The Best Way To Warm Baby Bottle: 3 Methods And Guides For Every Parent

Inside: If you are looking for the best way to warm baby bottles, this article is the right place for you! Read on to discover the three effective methods and some tips.

Breastfeeding is one of the most sacred acts of motherhood. However, it might not always be an option.

For mothers who are often on the go or are busy, bottle-feeding is a reasonable solution. However, breast milk that has been frozen for too long is often cold and more difficult to digest.

The good news is that this article will suggest the best way to warm baby bottles. We also cover how to check the temperature and some things to avoid.

Sounds interesting? Continue reading the article to learn more!

The Basics of Bottle Heating 

Before learning how to warm a bottle, you need to understand some basics of the action.

Choose A Glass Or BPA-Free Bottle

first, double-check the type of bottle you use to feed your baby. Choosing a healthy and durable milk bottle is an important factor.

When children grow up, they can also drink milk on their own. Many parents also wonder about “when do babies hold their own bottle?” or “how to guide your baby to drink milk on his own?”

According to the U.S. Food And Drug Administration, BPA is an extremely common chemical in hard plastic products. When BPA containers contact boiling foods (such as breastmilk and formula), it melts and transfers to liquids or foods.

In 2008, manufacturers began restricting the use of this chemical in children’s products. That’s because exposure to BPA can negatively affect the brain, increase cancer risk, and accelerate puberty.

In 2013, the FDA recommended ending the use of BPA-containing formula liners.

You should choose glass bottles or look for products with recycling codes of 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Some plastics with codes 3 and 7 are likely to contain BPA.

If you have used food containers containing this chemical, dispose of them as soon as there are signs of scratches.

Recommendation:

Heat Evenly

You will want to heat all the milk in the bottle evenly to avoid health problems.

Always rotate the bottle gently to ensure there aren’t any hot spots. Limit shaking of the milk during the reheating process so that the temperature is consistent throughout the bottle.

Test The Temperature

Before giving milk to a baby, make sure its temperature is adequate and does not burn the mouth. You need to do a few checks first.

Dab a few drops of milk on your inner wrist. The skin in this area is quite thin and sensitive, like a baby’s skin.

Usually, the most suitable warmth will be close to body temperature. If you don’t feel anything after dipping milk, the level is perfect.

On the contrary, if you feel the heat, the temperature is too high. You will need to wait for the liquid to cool a bit before giving it to your baby.

You may also feel the breastmilk cool slightly on contact with your skin sometimes. That’s completely normal.

The Best Way To Warm Baby Bottle

You can choose one of the three ways below to warm up baby bottles safely.

Baby Bottle Warmers

Many busy mothers often choose to freeze breastmilk or use formula.

If you’re in this situation, try saving time and effort by investing in a hands-free bottle warmer. This device is also very convenient for night feeding.

There are many models of warmers on the market. Make sure you’ve chosen one that fits the size and shape of your home milk bottle.

Those who often travel in the car can also choose specialized equipment. Some bottle warmers also can mix, dispense and warm the formula.

Recommendation:

Philips AVENT Fast Baby Bottle Warmer with Smart Temperature Control and Automatic Shut-Off, SCF358/00

 

Warm Water

To warm baby bottles, you don’t need to boil water. Remember that the ideal temperature of breastmilk will be the same as body temperature.

Take a bowl and pour some warm water into it. The water should be cool enough for your hands to touch without burning but hot enough to heat the liquid.

Place the flask in warm water for up to 15 minutes. Always gently swirl the flask to ensure a consistent temperature during that process. However, it would be best if you did not shake it as it can create air bubbles inside the liquid.

Using Tap Water

Another method is to warm breastmilk under running water. Make sure you close the lid of the bottle before you start. The water from the faucet should be warm. Hot water will burn your hands and destroy the texture of the liquid.

Gently swirl the bottle while under the tap. It will help warm the milk slowly.

Although this is an effective method, it has the disadvantage of wasting water. Therefore, we recommend that you consider the two options above.

What Not To Do When Warming Baby Bottles

Besides the safe methods to warm breastmilk mentioned above, you should also pay attention to what not to do.

Microwave

Microwaves are not a safe option for warming baby bottles. This device distributes heat unevenly.

As a result, it can destroy all formula and breast milk nutrients. Plus, the solution will have hot spots which could burn your baby.

The microwave is an even more harmful device for those who use bottles containing BPA and phthalates. High temperatures can cause these chemicals to leak from the plastic into the liquid.

Stovetop

Never put bottles in a pot of boiling water on the stove. It can cause overheating of the breastmilk or formula. 

The intense heat is also likely to melt the plastic of the baby bottles and damage them.

Does Breastmilk Or Formula Have To Be Warm? 

The most important issue is that children won’t really need to drink warm milk. Some children may enjoy drinking cold milk without any concerns.

The body secretes milk at 98.6 degrees F when a baby suckles. This temperature is not too high, so heating the bottle is unnecessary.

On the other hand, heating breastmilk can reduce the nutrients and benefits of this liquid. So thaw your frozen breastmilk carefully.

This process can destroy the natural immunological and enzymatic properties within the structure.

The best method of warming a bottle is to gently increase the temperature until it is compatible with body temperature. Thanks to this, the milk will not burn and still preserve the necessary nutrients.

The Bottom Line 

We hope that this article of ours has suggested the most effective methods for warming baby bottles. Each way will have different advantages and disadvantages.

Consider investing in a warmer for maximum convenience if you’re often on the go. In contrast, the warm water method is suitable for mothers who occasionally bottle feed.

 

 

Author Bio
Hoang Catherine is the owner of https://bonsmommy.com. She has a cute 2-year-old boy. She uses full-time to take care of him and work at home. Both traditional and modern methods in education were applied for her boy. It is the most meaningful way to express her passion.