I just want one that works well with a variety of bottles at a good price point. I am going to be breast feeding but will need to use bottles when I return to work so I am not sure which bottles she will like yet.
I know everyone will say just use the dishwasher and don't bother getting a sterilizer, but we really like ours. For one thing, I don't want to run the dishwasher for a few bottles (and you go through them FAST). So occasionally you will have to hand wash your bottles, nipples and things. It's really nice to have the sterilizer to just be sure they are all clean. We got the Dr. Brown's sterilizer and we love it.We just throw stuff in, microwave for 5 minutes, and we know it's all clean. I think it was about $20.
Your breastmilk isn't sterile, so there's no need to sterilize bottles. A good washing and rinsing is fine. This is what I did while I was pumping for DD when she was in the NICU, so if it's good enough for the NICU nurses, it's good enough for me!
I don't have a dishwasher either, so I hand wash all my pump parts and bottles/nipples every night in hot water and regular dish soap.
You can get the Medela Quick Steam bags to sanitize. They're pretty cheap and each bag can be used 20 times.
I have the Avent steam sterilizer, it takes 2 minutes in the microwave. I haven't tried anything else but I like this... I throw all my stuff in - Avent and Medela parts.
I've just been washing them by hand in warm soapy water then I boil a stock pot of water and put the clean bottles in the pot. I turn the pot off after it comes to a rolling boil, add the bottles, put the lid on and let them sit for about an hour. It's easy and cheap and works for all sizes, etc. Plus I can do a huge pot full at once instead of just a few at a time. Works great.
dx PCOS on Metformin LO#1 - 19 cycles, 3 IUIs, 1 m/c, gonal-f, ganirelix, ovidrel, progesterone Totally worth the wait! Getting ready for #2 Back on Met, PCOS diet, prepping for treatments 1/12
Good luck to the wonderful ladies of 3T Always cheering on my girls Gymnst1013 & MrsJohns My Chart / Info for Newbies
Re: Please recommend your bottle sterilizer!!!
Your breastmilk isn't sterile, so there's no need to sterilize bottles. A good washing and rinsing is fine. This is what I did while I was pumping for DD when she was in the NICU, so if it's good enough for the NICU nurses, it's good enough for me!
I don't have a dishwasher either, so I hand wash all my pump parts and bottles/nipples every night in hot water and regular dish soap.
You can get the Medela Quick Steam bags to sanitize. They're pretty cheap and each bag can be used 20 times.
TTC since 11/05...ectopic pg 4/08...early m/c 6/09...BFP 10/5/09!

Nora B...June 15, 2010...8lbs, 8oz...Med-free birth!
TTC #2 since 7/11...cycle #3 of Clomid + IUI = BFP

Malcolm...September 21, 2012...8lbs, 6oz...Another med-free birth!
LO#1 - 19 cycles, 3 IUIs, 1 m/c, gonal-f, ganirelix, ovidrel, progesterone
Totally worth the wait!
Getting ready for #2
Back on Met, PCOS diet, prepping for treatments 1/12
Good luck to the wonderful ladies of 3T
Always cheering on my girls Gymnst1013 & MrsJohns
My Chart / Info for Newbies
Most bottles tell you that you don't have to sterilize after the first time. You don't need one to take up space.
We were given one and never used it. I passed it off to a friend who thinks she wants one.