Which is the best (and safest) baby bottle maker?

UPDATED 12 JANUARY, 2024

WHAT IS A BABY BOTTLE MAKING MACHINE?

Baby bottle makers (also known as formula makers) aim to make preparing bottles of formula milk easier. Making a bottle by hand involves boiling the kettle, adding the formula powder and then finding a way to cool the feed to a suitable drinking temperature. Some devices claim to be able to do all this in just seconds.

These machines have become popular since the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep arrived on the baby scene in 2013. Since then, there have been no exact imitations but other devices using different formula-making methods have come on the market.

Are they safe to use?

One of the most important things to remember when making formula (along with the correct powder-to-water ratio) is that the powder should be mixed with water that is at least 70˚C. This is so that the temperature of the water can kill any bacteria in the milk powder.

Not all formula makers do this. And there are also concerns that even those that do, like the Tommee Tippee, don’t add enough of the 70˚C water to kill all the germs.

See below for any safety concerns for each individual bottle maker.

What are the actual dangers of not using water which is 70˚C or hotter to make formula?

Powdered infant formula can be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The most concerning ones are Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly known as E. Sakazakii) and Salmonella which can lead to severe illness and even death in babies.

Cronobacter sakazakii causes meningitis in babies. There have been around 70 recorded cases of this since 1958 and very possibly many more unreported ones.

There is a greater risk when the baby is under two months, if the baby had a very low birth weight and for immunocompromised babies.

There have been at least six salmonella outbreaks linked to powdered formula. One in France in 2005 resulted in the death of 141 babies.

Neither of these pathogens can grow in powdered formula but they can survive for a long time. Cronobacter sakazakii can last as long as two and a half years. And they can multiply rapidly once the formula is prepared if it is kept above 5˚C.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), current manufacturing technology cannot guarantee sterile formula powder. They also state that the handling of formula powder while making up a feed may also introduce bacteria.

They have discovered that preparing a feed with water at no less than 70˚C dramatically reduces the risk of any dangerous microorganisms being present. Other reductions in risk came from making a fresh bottle for each feed and using it within two hours. And storing pre-prepared bottles at temperatures no higher than 5˚C for no longer than 24 hours.

See here for more information.

WHICH IS THE BEST AND SAFEST BABY BOTTLE MAKER?

Here are the six most popular ones on the market with all their features and any safety concerns.

If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This never influences the selection and doesn’t affect your price. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.

1. Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine

The Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine is the most popular formula maker in the UK. There are two models, the original and the Perfect Prep Day and Night.

It will give you a bottle of ready-to-drink, body temperature formula in around two minutes. This is achieved by a ‘hot shot’ of 70˚C water being added to the powder, followed by cool filtered water.

The Perfect Prep is fairly simple to use. Here are the steps.

1. Ensure there is fresh water in the tank. (Unused water should be changed every 1-2 days.)

2. Select your formula size (in oz).

3. Place the right amount of scoops of powder in the bottle.

4. Place it on the bottle stand.

5. Press a button to dispense the hot shot of water.

6. Add the lid and gently shake or swirl the bottle to dissolve the powder.

7. Place it back on the stand.

8. Press the water button again to dispense the remaining amount of cool water.

It has the following features:

• Works with most baby bottles.

• The smallest feed it can make is 4oz. There is also a button for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11oz feeds.

• There is an antibacterial filter for the cool water. This needs to be changed around every 3 months. A warning light will come on when it’s required. They cost around £11 but are cheaper if you buy two at once. It’s very important to change the filter when needed so that any contaminants in the water are removed. It’s also very important to use the correct Tommee Tippee filter as other brands may not filter out bacteria.

• A cleaning cycle needs to be activated every 4 weeks or if the machine hasn’t been used for a week and also every time you change the filter.

• It will occasionally need to be descaled with clear, white vinegar. The machine will notify you when this is necessary. The process takes around 30 minutes.

• It comes with an anti-bacterial filter, a 150ml bottle with a slow-flow teat, and a bottle lid.

• The original Perfect Prep comes in black and white.

• The Day and Night model comes in black, white and grey. It also has some features to make it suitable for use at night: a volume control so any beeping can be quietened or silenced, a light-up digital display, a soft glow tank light so you can see if it needs refilling and bottle stand downlights.

Safety of the Perfect prep machine

Tommee Tippee has tested the machine in an independent laboratory and claims that the hot shot of water kills any bacteria in the powder. They have not published these results. In 2014 the Food Standards Agency expressed some concerns that the volume of the 70˚C water was not great enough to eliminate impurities. You can read more about this here.

There have also been reports of black mould being found in the pipes of a Perfect Prep but according to Tommee Tippee, this is down to not changing the filter regularly, using the wrong filter and not activating regular cleaning cycles. They suggested running an extra cleaning cycle before the recommended one using a sterilising solution such as Milton or food-grade white vinegar if you are concerned.

