germs. To maintain your bottle sanitizer for effective cleaning, Huff recommends wiping it down with white vinegar and rinsing out the water chamber once a week.