If you have a baby, surely you have already realized how useful bottle warmers are. Although it is not an essential device for raising the baby, there is no doubt that baby bottle warmers are very practical not only to ensure that the bottle is always kept at the right temperature but also to prepare the bottle without having to resort to microwaves. In addition, the latest generation bottle warmers for como tomo bottles are also used to warm baby food or defrost food for the baby, so they have many more uses than the typical bottle warmer.
In fact, if you breastfeed your baby and use bottles to feed her expressed breast milk with a breast pump, bottle warmers will be especially useful to prevent the milk from boiling during preparation. Something especially important if it is breast milk, since this way you can make sure that the milk preserves all its nutritional and bactericidal properties so that your baby grows healthy and strong.
In any case, regardless of whether your baby is being fed with breast milk or formula bottles, we are sure that a bottle warmer will be a welcome accessory in your daily baby care routine. In addition, since we know that the choice is not easy, in the guide we are going to talk about the different types of bottle warmers that are on the market and the aspects that you must take into account to be successful with your purchase and get the most out of the model.
What Is The Best Baby Bottle Warmer And Sterilizer?
There are many types of bottle warmers, so do not buy crazy and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the different models on the market well to ensure that you acquire a model that perfectly adapts to your needs and your budget. To solve all your doubts and help you make the right decision, we have analyzed a wide variety of brands and models and have chosen three bottle warmers with excellent value for money.
For the choice of our three favorites, we have taken into account several aspects, mainly its number of functions, universality, comfort, speed, and portability, so it is very possible that the bottle warmer you are looking for is on this list. Read on and find out if yours is among our favorites!
What Is a Bottle Warmer and What Is It For?
The bottle warmer is a very practical tool for the first years of a baby’s life and although, as we have already mentioned, it is not an essential device to raise a baby, it does save time when preparing bottles newspapers.
As its name suggests, its main function is to heat baby bottles and for this, it uses various methods, from the classic bain-marie to more sophisticated functions such as the Philips Avent, which is very similar to a Nespresso machine. In principle, experts recommend their use mainly when they have to warm bottles of breast milk so that it does not lose much of its nutrients when heated in the microwave, but they are equally useful to keep bottles of formula warm for a while and to defrost breast milk or heat baby food jars.
The temperature of the milk must be adequate since the baby’s body in those first months of life is very weak and delicate, and if the milk is, too hot it can damage the baby’s esophagus and stomach, producing small abrasions that are annoying. At the time of ingesting food.
Until now, it was necessary to resort to more traditional methods to heat the bottle and keep it at the right temperature for the necessary time, but with bottle warmers, that process is greatly simplified. It is no longer necessary to spend so much time preparing the bottle and with bottle warmers, it is much easier to keep the milk in optimal conditions for as long as it is needed while carrying out other tasks.
In general, these very practical utensils for the first months of the baby’s feeding are simple devices and can be used with only one hand so that the other is free to hold the baby. However, there are different types of bottle warmers, for example, waterless, folding, battery-operated, portable, and twin bottle warmers, to name just a few, so below we are going to explain what are the main aspects you should look at to choose the one that best suits your situation and get the most out of your money.
Types of Bottle Warmers
In the market, you will find a wide variety of models with different features to cover all kinds of needs and adapt to all kinds of budgets, but in general, the most common bottle warmers are the following:
Standard Electric Bottle Warmer
These bottle warmers incorporate a reservoir that is filled with water to heat the bottles in a water bath. This reservoir usually has a series of maximum fill marks depending on the size of the bottle that prevents water from spilling over the edges.
Some have an adjustment button to specify the amount of milk to be heated so that the appliance will notify us when the selected temperature has been reached. These types of bottles generally take between 4 and 9 minutes to reach the recommended temperature of 37 ° C and usually have an automatic shut-off function to keep the bottle warm for as long as it is needed.
On the other hand, twin bottle warmers are normal bottle warmers that allow you to heat two bottles at the same time, something useful that saves a lot of time when you have twins or twins.