While there have been no deaths connected to the Perfect Prep machine, there is some anecdotal evidence of babies becoming slightly unwell. But it’s unclear if this is related to the device and if the users were using the correct filter and running the cleaning cycle regularly.

2. Baby Brezza Pro Advanced formula maker

This bottle maker claims to be the number one selling formula prep appliance worldwide. It is available in many places where you can buy baby products and is even quicker than a Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep.

There are two other main differences. The biggest is that there is no ‘hot shot’ of 70˚C water. The water dispensed to the bottle is at a ready-to-drink temperature. The other is that there is no formula powder measuring required. It is kept in an airtight compartment of the machine and once you’ve checked which setting to use with their online calculator, you just press a button and it does it all for you.

Here are the features:

• It can make a bottle in 15 seconds.

• There are three different temperatures available: body temperature, slightly cooler (they call it room temperature) and 40˚C.

• It can be used in ml and oz.

• The smallest bottle it can make is 60ml (compared to the Perfect Prep’s 118ml). There are also 8 other volumes in 30ml increments up to 300ml.

• Digital controls.

• The water tank holds 1.5 litres.

• Works with all baby bottles.

• The funnel needs to be cleaned every fourth bottle to keep it clean and clear. Wash it with hot, soapy water and then air dry it. Baby Brezza recommend buying a spare funnel so that this has to be done less often or so it can be used while the other is being cleaned. It costs £13.99. Some retailers offer a free extra funnel with your purchase.

• The machine should be cleaned once a month with parts such as the water tank and formula container washed in warm, soapy water and then air dried. The water tank can also go in the dishwasher.

• Descaling is required once a month or more regularly if you live in a hard water area. The process takes around 4.5 hours and distilled vinegar is needed.

• There is no filter. They recommend using only cooled boiled water in the machine and changing it every 24 hours.

Safety of the Baby Brezza Pro Advanced Formula Maker

The major safety concern is that the formula powder never has contact with water hot enough to kill any bacteria present. Baby Brezza claim that this is not an issue as any bacteria in the powder is only introduced when a bottle is made by hand and their machine keeps it in an airtight compartment.

However, the NHS say:

Even when tins and packets of powdered infant formula are sealed, they can sometimes contain bacteria.

Another concern is the accuracy of the machine’s measurement of the formula. Baby Brezza state that it is, ‘more accurate because there’s a high degree of variability when you scoop powder by hand.’

They also test all formula brands in lab conditions at least once a year and recommend users regularly check back with the online calculator to ensure the right settings are being used.

But there have been a couple of cases in America where the formula mixed by the machine was too weak and too strong, causing health problems for the babies.

3. Nuby RapidCool kit

This is completely different. It is a kit containing two RapidCool bottles, one normal vacuum flask and two milk powder dispensers. Here are the steps:

1. Boil the kettle then fill the RapidCool bottle with the required amount of water. There are seven measurement markings in the bottle from 60ml to 240ml.

2. Add the correct amount of formula powder and then the digital lid.

3. Gently shake or swirl the bottle until the powder has fully dissolved.

4. Press the button, which will cool the hot formula to ready-to-drink body temperature in between 2-5 minutes depending on the volume.

5. Pour the formula milk into your baby’s feeding bottle. The maximum feed size is 240ml.

If you are preparing the feed at night or when out and about, you can use water that has been kept at 70˚C in the vacuum flask and the powder dispensers which have been filled with pre-measured formula.

This is a way of quickly preparing a ready-to-drink bottle within NHS guidelines.

The lid is powered by a long-life lithium battery which does not require charging.

Downsides to the Nuby RapidCool

Because the milk is prepared in the RapidCool bottle it needs to be cleaned and sterilised after each use, just like a baby feeding bottle.

The digital lid should be washed in warm soapy water and then sterilised with either UV or cold water sterilising. They do also say that if you’re using it when out, you can fill it with boiling water and then turn it upside down for at least 30 seconds.

The main body of the bottle can be sterilised with UV, electric steam or cold water sterilisation. It can also go in the dishwasher but should never be steam sterilised in a microwave. You would also need to check it fits in your steriliser.

The bottle also needs time to cool down after each use and sterilisation. It should feel cool to the touch, which will take around three to four hours.

The kit does contain two bottles though so you could use one while the other is cooling. They can also be bought individually.

4. Tommee Tippee Go Prep

This is new from Tommee Tippee and is a version of the Perfect Prep which is designed to be used on the go. It is basically a rival to the Nuby RapidCool as it’s a flask which quickly cools formula made with boiled water. It can also be bought in a kit with a flask to keep the boiled water at a high temperature.

