In a nutshell

A microwave, user-friendly steam steriliser that's BPA free, very lightweight, and has a speedy sterilisation cycle.

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Ease of cleaning
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Compactness
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Design
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble, easy to use, BPA free, secure lid

Cons

  • Only fits wide-neck or Tomee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles, no handles to use to lift out of microwave

The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser is BPA free, very lightweight and incredibly easy to assemble. It’s also neat and compact, so it takes up minimal space in your kitchen.

Advertisement

Launched in 2009, the new Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser is, according to Tommee Tippee’s website, “mistake proof”. And while that sounds like a pretty big claim to make, this unit is very straightforward to use, even for first timers. It has space for four Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature or wide-neck bottles and handy clips for the teats and lids to hang from. It’s very simple to put together, and once you’re ready to go, just add 200ml of water to the base and place the loading tray back inside the pod. The lid fits securely on top of the unit and locks into place, meaning it’s super safe to use.

The sterilisation cycle takes four minutes in a microwave that’s 1100 watt or more, six minutes for 850-1000 watt, and eight minutes in microwaves up to 800 watt. Then there’s three minutes cooling time. The unit also keeps items sterile for 24 hours if the lid remains unopened.

What we love

As the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser has just three parts (the base, the inner tray and the lid), it’s incredibly easy to assemble and the Closer to Nature bottles fit into the loading tray perfectly. The teats and lids also have their own hooks to hang from, which means you can fit plenty in without a struggle. It’s so quick to pop together and not at all fiddly, so it’s perfect if you’re in a hurry.

The steriliser is also really easy to take apart at the end of the cycle, and as the lid doubles up as a sterile tray, you can simply place it on the kitchen surface and put the bottles straight onto it to make up a feed, which means they remain completely germ-free.

It’s good value for money, too, as it comes with a Closer to Nature bottle, soother, teat tongs, which are particularly useful for removing items from the hooks without burning your fingers, and a bottle brush.

What to watch out for

It’s best to have some oven gloves to hand, as it can be tricky to remove this steriliser from the microwave. It continues to be very hot even after leaving it to cool down for three minutes. There also aren’t any handles to lift the system out of the microwave.

As with all sterilisers, it’s best to take care when you remove the lid, as it’s very steamy. It’s also a good idea to check the size of your microwave first, to make sure this product will fit before you part with your cash.

Who is the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser best for?

Wide-neck bottle users looking for a hassle-free steriliser.

Advertisement

MadeForMums verdict

This BPA free steriliser means parents have a worry-free way of cleaning their baby’s bottles, and it is very simple to use. The sterilisation cycle is reasonably speedy, and it’s compact enough to store away easily. The lack of handles mean it can be tricky to move the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser around when it’s hot, but it’s lightweight, good value for money, and the secure lid will help prevent any accidents.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandTommee Tippee
ModelCloser to Nature Microwave Steam Steriliser
Price£21.99
Steriliser typeMicrowave
Features
Number of bottles it can hold4
Compatible bottlesTommee Tippee Closer to Nature
Length of sterilsing cycle4min(s) to 8min(s)
Features
  • ‘dual power’ heating system means a hotter
  • Longer sterilisation cycle to kill more bacteria and make it the safest on the uk market; can hold 7 bottles; contents stay sterile for up to 8 hours if the unit remains unopened
  • Led digital display shows where you're up to in the sterilisation and cooling cycles
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement