"Reasonable" Lifespan for a Baby Bottle Steriliser

jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 21:54

Hi all,

My wife is currently pregnant expecting our first and of course she is doing all the research in terms of things we will be purchasing. We aren't due until late March and she has been holding off purchasing a baby bottle UV steriliser, specifically the Minbie which is $390 i.e. on the higher end of things I believe. I've already tried to convince her about using our dishwasher sanitiser function, microwave steriliser, Milton tabs etc so no need to get into that side of things.

Anyway the Minbie comes with a one year warranty from the manufacturer. My wife specifically did not buy it during an Xmas sale because 3 of those 12 months would be "wasted" as the baby hasn't been born yet. In my eyes something that costs this much should be expected to be function for at least 2 years if not longer.

I understand that potentially we have statutory protections under the ACL in case it does break in the 12-24 month timeframe but I am interested to know if the general public feel this is reasonable or not.

Thanks!

Poll Options Sat, 01/02/2025 - 00:00

  • 6
    Minbie 12 month warranty is reasonable.
  • 12
    ACL overrides the business warranty so 2 years would be reasonable.
  • 12
    Other (please comment).
General Discussion Baby Bottle

Comments

  • Benoffie on 12/01/2025 - 22:00
    +8

    Best ones are those plastic ones which take 6?? Bottles and as many bits as you can shove in. Pop in water and microwave. God's gift to zombie parents.

    Link for style only

    https://www.bubs2bratz.com.au/shop/microwave-bottle-steriliz…

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 22:57
      +1

      Yeah if it were up to me I'd be going down this pathway or a big pot of boiling water but alas she has made up her mind haha.

      • Takeohakuto on 13/01/2025 - 09:10
        +4

        Had one Kmart microwave steriliser last 2 children. Don't think it cost more than $20.

        Point out to your wife that as long as it works, any way to save money is more important than getting something that is currently socially attractive.

    • brendanm on 13/01/2025 - 10:45
      +5

      Why spend $15 when you can spend $400?

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/01/2025 - 22:16
    +1

    Been some time but iirc we were able to resell our minbie for about 70% of what we paid, used for both kids . It was very well looked after, had all the original boxes etc. we thought it was worth it.

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 22:58

      Sounds like we'll get our money's worth at least!

  • Hybroid on 12/01/2025 - 22:20
    +1

    1-year warranty is standard fare for consumer electronics to cover manufacturing defects. There's a wide debate as to whether an item that breaks after 2-years of use is considered manufacturer's issue or not. As such, there's the ACL guarantee (not warranty - there's a difference!) to cover you but the 'reasonable' timeframe agreement is going to be between you and customer service rep.

    I would highly recommend a Baby Brezza Formula Pro and a Tommee Tippee UV Steriliser & Dryer. They have done a lot of the heavy lifting for us in a convenient manner. The Minbie's website is overly focused on influencer advertising which is an instant turn-off.

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:00

      Thank you for your suggestions. I agree - basically if I see an ad for something on Instagram I will actively avoid said product!

      As for the ACL I guess it depends on how much time we have on our hands to press the issue which I guess as new parents may not be very much haha

  • SBOB on 12/01/2025 - 22:23
    +14

    specifically the Minbie which is $390

    And this is how you know mummy influencer videos and tiktoks work :)
    Crazy $ for doing a baby bottle task people have been doing for 'ever'

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:08

      I know right?! My goodness I wish I could have thought of this idea. Although we did buy a Choice membership and some of the stuff we've bought is from Ikea or Kmart so not all the purchases have been so painful haha

    • AustriaBargain on 12/01/2025 - 22:29
      +11

      It is not unusual to collect breast milk with a pump, bottle it, then give the bottle to the baby. It's not unusual to not produce quite enough breast milk either and need to supplement with some formula.

      • cashless on 12/01/2025 - 22:31
        -6

        Agreed. But the baby hasn’t been born yet

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:02
      +3

      I don't believe in only my wife breastfeeding overnight while I sleep or do nothing. So if anything it will be a combination of breast + expressing +/- formula depending on her supply.

      • mintysaurus on 12/01/2025 - 23:26
        +3

        just be aware every kid is different and ours wouldn't take a bottle. We tried many different brands & baby just wasn't having it.

        • Flying Ace on 13/01/2025 - 13:11

          Yep, ours took the bottle for the first day that we tried, then he pretty much flat out refuses now :-(

      • afayd on 13/01/2025 - 20:44

        I’ll probably try the “let’s wait and see if we’re going to need it, and we’ll buy it then” approach. Our little one has been ok with breastfeeding, so even the expression contraption saw very little use. Midwives were super persistent on getting us to give breastfeeding our best shot and doing everything to troubleshoot it before letting us try anything else.

    • AngoraFish on 13/01/2025 - 00:20
      +4

      How many children have you breastfed? How did it go?

  • donga100 on 12/01/2025 - 22:35
    -2

    Just forget about buying anything "cheap" for your baby. You will be buying the most expensive/trendy version of everything and buying it brand new for the next 12 months at least. Accept the pain, don't fight it.

