What you need to know about self-sterilising bottles
If you use a bottle to feed your baby, you’ve probably resigned yourself to the fact you’ll need quite a bit of kit, not to mention space in your kitchen and change bag. But what if we told you there was a way you could safely prep your baby bottles without having to use a separate steriliser?
What are MAM self-sterilising bottles?
When giving your baby a bottle, it is really important to sterilise it first; NHS guidance is to sterilise your bottles before each use for up to a year. Unlike other baby bottles, MAM Easy Start bottles have a unique self-sterilising function, they can be popped straight in a microwave without the need of a separate steriliser, all you need is 20ml of tap water and a microwave.
Self-sterilising bottles are ideal for busy parents who may not always have a steriliser to hand. As you only need a microwave to disinfect MAM self-sterilising bottles, they are ideal for taking on holidays, days out and visits to family and friends.
The bottles are also useful for grandparents and relatives who may sometimes look after your baby as they can safely use them without having to buy a steriliser to keep at their home.
MAM Easy Start Anti Colic bottles have other great features too, including a SkinSoft™ silicone teat which mimics the shape and feel of a mother’s nipple. This makes it a more familiar experience for breastfed babies, making it easier for parents who sometimes use bottles alongside breastfeeding. In fact, in trials conducted by MAM, 94% of babies accepted MAM bottles with SkinSoft™ silicone teats.
The BPA-free bottles are also designed with an air vent at the bottom to prevent air mixing with the milk, minimising the risk of trapped wind and colic.
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How do self-sterilising bottles work?
MAM Easy Start Anti Colic bottles are quick and simple to use and you don’t need any additional equipment. They turn into their own sterilising unit which you can pop into the microwave so they can be disinfected in just three minutes!
- Step one: Take the bottle apart so it is in six separate pieces (lid, teat, collar, body, base and valve) and wash them thoroughly in warm, soapy water.
- Step two: Rebuild into the 4 main components (lid, teat & collar, body, base & valve) ensuring the white silicone valve is pushed firmly into the base, and the teat is pulled through the collar until flush).
- Step three: Use the lid of the bottle to measure out 20ml of normal tap water and pour it into the base.
- Step four: Stand the teat & collar on the base, put the bottle body over the teat and then add the lid on top. Do not screw the components together. This is now ready to go into the microwave for three minutes.
Step five: Microwave for three minutes on high setting (between 500w and 1000w) and then leave to cool before use.
You can also sterilise the bottle as normal if you prefer, just take the bottle apart before you put it into your steriliser.
Why are they so good?
Our MadeForMums reviewer Sarah was impressed by the product when she tested it for an independent editorial review.
As a breastfeeding mum, Sarah loved the fact she only needed a microwave and some tap water to make sure the bottle was clean and safe for her baby to use.
She wrote: “The MAM Anti-Colic Bottle really does make sterilisation quick and easy. The silky teat and anti-colic features make it easy for a baby to feed from, and the fact that it’s BPA-free is also reassuring.
“All you need to do is make sure there’s a microwave at your destination if you plan to travel with this bottle as your all-in-one bit of feeding kit.”
While the convenient microwave steam sterilisation is a major selling point, MadeForMums testers were also impressed with the soft flat teat, which made switching between breast and bottle easy. And the ventilated base regulates the pressure inside the bottle so your little one won’t swallow lots of air while they feed.
Sarah told us: “My son Oscar really found it easy to feed with this bottle and being a breastfed baby who isn’t used to a bottle, the milk flowed evenly, so there was no gagging and spluttering.”
The bottles also come in a number of sizes with different teats available to suit your baby’s age and stage.
Why self-sterilise?
One of the big selling points about MAM self-sterilising bottles is that you can use them anywhere you have access to a microwave, making them ideal for trips out or visits to other people’s homes.
Instead of filling your change bag with several pre-sterilised bottles for a day out, you can simply take one MAM bottle and clean and self-sterilise on the go. And you won’t need to worry about packing your steriliser when you go to stay with family and friends.
If you’re a breastfeeding mum who uses bottles for expressed milk, using a MAM bottle will free up space in your steriliser for your breast pump.
As sterilising bottles in the microwave takes as little as 3 minutes, it is quicker and more convenient than running it through a traditional steriliser. It is better for the environment too as the self-sterilising function saves up to 48% of energy, compared with traditional sterilising methods; helping you to keep your electricity bills down and reduce your potential carbon footprint.
MAM Easy Start bottles are the only self-sterilising bottles on the market and offer a hassle-free way of safely feeding your baby.
With an anti-colic design and silky soft teats which mimic the shape and feel of a breast, these bottles have a lot to offer, leading our parent testers to describe them as ‘fab’, ‘brilliant’ and a ‘lifesaver’.
Available from: MAM Baby
Authors
Catherine Ball is a freelance journalist who specialises in writing about parenting and health. She has been a journalist for 20 years, writing for a wide range of regional and national publications.
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