Domestic Diva Awards is The Singapore Women’s Weekly’s annual highlight of innovative products that help us live, work and eat better. This year, over 250 products across 69 household categories, ranging from cleaning and cooking appliances to healthy meal subscriptions were nominated. The winners were decided through public voting in an online survey in partnership with Milieu, and Editor’s Pick, recognising the best in their fields.
As a new mother, the list of things to prepare and buy can be overwhelming: a baby cot, car seat, stroller, not to mention a whole new nursery setup.
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While shopping for all these to prepare for your little one’s arrival, don’t forget these two big-ticket items that are equally important: a good breast pump and bottle steriliser. These two are indispensable for any breastfeeding mum, helping you to express comfortably, relieve engorgement, and keep your baby’s bottles sterile.
The last thing you’ll want to deal with is frustrating equipment, so we’ve put together a list of the best ones for you, chosen by our readers for the Domestic Diva Awards 2022. With these sterilisers and breast pumps, your breastfeeding experience should be a little easier.
Made in Korea, this UV steriliser both dries and eliminates bacteria from your baby’s bottles quickly and safely. It comes with two height-adjustable racks and a water tray, both of which can be cleaned with a simple wipe. We love the touch functions, which are displayed next to a readout of the temperature and time, and the fact that it automatically starts an 8-hour storage mode after the initial cycle. In storage mode, the contents of the steriliser are put through a ten-minute ventilation and sterilisation cycle every hour, ensuring 99.9% of bacteria and viruses are eliminated. Did we also mention it comes in four gorgeous colourways, including white and gold?
For a compact machine that gets the job done, this bottle steriliser and dryer is a great option. Using jets of filtered air, the machine dries the bottles and eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria within 40 minutes, so you’ll have it ready for the next feed in no time. “I love the simplicity and efficiency of this steamer. It does the job I need it to do and doesn’t take up too much space on my countertop,” says Karen Fong, Associate Editor at The Singapore Women’s Weekly. “I also use it for storage sometimes as I don’t use bottles too often.”
When you’re on the go, all you need is a simple manual pump that helps you express quickly and discreetly. The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is made of 100% food-grade silicone and a breeze to use with its natural suction. With its compact size and a convenient suction base to stick to surfaces, you can take it with you just about anywhere — just pop it into your baby bag and go!
“I discovered the Haakaa pump in 2018 and used it to collect milk let-downs when I was breastfeeding my son. It was a game-changer, helping to relieve engorgement and collecting breast milk for instant bottle feeding or storage,” says Estelle Low, Editor at The Singapore Women’s Weekly. “I wish I’d discovered Haakaa earlier when I was breastfeeding my firstborn. So much milk let-down went to my nursing pads and bras!”
As a new mum, you’ll have your hands full — which is when a hands-free breast pump like the Medela Easy Expression Bustier comes in useful. Compatible with all Medela double electric breast pumps, this bustier provides the support you need while leaving you free to take a break or multitask. Made of an Oeko-Tex certified blend of nylon and spandex, the bustier is free of harmful chemicals and can be machine-washed in a garment bag. You’ll have to measure yourself properly (ideally when breasts are full) for a good fit, but it’s meant to be snug for ample support.
Quiet and efficient, the Spectra S2 is ideal for pumping without disturbing baby’s sleep. The pump has two modes: massage, which stimulates the body’s letdown reflex and gets the milk flowing, and expression, which has a slower and deeper pattern of suction similar to how your baby would nurse. You can switch back and forth as needed to ease yourself in, and adjust the speed and rhythm with the digital controls. The machine comes with a night light, which is handy for pumping at night.