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:04
      +1

      Hahah no! I still fight every step of the way but inevitably I come out the loser in these battles.

    • garage sale on 13/01/2025 - 21:07
      +2

      hmm, i just did bottles in dishwasher , as a dad i miss a memo ?

      • donga100 on 13/01/2025 - 22:01

        Not all new mums are the same and I envy your experience. I just empathise with OP, having gone through the same type of discussions:

        I've already tried to convince her about using our dishwasher sanitiser function, microwave steriliser, Milton tabs etc so no need to get into that side of things.

  • djsweet on 12/01/2025 - 22:37

    We only ever sterilised for the first year. I’d be absolutely appalled if a 390 steriliser died within the year. I do have an expensive UV steriliser/dryer and it’s 100% worth it!

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:06

      I've also read that sterilisation is unnecessary beyond the first year once Bub's immune system is more capable. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

      • sam-1966 on 13/01/2025 - 17:43
        +1

        An uncle who was a GP said to stop sterilising once they go on the floor. I couldn't help myself and did it for longer.

        And the germs they pick up help the immune system.

        • rumblytangara on 13/01/2025 - 18:21
          +1

          I was avoiding pulling the "doctor's advice" thing, but ours in the family literally laughed when we asked about bottle sterilisers. She's extremely no-BS, has three kids.

        • garage sale on 13/01/2025 - 21:14

          i just used to wash bottles in dishwasher , same with dropped dummies, back in the mouth no sterilizing. Son has grown up healthy. Mother used to breast feed when she could and formula when she was at work and i was at home.

      • Cletus vandamme on 13/01/2025 - 23:44

        Newborn it's absolutely needed, however once they start crawling I see no point. The amount of things they pick up and put in their mouth is crazy. Still took me awhile though to stop the routine.

  • MS Paint on 12/01/2025 - 22:42
    +2

    We aren't due

    I thought you said only your wife was pregnant?

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/01/2025 - 23:02
      +3

      Not me doing a pregnancy style photo shoot with a fresh kfc zinger box to the side while I look loving down at my belly.

    • jzdhgkd on 12/01/2025 - 23:05
      +1

      Life uh… Finds a way

  • p1 ama on 12/01/2025 - 23:15
    +5

    Sorry, but $390 is nuts - back when my kid was a baby, I just chucked bottles and accessories into a steamer (like the ones you'd use for dumplings) over a boiling pot of water on a stove. Worked perfectly fine. Most dishwashers also have a sterilise function.

    I understand that potentially we have statutory protections under the ACL in case it does break in the 12-24 month timeframe but I am interested to know if the general public feel this is reasonable or not.

    The issue with ACL is that unless you're willing to take a retailer to court, it's not really worth anything. If it's outside of the warranty period and the retailer refuses to help you, what are you going to do? If nothing, then that's exactly what the statutory warranty is worth to you.

    • jzdhgkd on 13/01/2025 - 08:01

      Ah I thought you'd be going through NCAT for something like this? Or is that what you meant by going to court?

      I completely agree with you though - our dishwasher does have a sanitiser function and we have fully functional microwave and stovetop! But alas the power of marketing works for my wife.

  • AngoraFish on 13/01/2025 - 00:25
    +1

    Warranties are just marketing gimmicks.

    You seem to be approaching this as if the equipment will fail on day 366, however no name brand company would be happy with the shitty google reviews if that was a regular thing.

    In most cases it will be fine, but regardless, you can still make a claim for a repair, replacement or refund outside of that period.

    Honestly, people need to stop focusing on warranties as if they actually mean something.

  • apsilon on 13/01/2025 - 05:07

    I'm up early and haven't had coffee yet but if I'm reading this correctly you're asking about warranty and failure on a product you haven't bought for a kid you don't have?

    Anyway, warranty periods are pretty much meaning less. I think it reasonable that a bottle steriliser that cost 4 times more than most on the market last at least as long as the baby does.

    • jzdhgkd on 13/01/2025 - 14:22

      Yep! Basically the wife wants this particular product which was on sale back over Xmas but she didn't buy it because we wouldn't be able to use it for several months. As the warranty is only for 12 months if it failed prematurely we'd be up the creek hence she's waiting until the child is actually born but obviously we won't get the sale price.

      My opinion is that she should've just bought it months ago because even if it fails after the 12 months warranty is up the product should still be covered by ACL rights or something along those lines.

      Just wanted to see if my thoughts aligned with those in the general community.

      • garage sale on 13/01/2025 - 21:27

        yes i’m a dad but recall written somewhere “ the miracle of birth … for the billionth time” , wait till they don’t drink the whole bottle and give them the rest a bit later and “oh i didn’t transfer to a new sterilized bottle” they will survive, just use some common hygiene and food storage sense.

  • geekcohen on 13/01/2025 - 05:50
    +2

    We have a Philips Avent and it is going strong after 16 months. Never had an issue with it and use it almost daily. We use it in Auto Mode and no concerns.

    specifically the Minbie which is $390 i.e. on the higher end of things I believe.

    $390 is a joke.

