7 Best Bottle Sterilizers of 2021
Plus, find out if you actually need a bottle sterilizer.

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During the first year of a baby's life, parents have a lot to worry about, not the least of which is that a baby's immune system is the most fragile at this time. Camille Sabella, M.D., Director of the Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, states that “an infant’s immune system doesn’t mature until around 2 to 3 months.” While there's not much one can do to avoid exposure to household germs altogether, there certainly are steps to take to help ensure they are bacteria-free. Enter the bottle sterilizer – these nifty gadgets make it easy to sanitize (99.9%) bottles, nipples, toys, pump parts, and anything the baby may put into their mouth (which is, like, everything.)
The engineering experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all of the latest and greatest gadgets for all of your parenting needs, from baby monitors to kid's toys. To find the best baby bottle sterilizers, our engineers in the Little Lab considered how easy they were to use, how long they took to operate, how easy they were to clean, and the number of bottles they can hold. Over the past four years, our engineering pros (and parents!) logged tens of thousands of hours sterilizing bottles and accessories! We also we relied on user reviews and feedback to pick the top-rated sterilizers. Here are our top-picks for saying bye-bye to germs fast:
- Best Overall Bottle Sterilizer: Baby Brezza One Step Sterilizer Dryer
- Best Value Bottle Sterilizer: Munchkin Steam Microwave Sterilizer
- Best Microwavable Bottle Sterilizer: Philips Avent Microwave Steam Sterilizer
- Best Electric Bottle Sterilizer: Dr. Brown’s Electric Steam Sterilizer
- Best Bottle Sterilizer for Travel: Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags
- Best Bottle Sterilizer for Multiples: Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Sterilizer
- Best Bottle Sterilizer/Dryer Combo: Wabi Baby Electric Steam Sterilizer and Dryer
Do I really need a bottle sterilizer?
While it is a personal choice for your family, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends sterilizing bottles and parts once a day, especially for babies younger than three months, born prematurely, or have a weakened immune system. Although not mandatory, it is recommended to always sterilize new bottles before using them and if your doctor has recommended sterilizing bottles between feedings, you might like the convenience of being able to load and run a sterilizer without needing to boil water every time, especially if you have multiple babies.
Hand washing bottles with hot water and soap or running them through the dishwasher gives them a good cleaning but may not appropriately sanitize, while most sanitizers claim to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, helping to alleviate the potential for serious illness. You can certainly sanitize your bottles using boiling water on the stovetop, but it does get tedious and is time-consuming. While you don't need a dedicated machine to sanitize, having a bottle sterilizer on hand certainly provides convenience, kills germs, and adds some peace of mind. We say that is a win-win for all.
Ali Kessler is a native New Yorker residing in the Sunshine State with expertise in hospitality, travel, the beauty industry, and electronics. She is a writer by nature, a graphic designer by study, a chef for fun, and a digital marketer by choice. Ali earned her Bachelor of Science in Advertising and English from the University of Florida. She then earned her graduate certificate from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale in Graphic Design and a Digital Marketing Degree from Full Sail University. Ali has touched on all aspects of marketing/advertising, from logo creation to traffic, copywriting, web design, content writing, and getting social. Advertising has always been her passion ever since she watched Angela Bower on Who’s the Boss. Ali spends her free time with her four-year-old son making forts and pillow ice cream shops.


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