Here are the steps:

1. Pour the required amount of boiled water into the cool flask using the measurement markings to guide you.

2. Add the correct amount of formula powder. (A formula powder dispenser pot is included.)

3. Put the lid on the cool flask and shake.

4. After around two minutes (for 120ml feed) or five minutes (for a 240ml feed) the light on the top will indicate the formula is a suitable drinking temperature.

5. Pour into a baby bottle for feeding. The maximum feed size is 240ml.

Like the Nuby RapidCool this is a good way of quickly preparing a bottle within NHS guidelines. For some, it might be preferable to the Perfect Prep for use at home as well as out and about as there are no concerns about there being enough hot water to kill germs and the cleanliness of the machine.

The downsides of the Go Prep

Like the RapidCool it has to be washed and sterilised after each use. This means it’s out of action for a while as it also has to cool down after sterilisation. For UV and cold water sterilising this is 3 hours. For all others, it is 4 hours.

The cool flask can be sterilised with steam, UV or cold water sterilisation and also put in the dishwasher. However, it can be sterilised in a microwave. The lid is only suitable for UV or cold water sterilisation.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RAPIDCOOL AND GO PREP?

They are virtually the same. The only difference is what you get with your purchase. The Go Prep can be bought as one cooling flask or a cooling flask and hot water flask. The Rapid Cool can be bought as a single cooling flask or in a kit with two cooling flasks and one hot water flask.

5. Babymoov Milky Now Bottle Prep machine

This formula maker boils the water to 100˚C and then cools it to 70˚C which it can maintain for up to six hours. Once the water is dispensed you add the powdered formula and then have to cool it to drinking temperature yourself. For example, under cold running water. So really, it’s just like a formula kettle.

There is the option for the Milky Now to cool the water to anywhere from 22˚C and 85˚C. But anything lower than 70˚C will not be hot enough to kill any bacteria in the powder.

It takes 11 minutes for the water to boil and then be cooled to 70˚C, which does make it quicker than a standard kettle where this process takes over 30 minutes. And Baby Brezza say that cooling a 70˚C bottle under a cold, running tap will be quicker than cooling a 100˚C bottle. So it does save you some time.

Plus once the water is retained 70˚C, that cuts out the boiling time and you just need to do the do the cooling, which would be particularly handy at night.

The only issue is the question of whether maintaining the water temperature is the same as reboiling it. This could be a concern as the NHS advises not to reboil the kettle for formula as it increases the sodium content which could be dangerous for a baby. Babymoov has been contacted about this but has yet to respond.

Other features:

• 1.1 litre water tank

• One press of the water button will dispense 60ml. Press and hold for more.

• The cleaning cycle needs to be completed weekly or if the machine is not used for two consecutive days. You just need to press a button and it takes 3 minutes.

• There is no particular descaling process but they recommend a few drops of lemon juice being added during the weekly cleaning cycle.

• It can also be used for instant hot drinks.

6. ÜneeQbaby Baby Formula Kettle

Like the Babymoov, this is a formula kettle but it is slower. It boils the water and then cools it to 70˚C in 21 minutes and to 45˚C in 65 minutes. It can then keep the water at a temperature of your choice. The water can remain between 37˚ and 70˚ for 24 hours and between 71°C and 90°C for 3 hours.

Other features:

• Silent while keeping water warm and has a night light mode for night feeds

• 1 litre water capacity.

• Can also be used to warm up breast milk

• Needs monthly descaling with white vinegar.

• Can be used as a normal kettle once the bottle feeding days are over so it has a longer life span.

• Small UK business

Safety concerns

As long as the water used is 70˚C or above, any pathogens should be destroyed. But like the Babymoov, there are concerns about a change in the chemistry of water that is kept at high temperatures for long periods as there may be an increase of sodium. ÜneeQbaby has been contacted about this but has yet to respond.

Conclusion

From analysing the safety of each appliance, it seems that the Nuby RapidCool kit and Tommee Tippee Go Prep are the only ones that can quickly make and cool baby formula to the standards laid out by WHO and the NHS. They also have the benefit of being suitable to use when out and about. The Perfect Prep machine is simpler to use but comes second because of the concerns over the volume of the 70˚C water and some instances of mould being found in the pipes.

There are, of course, other methods that parents and carers use to prepare formula feeds. See Six ways to prepare formula feeds for an explanation of each and their relative safety and ease.

About the author

Annabel Port is the founder of Get Get Got and in a former life, a Sony award-winning radio presenter. After the birth of her son, she brought her forensic research skills to the world of baby products to help new parents not repeat her mistakes.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a health professional and everything provided here is for informational purposes only and is no substitute for advice from your health visitor or GP. Where I have stated that other parents use a particular method, it does not necessarily mean that it is safe for your baby or that I endorse it. Following of any of these methods is entirely at your own risk.

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