Milton was founded in 1916 and has been a leading name in sterilisation and hygiene for baby since with continued used by millions of people in homes and hospitals throughout the UK and beyond. Originally established as a disinfectant and treatment for burns during the First World War, it pioneered a solution to effective sterilisation of baby bottles at the request of the Ministry of Health, following the death of 4,500 babies during the 1940s outbreak of gastroenteritis. Milton's five-litre container fits six baby bottles of any brand, plus breast pump parts and toys in any configuration. Items can be taken out or put in as required so there’s no need to wait to run a cycle or leave things out because they don’t fit. Both MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus are particularly vulnerable to disinfectants and the application of simple hygiene routines will do much to prevent their spread. The process involves dissolving tablets or fluid into the container of water and submerging items in it for 15 minutes as per manufacturer guidelines – the NHS recommends 30 minutes. More items can be added as and when they’re used. Once the required 15 minutes are up, each item can be shaken and used without further rinsing – though our tester found her baby equipment smelled of chlorine afterwards and felt hesitant about giving it to her baby (it’s perfectly safe to do so, but the smell is rather off-putting).

Milton Advice to protect baby | Milton

You won’t need to wash the container before first use as the fluid you’ll fill it with is, itself, sterile. Is the Milton Cold Water Steriliser safe? As the Milton Cold Water Steriliser isn’t electric, it can be kept anywhere from the sink to the garden. It can also be thrown into a kitchen unit, the under-stairs cupboard or bathroom for storage, which our tester found appealing.

It is estimated that approximately 30% of the population are colonised (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) with Staphylococcus aureus - most often carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. It is a common cause of skin infections such as pimples & boils, which are normally treated without antibiotics. Approximately 1% of the population is colonised with the more lethal form, MRSA, which although linked to hospital deaths, has no ill effect on a healthy individual. Ensure that any trace of milk or food is removed. Take special care to clean teats, bottle rings where milk residue can easily be trapped. The Milton Method (cold water method)

Sterilisation | Milton

Overall, the Milton Cold Water Steriliser is incredibly straightforward and flexible for those using up a lot of bottles or expressing full-time. Just be aware that the solution will make your kitchen smell like a swimming pool, whether or not the lid is closed. The sterilising solution’s active agent is sodium hypochlorite, which is a bleach, but Milton manufacture it using a purification process that removes the heavy metal ions. If you have chosen to bottle feed your baby, you must thoroughly wash and sterilise all the baby bottle components before and after each use. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - or MRSA as it is more commonly known, is a form of the staphylococcus bacteria that have become very resistant to antibiotics. To be able to protect against MRSA, it is imperative that as much as possible is understood about the bacteria and its activity.If you wanted to, you could also use any volume of water in any clean container – as long as you use the correct number of tablets for the volume of water added. Unique Safety Vent Technology – an innovative pop-up safety vent allows some pressure to form inside the combi unit. When enough steam is generated, the vent pops up to gently release the pressure. This means more heat is created inside the Combi which, in turn, means better sterilisation and maximum protection for your baby.

Milton Combi microwave or cold water Steriliser White | Baby

The weighted grid supplied keeps all the items under the water so they remain sterile for as long as they’re in the container (up to 24 hours). It’s important to make sure that there are no air bubbles trapped in the bottles or teats before leaving to sterilise. Ensure that all milk residues are removed from bottles and teats before you sterilise, otherwise the bottles won’t be fully sterile and bacteria could remain in the teat. Remember that milk is the ideal environment for bacteria to grow which is why special care must be taken when washing baby bottles. Because infant formula can sometimes contain bacteria, it is important to make up each feed as your baby needs it, using boiled water (temperature 70°C or above). The hot water will ensure that any harmful bacteria get killed. Always remember to let the feed cool before giving it to baby.The niggling annoyance of cold water solutions is the smell: even with the screw-on top, our tester found her kitchen damp with splashes and smelling strongly of disinfectant. And as a microwave steriliser, the Combi runs into some problems: it’s hard to keep bottles upright inside it, and it’s too large to fit into many smaller microwaves. Clean your immediate surroundings regularly - particularly when away from the home and travelling.. Applications are endless and include disinfecting areas such as public toilet seats, door handles, high chairs, caravans etc It’s basic and utilitarian, coming in white and grey, and is unlikely to be out on the counter when not in use. Is it good value for money?