Do you need a quality bottle warmer? Here are 10 options that we think you should consider.
Best overall bottle warmer: Dr. Brown’s Bottle Warmer
Most user-friendly bottle warmer: Kiinde Kozii Baby Bottle Warmer
Best water bath heating bottle warmer: Tommee Tippee 3-in-1 Advanced
Best budget bottle warmer: Chicco NaturalFit
Best bottle warmer for speed: Munchkin’s High-Speed Bottle Warmer
Table of Contents
Things to consider before buying a bottle warmer
Safety
Safety should be the number one priority when choosing a bottle warmer for your baby. When picking a bottle warmer, you should go for ones that will heat milk or food to around 98.6 degrees. This is the temperature of breast milk when it comes from a mom’s body.
Any temperature above 110 degrees is dangerous and could burn your baby’s mouth or throat, which could be dangerous.
Another thing to consider is your safety. This can be done by going for bottle warmers with a bottle insert that can be used to safely place and retrieve small bottles from the reservoir without burning your fingers. The basket insert is included in most warmers upon purchase.
Methods of warming
There are two main methods of warming, namely: the water bath method and the steam heat method.
- Water bath method: This is the method that is recommended by experts. The water in the reservoir is first heated then the heat from the water is evenly distributed to the bottle. This method is much slower, but it is the best method in terms of retaining the nutrients in the milk.
Some warmers that use the water bath method have a swirling feature, which makes heat distribution more effective that greatly helps in preventing the formation of hot spots.
- Steam heating method: This method uses steam in heating hence making it much faster. You can use this method for heating formula. However, it is not recommended for warming milk since it may kill off the nutrients.
Also, this method is not safe since steam is very hot. Therefore burns are more common with warmers using this method.
Ease of use
There is no point in getting a warmer if it will be a hassle to operate. Warming milk or formula should take the shortest time possible using minimum effort. Warmers may come with a button or a dial. They should be straight forward, and if they are not, the manual should be able to help.
Most bottle warmers in our list have a maximum of four buttons or dial options. This means that you only need to spend minimal time trying to set the warmer before starting the warming process.
After use, you would need to clean the reservoir for some warmers. Therefore, a warmer should be easy to clean since you may be doing the cleaning regularly. It is recommended that you use vinegar water to remove residue. Regular cleaning also prevents the forming of mold.
Portability
If you are traveling with your little one, you should go for a portable bottle warmer. Portable warmers do not require electricity since most of them come with a flask that is used to store and keep the water warm.
The warm water is then used to gently warm your bottle. This method takes longer to heat, and you would have to guess if the food or milk is warm enough for your baby.
Bottle fit
You should ensure that the bottle you use can fit the bottle warmer you plan on getting. You should go for small to medium-sized bottles just to be sure. But most warmers specify the bottles that would fit.