Ultra-fast Bottle Warmer
They are very fast bottle warmers that heat the milk in a maximum of three minutes. Almost all of them usually incorporate a special steam heating program to sterilize the milk while maintaining all its nutritional properties.
Digital Bottle Warmer
Unlike electric bottles, which usually have a wheel to select the heating temperature, these bottle warmers have a digital display where you can select the program, function or temperature that interests us.
Portable Bottle Warmer
If you often go on trips with your baby or often need to prepare the bottle outside the home, it will be very useful to have a portable bottle warmer that heats the bottle without the need for it to be connected to the electrical current. These types of bottles use different methods to conserve heat, but they are usually made of an isothermal material in which a kind of pad is inserted that reacts by generating heat when it is twisted or subjected to a certain pressure. They are usually small and compact but take significantly longer than a normal bottle warmer to heat the milk, about an average of 15 minutes.
Car Bottle Warmer
They are two-in-one bottle warmers that heat quickly and uniformly and incorporate a program to sterilize the bottles so you don’t have to buy two different products.
Nespresso Capsule Bottle Warmer
This type of state-of-the-art bottle warmer has been on the market relatively recently and works with capsules prepared with formula milk with different nutritional characteristics for the baby’s first three years. The machine automatically recognizes each capsule and with the push of a button, the device prepares the bottle with the correct dose and temperature. It is clear that they are very comfortable devices but their biggest drawback is that they have a high price.
As you can see, a large part of the bottle warmers that you will find on the market has other functions, so it is actually quite a useful device for the first years of the little one. In fact, if you want to make your investment profitable and use it for a few years, it is advisable to purchase a bottle warmer that allows you to defrost, sterilize milk and heat other types of containers such as baby jars. In addition, it is important that you buy one with an automatic shutdown function to prevent the appliance from overheating.
Sterilizer Bottle Warmer
They are two-in-one bottle warmers that heat quickly and uniformly and incorporate a program to sterilize the bottles so you don’t have to buy two different products.
What Are The Main Brands of Bottle Warmers?
It is clear that the pace that modern society imposes on us has forced children’s products companies to innovate innovative products that simplify baby care routines as much as possible. Bottle warmers are one of the many technological advances that aim to cover all the needs of the newborn and make life easier for parents, and leading brands invest a considerable amount of money in launching innovative models equipped with the latest technology from time to time.
Although you will find quite a few models and brands on the market, the best known are perhaps Chicco, Dr. Brown’s, Philips, and Avent, brands specialized in the manufacture of products for babies and young children. However, you will find many models from other brands at a more affordable price that have also been developed by experts in pediatric pediatrics and comply with European regulations regarding health and safety.
In any case, regardless of the brand, you decide on, it is important that you check that the bottle warmer complies with European regulations, as this will ensure that it is a quality product, which has passed all resistance tests. Health and safety specified by the European Union.
Before Buying a Bottle Warmer
As you will find a wide variety of bottle warmers on the market, it is best that you take into account these characteristics that we indicate below to evaluate the quality of the bottle warmer and, above all, to decide which model best suits your needs:
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Speed
It is better to buy a bottle warmer that warms the bottles in the shortest possible time, thus you will save time and you can feed the baby as soon as it starts to cry.
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Capacity
The vast majority of bottle warmers only heat one bottle, but if you have twins or twins, you will be interested in purchasing one that allows you to heat two bottles at the same time.
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Universality
It is advisable to buy a universal model that is compatible with any brand and size of bottle because you may use several different models during the first years of your baby’s life. Also make sure it is compatible with wide-mouth bottles and baby food so you can get the most for your money.
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Temperature
The most basic bottle warmers do not allow regulating the temperature and heating the bottles until reaching the recommended temperature which is normally around 37 º C. However, if you also plan to use it to heat baby food, it is advisable to have a temperature regulator that allows you to select the most appropriate one depending on the use that you are going to give it.
