How to warm a baby’s bottle

Time for a feed? If you’re bottle feeding, there are a few things you need to be mindful of when preparing a feed, especially around warming formula or pumped breast milk, so it’s safe for your child. For instance, it's important to consider warming a bottle without overheating it as well as warming evenly so as to prevent hotspots.

 

So, what are the safest ways to warm a baby bottle? And how does the way you warm expressed milk or formula affect the quality of a feed? Does the formula need to be warm, and can you reheat formula milk without any issues? We’re here to guide you through the best methods for warming formula and pumped breast milk, and common mistakes to avoid.

Warming baby bottles the safe way

 

While some babies don’t mind bottle feeds at room temperature, many prefer it slightly warm – around body temperature. To warm a baby bottle and bring it to their ideal temperature, we recommend using warm water or a bottle warmer – like the new Philips combo bottle warmer and steriliser.

How to warm a baby bottle using warm water

 

Warm water gently warms pumped breast milk or formula, preserving nutrients and preventing overheating. You can do this by holding a bottle under warm (but not hot) tap water for about 5 to 10 minutes. 

 

Alternatively, you can place the bottle in a container of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. In fact, this is how nurses warm bottles in hospitals! You’ll need to make sure the water level sits below the bottle’s lid to avoid accidentally contaminating your baby’s feed.

 

If you’re wondering how warm formula milk should be before feeding your baby, there’s an easy way to find out: place a few drops of milk on your wrist before you start feeding. It should feel warm, around body temperature. Feeling a little hot? Leave the bottle to cool for a moment.

How to use a baby bottle warmer to warm formula and pumped milk

 

An electric bottle warmer provides an overall safer and more consistent way to warm your baby’s bottle.

 

Unlike manual methods, there’s less guesswork involved. Some bottle warmers even have smart sensors which specifically prevent overheating. What’s more, most warmers prepare feeds in 3 to 5 minutes. Hello, efficiency!

 

You'll find there are two main technologies used in electric bottle warmers: steam and water bath warming.

 

So how do they work? Steam technology heats bottles from the outside in by using a strong heat plate to turn small amounts of water into steam. This can often leave the bottle feeling very hot to touch, and there’s also a greater risk of hot spots which could burn your baby’s mouth.

 

Water bath warming technology is a faster and more accurate version of the manual method we mentioned earlier that nurses use in hospitals. The bottle is submerged in water and gently warms thanks to a heating pattern that moves continuously around the bottle. Continuous circulation means it’s excellent at preventing hot spots and better at preserving nutrients than steam.

 

Every bottle warmer works a little differently, so be sure to follow the appliance’s instructions to learn more about how to use a baby bottle warmer the right way.

Don’t use a microwave (even if it’s convenient!)

 

We get it, microwaves are the modern parents’ saviour in many ways. Still, when it comes to warming your baby’s feed, you should avoid them.

 

Unlike water bath warming, microwaves use an uneven heating pattern, which leads to hotspots. So, while the bottle might feel a little cool on the outside, there could be hot pockets in some areas, which could burn your baby’s mouth.

Warming a formula bottle: Frequently asked questions and their answers

 

If you’re formula feeding, you might be asking yourself: can you reheat formula? It is advised to only warm formula once, when preparing the bottle for the first time. You should then use it within 2 hours of preparation or within 1 hour of starting a feed. If you don’t end up offering a prepared feed, you may choose to store the untouched bottle of formula in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You should not re-warm a formula bottle. If you’re unsure, we recommend checking the details of the formula you’re using, just to be on the safe side.

Warming baby bottle with pumped breast milk: Tips and tricks

 

If you’re feeding expressed breast milk, use the remaining milk within 2 hours or discard it. If you’ve thawed out frozen milk and there’s some leftover, don’t refreeze it.

So, what’s the best way to warm a baby bottle?

 

As a parent, you’ll never stop finding ways to keep your baby happy, healthy and safe. And bottle feeding is no exception. By opting for gentle warming methods like water bath warming, avoiding microwaves, and following guidance on safe storage and reheating, you can ensure your baby is reaping the benefits of every feed. And you now know what to watch out for and have answers to questions like ‘can formula be reheated’ and ‘how to find the right temperature for bottle feeding’.