    I've already tried to convince her about using our dishwasher sanitiser function, microwave steriliser, Milton tabs etc so no need to get into that side of things.

    The dishwasher might be too hot. I did this stupidly once and deformed the bottle.

    • djsweet on 13/01/2025 - 15:47

      Unlikely. Most dishwashers only go up to 70ish degrees even on sanitation mode. Steam sterilisers and boiling sterilisation will go a lot hotter.

      • geekcohen on 13/01/2025 - 15:48

        Unlikely

        I have a bottle that is proof my dishwasher deformed a bottle…..

        • djsweet on 13/01/2025 - 15:49

          Either there is something wrong with the bottle or your dishwasher defies the laws of physics. All baby bottles should be able to withstand 100 degrees, which is the maximum temperature water at normal atmospheric pressure will get to.

  • onetwothreefour on 13/01/2025 - 06:31
    +3

    Get the most expensive one and call it a push present.

  • mskeggs on 13/01/2025 - 07:16
    +1

    Is there no ozone risk with uv sterilisers? Considering the concerns with micro doses of chemicals, gases and plastics these days, I wouldn’t be introducing an ozone source around a new born if it wasn’t necessary.

    That said, it is very precautionary and my own kids grew up with gas heaters and plastic bottles.

  • Duckie2hh on 13/01/2025 - 09:10
    +3

    Use a steam one. No issues.

  • Fredfloresjr on 13/01/2025 - 09:20
    +9

    Wife: Use the machine to sterile the bottles, cups, small toys.

    Them: Crawl and lick everything they can grab on the floor including thongs and shoes.

    • trapper on 13/01/2025 - 11:19
      -1

      Newborns don't crawl anywhere.

      • geekcohen on 13/01/2025 - 15:49

        Correct, but they can do from about 12 months (give or take) and they are still having bottles. My son is 15 months, still has bottles and is walking.

        • trapper on 13/01/2025 - 17:49

          There's no need to sterilise bottles for a 12-month-old; just wash them like any other cup or bowl.

  • ihbh on 13/01/2025 - 10:33
    +2

    Next thing we get a post about whether exy sterilizer under ACL should last 10 years. No, because they have to pay the influencers to influence your wife.

  • foxmulder on 13/01/2025 - 11:00

    I would say 2 years considering the price and when baby bottles are not needed to be sterilized between each use. After this you won't need the sterelizer, just do normal wash on them.

  • 82norm on 13/01/2025 - 12:12

    Hey we’ve UV the bottles, too bad we’ve got skin cancer now. $390.00 seems a total waste of money.

  • rumblytangara on 13/01/2025 - 13:17

    Bottle sterilisers seem to me a total waste of money and countertop space. You wash a bottle out with hot water and detergent - it's sterilised. Soaps pretty much destroy the protective sheathing of bacterial and viruses and kill / denature them.

    $400 for a steriliser seems to be a triumph of marketing over common sense.

  • Deridas on 13/01/2025 - 19:42

    "In my eyes something that costs this much should be expected to be function for at least 2 years if not longer." <— You can't really just make up "2 years" and expect the manufacturer to agree though.

    $400 is absolute madness, looks like a successful marketing campaign.
    A cheap plastic microwave steam thing from Kmart did the trick for us, costs $17 (less back then) and I never had any complaints.

    Whatever luxurious $400 crap/idea is going to be thrown out the window when you average 3 hrs sleep a night for 6 months, and mind-numbing poo cleaning diaper changing multiple times every day. Tell the Mrs to stop watching tik tok videos.

  • HangryCakeStore on 13/01/2025 - 20:35
    +1

    I remember social media like Insta and it’s toxity making parents super conscious about every little thing growing a baby , it’s so sad the high standards sheep heavy media parents judge others..

    These kind of judgy couples are the death of society tbh, non of those Standards meant jack decades ago
    Sad

  • bozaar on 13/01/2025 - 21:29

    Just use a microwave steriliser, once you have a second baby you care even less. $390 is a waste of money.

  • Ooops on 13/01/2025 - 22:35
    +1

    Microplastics FTW.

    Don't mix plastic and heat.

    Read more please: https://www.sciencealert.com/microwaving-safe-plastics-can-r… and https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942 or search more yourself

  • eddyah on 13/01/2025 - 23:43
    +3

    Waste of money.

    There are literally germs everywhere including on your hands that are touching the baby.

    These are predatory products that work on people's fears and anxiety.

    Human babies should be exposed to germs and other things to build an immunity to these things.

    FYI: Dad here with a 3 year old. I've always just rinsed the bottles with fairly hot water after cleaning them.

  • Oofy Doofy on 14/01/2025 - 00:14
    +2

    I just washed and rinsed my son's bottles…. air dried them…. then used again.

  • greater mimic on 14/01/2025 - 01:44

    I bought a minbie a few years ago but it was $150 which is much more reasonable… It definitely worked well for us and it's been borrowed by others as well without any problems

  • massari on 14/01/2025 - 02:23

    We just rinse our bottles after use and out in the fridge for next feedm wash with fosh soap every 12 hours. Boom

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