Comparison Nuvita 1165 vs Chicco Steril Natural 3 in 1

The type determines the general purpose of the device.

— Sterilizer. A device designed to sterilize children's dishes (bottles, nipples and pacifiers, spoons, cups, etc.). The main function of the sterilizer is the destruction of harmful bacteria; using a specialized device for this is more convenient, and often more effective than using improvised means (for example, boiling in a saucepan). Sterilizers can use different operating principles (see “Operating principle”, “Sterilization”).

— Heater. A device designed to heat baby food to the optimum temperature. Such a device is more convenient than a traditional stove or microwave — it is usually equipped with a thermostat and effectively heats food for the baby without overheating it.

— Heater-sterilizer. Universal devices that can work both as a heater and as a sterilizer (see above). They are quite expensive, but this disadvantage is compensated by the fact that instead of two separate devices, you can use one multi-purpose device (which, in the end, can be cheaper, and takes up less space).

Basic principle of operation of the device.

— Electric. Devices powered by electric current — from the mains, batteries or car cigarette lighter (see "Power"). This principle is used by all heaters and heater-sterilizers (see "Type"), as well as sterilizers with ultraviolet processing (see "Sterilization"). Also, electric heaters are often used in devices with steam sterilization, but there is an alternative option — heating in a microwave oven (microwave), it is described below.

— For microwave ovens. Sterilizers with a steam principle of processing (see "Sterilization"), working by heating in a microwave oven (microwave oven). In fact, they are containers made of special materials that do not have any electronic filling. Such models are extremely simple, inexpensive and reliable: there is practically nothing to break in them. On the other hand, to use such a sterilizer, you need a microwave oven itself, and metal objects cannot be processed in it. In addition, if the oven is small and the container is large, it's ok to clarify before buying whether it will fit in the microwave at all.

— Chemical. The principle of operation, used exclusively in sterilizers with cold sterilization (see below): water and a special antibacterial concentrate are poured into the device. At the same time, heating is not required for operation, thanks to which th...e device can be made very simple and inexpensive; in addition, it works regardless of the power supply, which is very convenient on the road. The disadvantage of chemical models is the need to regularly buy a special tool.

— Electric / for microwave ovens. A sterilizer that can work both from the mains and in the microwave. The container for dishes in such models is usually made removable — if desired, it can be removed from the main unit and installed in the microwave.

— For microwave ovens / chemical. A variety of sterilizers that allow operation both from a microwave oven (microwave oven) and a chemical method. See above for more details on these methods, and their combination makes the device versatile and allows it to be used for both “hot” (steam) and cold (without heating) sterilization. However metal objects cannot be sterilized in microwaves, but a chemical method can be useful just for them.

– Electrical / chemical. Another type of sterilizer that supports both hot and cold processing methods. In this case, heating, if necessary, is carried out due to its own electric heater; unlike using a microwave, this heating allows you to steam sterilize even metal objects. On the other hand, such devices are more complicated and more expensive than the models described above with the principle of operation "for microwave ovens / chemical".

Sterilization method used in a device with this function (see "Type").

- Steam. Sterilization by heat treatment with heated steam; heating in this case can be carried out from a built-in electrical element or from a microwave oven (see "Operating principle"). This method is considered one of the most effective, but it requires a connection to the network (batteries do not provide the required power) or the presence of a microwave. In addition, only heat-resistant materials can be sterilized in this way; and after being removed from the sterilizer, the items must cool down, which takes time.

- Cold. Sterilization by chemical method using a special antibacterial composition. For more information about this method, see "Operating principle"; here we note that it does not require heating and works even in cold water, hence the name. One of the key advantages of cold sterilization is that it is suitable for almost all materials, regardless of their resistance to heat; also recall that such models can be used even on the road. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the constant spending on the purchase of sterilization products, which, moreover, are not sold everywhere.

- Ultraviolet. Sterilization by irradiating objects with an ultraviolet lamp. Such irradiation quite quickly and effectively kills bacteria; at the same time, relatively littl...e energy is required to operate the lamp, and it is quite possible to use battery power in such a device. On the other hand, the device itself is difficult to make more or less large and performant. Therefore, virtually all UV sterilizers are designed for nipples, pacifiers, and other items of a similar size; models for bottles (see "Purpose") are not found among such devices.

- Steam / cold. Models that allow both steam and cold sterilization. These methods are described in detail above. Here we note that the formation of steam in such models can be provided both by heating in a microwave oven and by its own heater; for details on these options, see "How it works".

Sterilizers with this feature consist of a main unit and several removable container modules for sterilized items. Most often, the set comes with a tall container for bottles, and a small one for nipples, pacifiers and other “small things”. The modules can be used both individually and together — in the latter case, they are usually installed one on top of the other, like steamer baskets. The similarity is enhanced by the fact that most of these sterilizers use steam (see "Sterilization"), although cold processing may also be provided in addition to it.

