15 Of The Best Bottle Warmers - Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold, Just Right For BB
Baby bottle warmers are one of those baby gear necessities that have you wondering: Do I really need this to warm my baby’s bottle? When you’re learning about being a new parent, you often read about what a special bonding experience it can be when it’s feeding time. And sometimes it is … even if it doesn’t go exactly as you dreamed it would. Other times, it’s a f***ing frazzled mess. The baby is crying and hungry, your other kids are driving you crazy, the dog needs to pee, and the formula or stored breast milk is ice cold. Sigh. Some bonding experience.
If you have an easy to use bottle warmer, though, you can quickly raise the temperature of the milk to a safe level. These new bottle warmers chill till ready, sanitize, and are smarter than most moms during midnight feedings. Crisis averted— for now. Before you know it, the other kids are quieting down, the dog is nowhere to be found, and the feeding experience is a beautiful thing again. But now, you may be wondering: “Which bottle warmer is the best?” Well, Mama, stay tuned. We’ve got picks from trusted brands like Avent, Grownsy, Brezza, Bubos, and more.
(And yeah, yeah, we know the dog is whizzing on the rug in the other room, and the older monsters are quiet because they’re destroying something, but we’re going to pretend that’s not happening, so we can keep our sanity. Just let us have this.)
Are baby bottle warmers necessary?
Most moms would answer this with a resounding “Yes!” If you plan on breastfeeding, you’ll likely need to heat up chilled (whether refrigerated or thawed from frozen) or even room-temperature breastmilk at some point in those early months. Same if you’re formula feeding … for some babes, anything cooler than a just-warmed (not hot!) bottle of milk will cut it.
Sure, you can warm your newborn’s meal in a bath of hot water (NEVER microwave!) but that takes extra time and effort in the (what feels like) eternal amount of time that your hungry BB is crying. Further, many warmers do double duty as bottle/paci sterilizers.
How long to bottle warmers take?
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 15+. Electric bottle warmers (which you’ll most often find) tend to be the fastest and many let you control the time — some even let you set the exact temperature. There are also portable options that hold hot water and keep milk warm while you’re on the go. So, the short answer: It depends on your bottle warmer’s capabilities and how warm you’d like your baby’s bottle.
Are bottle warmers safe for breast milk?
Yes – if done correctly. One benefit of warming milk up more slowly is reducing the risk of nutrient loss if the milk gets too hot. Warming pre-thawed breastmilk, as opposed to breastmilk that’s still frozen, is also generally safer in terms of preserving nutrition. However, you can opt for a unit with a specific thaw function that does the job as efficiently as possible.
If you’re especially concerned about breastmilk nutrition, consider getting a more tech-forward unit that lets you set the time and temp. And PSA: Always, ALWAYS test the milk temperature on your wrist before feeding it to your baby to make sure it’s not too hot.
The Top Baby Bottle Warmers of 2021
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