Every soon-to-be family and new parent faces one common problem: the absolute deluge of advice received on a daily basis. Well-meaning friends, helpful colleagues, and even strangers on the street will share their two cents about the best products for your new baby.

With so much information headed your way, you may wonder how to separate truth from opinion. Take, for example, the bottle sterilizer. Is this really a “must-have” product, or can you save your money and do without?

At Loop, we understand just how stressful this time can be. We’re here to clear the air with questions to ask when you need to decide whether a bottle sterilizer is really necessary.

We don’t need to tell you that your new baby is vulnerable. But we’ll go ahead and do it anyway. Our little bundles of joy have underdeveloped immune systems. So they are especially sensitive to infections from fungi, parasites, bacteria, and viruses. And in the era of COVID-19, you cannot be too safe.

While there are many bottle sterilizer benefits, perhaps the most important factor is that it helps parents cover their bases. Most products work quickly and reduce an estimated 99.9% of germs and bacteria.

Considering that bottles go directly into your baby’s mouth, this is all great news. At the very least, a bottle sterilizer gives new parents peace of mind.

A bottle sterilizer is a compact machine that cleans everything from bottle nipples to teethers and pacifiers. They run on electricity and use either steam or UV lights to sterilize bottles.

These products are great for parents of premature babies or babies who are immunocompromised. In some cases, a sterilizer may even be recommended by your pediatrician.

As an added bonus, most bottle sterilizers can handle the small pieces of a breast pump. So if you plan to pump frequently and need to quickly clean the pieces between uses, a sterilizer can be a godsend.

There are certain circumstances in which a bottle sterilizer becomes more than a convenience. We strongly recommend them when these common illnesses or symptoms are making their way through your home or community:

Sterilizers have been proven to be effective in removing contaminants from bottles. You should also sterilize your bottles in these three situations:

For best results, you should sterilize the bottles immediately after every feeding. This will help to prevent a buildup of bacteria. And if your baby relies on formula, it can also be a good idea to sterilize the scoop periodically, as well.

Next, let’s take a look at the practicalities of using a bottle sterilizer. It’s fairly straightforward, but there are a few extra things you should know:

Once you’ve performed those few steps, you’ll be ready to place the items in the sterilizer. We recommend choosing a product that has a drying function. That way, you won’t risk contamination with a kitchen towel or drying rack.

Of course, you won’t be sterilizing your child’s possessions well into adulthood. But for the first six to twelve months of his or her life, we recommend that you make it a consistent habit. As long as your baby drinks from a bottle, you’ll want to keep those bottles safe and sterilized.

The only major drawback to a bottle sterilizer is its hefty price tag. Fortunately, Loop has the perfect solution! Our Baby Brezza bottle sterilizer is compact and effective – in fact, it only takes 9 minutes to naturally sterilize products. And with our rental program, you can pay a small amount monthly until you no longer need the product.