Anyway, the modular design allows you to optimally adjust the device to the specific situation. For example, to sterilize several pacifiers, it is enough to install only one small container — this will not only save electricity, but also have a positive effect on the efficiency of the procedure itself. And the use of two modules at once, in turn, saves time.

The type of children's dishes for which the appliance is designed.

Warmers (see "Type") are, by definition, only for bottles and jars. But sterilizers can be designed both for bottles and jars, and for more miniature items — nipples and pacifiers. There are also universal sterilizers that are compatible with both; usually, they have two compartments — for large items and for small ones.

Note that the actual purpose of most sterilizers is much wider than those items that are directly indicated in the characteristics, such devices can be used for a wide variety of children's accessories — spoons, drinking glasses, breast pumps and even small toys. The main thing is that the sterilized items are suitable in size and materials.

— Temperature control. The ability to accurately set the heating temperature at your discretion (in heaters and heater-sterilizers, see "Type"). This function allows you to optimally adjust the device to a particular situation — for example, for a child of different ages, the recommended food temperature will also be different.

— Maintenance of temperature. Warmers with this function are able not only to heat cold baby food to the desired temperature, but also to maintain this temperature. Thus, the parent does not have to feed the child immediately after the end of the heating, fearing that otherwise the food will cool down — you can remove the bottle later, at the most convenient moment.

— Auto power off. Automatic shutdown of the device — usually at the end of the work programme. The meaning and features of this function may be different. So, in the simplest heaters, auto-off allows you to avoid overheating — when the desired temperature is reached, the temperature sensor is triggered. In sterilizers, this feature provides energy savings — the procedure lasts exactly as long as it takes for effective sterilization, and less. In addition, auto-off can be triggered when there is not enough water in the steam sterilizer tank — this prevents overheating and damage to the device itself. Anyway, this feature provides additional convenience, and sometimes...security when using the device.

— Display. The presence in the device of its own display. Usually, this is the simplest black and white LCD screen. However, such a screen can display a wide variety of information: temperature (actual and/or planned), selected programme, operating time (set or remaining), timer settings, water level, antibacterial agent remaining (in chemical sterilizers), battery charge and much more. Specific features depend on the model of the device, however, the display anyway makes the operation more convenient and informative.

— Timer. Most often, this refers to the delay start timer used in appliances with a heater function (see "Type"). This function allows you to "charge" the device in advance and set the start time so that the heating ends at the right time — for example, so that a bottle of warm milk is already waiting for you when you return from a walk at home.

— Ready indicator. An indicator signaling the achievement of the desired temperature or the end of the sterilization programme. Usually uses a light signal — for example, the light is on during heating and goes out when it ends.

— Heating (liquid nutrition). Low-temperature mode for heating milk or liquid food in warm water with a temperature of up to 50 °C. With this type of heating, the containers do not overheat — they can be immediately picked up. However, the heating process also takes longer.

— Heating (dense food). Mode for heating cereals and thick mixtures with hot water (70 – 80 °C and more). When taking a container heated in this mode out of the apparatus, precautions must be taken, since it can burn your hands.

— Fast heating. It is used for accelerated heating of baby food, usually with a small amount of steam. Bottles heated in fast mode must be removed from the appliance with extreme care to avoid the risk of burns.

— Defrosting. The mode provides gentle defrosting of milk or food in a bottle to a liquid state without heating.

— Optional. There may be functions that are not indicated above.

The maximum number of items that fit in the device at a time.

Almost all heaters (see "Type") are made "single-charged" — in fact, it is rarely necessary to heat several bottles of milk at once. But sterilizers are often designed for several items at once — this saves time on processing. At the same time, a more capacious appliance, on the one hand, is more convenient with an abundance of dishes, on the other hand, it is heavier, bulkier and more expensive. So when choosing, it is worth considering what is more important — compactness or the ability to work with numerous objects.

Note that in models for bottles and jars (see "Intended use"), capacity is usually indicated for containers with a narrow neck; wide dishes in such a device will fit less. And for universal devices designed for both bottles / jars and nipples / pacifiers, capacity is usually given only for bottles; the number of places for nipples and pacifiers may be less, this should be clarified before buying.

Time taken by the instrument for one standard sterilization cycle.

Ideally, this time should be as short as possible — because the faster the sterilizer works, the more time it saves. At the same time, with electric heating or ultraviolet type of sterilization, high speed requires a more powerful hardware, which, in turn, affects energy consumption, price and dimensions of the device. And in models heated by microwave ovens, the actual time of the programme depends on the power of the stove; at the same time, the characteristics may indicate the time for heating at a power of 1200 W or more, and such power is not provided by all microwave ovens.