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Portability
If you travel a lot, it will be essential to have a bottle warmer that allows you to heat the milk anywhere. And if it also has an adapter to plug it into the car’s cigarette lighter, even better, since this way you can use it whenever you need it, even while traveling by car.
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Warning Beep or Light Signal
Almost all bottles automatically switch off when the bottle reaches the selected temperature, but if you are busy doing other things at the same time, it will be very useful if the bottle warmer has a beep or light signal that alerts you when the milk is hot enough.
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Additional Functions
If you want to get your money’s worth in the long term, it is better if the bottle warmer has additional functions that allow you to use it for more than just heating bottles. The bottle warmers that also sterilize the bottles and those that allow you to defrost and heat solid foods such as purees or baby food are very practical.
How Do You Use a Bottle Warmer?
Bottle warmers are very simple electrical appliances and generally work in a water bath. In almost all models, except for the more sophisticated models that use more complex techniques to heat the milk, all you have to do is place the bottle inside when the bottle warmer is unplugged, fill it with water and check that the bottle is completely left. covered with water. Then, turn on the bottle warmer, select the desired temperature and wait until the bottle reaches the correct temperature.
Some bottles have an automatic shut-off system when the desired temperature is reached, others have an acoustic warning system and in others, the manufacturer specifies in the instructions how long the bottle has to be left inside to reach the desired temperature. When the bottle is warm enough, remove it and check the temperature of the milk by pouring a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
The bottle warmer is especially useful when the baby is very young because it will not take long to warm the milk when the baby starts to cry. You just have to place the bottle in the device, turn it on and wait for it to reach the right temperature while you calm the baby by rocking it in your arms.
Keep in mind that if you are going to use it to heat baby food in addition to baby bottles, you will have to use a higher temperature. In addition, with baby food, it is advisable to stir the content from time to time to ensure that everything is heated equally. With bottles, it is not necessary because as milk is a liquid, the content is heated evenly, but with baby food, it is necessary because it could happen that the surface is hot but the content is still cold.
Usage Precautions
- Although it is a very easy device to use, before using it it is advisable that you read the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you are using it in the correct way.
- Almost all bottles have filling lines that mark the level to which the water has to reach depending on the size of the bottle used. Make sure not to exceed the maximum fill line to prevent water from running off the sides and damaging the appliance.
- When you open it to remove the bottle, open the lid carefully to avoid burns from excess steam or hot water.
- If you have had to go to work but continue to feed your baby with expressed breast milk with a breast pump, you probably already know that you can freeze or refrigerate it until it is time to give it to the baby. Keep in mind that to defrost it you have to follow a specific protocol to prevent the milk from losing part of its nutritional properties, so to do it correctly you must place it under hot tap water, in a fountain with hot water, or in a bottle warmer with defrost function. Remember that breast milk should not be thawed directly in a microwave at high temperatures because the milk would lose some of its antibacterial properties.
Cleaning The Bottle Warmers
As in bottle warmers, the food does not mix with the water, they are not devices that require complicated cleaning, but that does not mean that they do not have to be cleaned from time to time.
Although it is common sense before cleaning makes sure it is turned off and disconnected from the electrical current. Afterward, clean it well inside and out with a damp cloth and without using any abrasive product. In any case, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them strictly to avoid damaging the appliance during the cleaning process.
Finally, you should check that no lime builds up. Keep in mind that it is one of the most common problems faced by products that use water, so if you start to notice that lime builds up, you can remove it using 60 ml of white vinegar mixed with 120 ml of cold distilled water. You can also use an anti-limescale product but, yes, in that case be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Once the lime has dissolved, rinse it well with plenty of water and it will be ready for you to use again as soon as you need it.
Advantages of Bottle Warmers
- When a baby is on the way, almost all parents wonder what supplies are necessary to transport, dress, bathe or feed their little one, and although the first thing that is thought of is not a bottle warmer , it is true that It is a device that makes life much easier, especially for very busy couples with little time. Even if you are going to breastfeed your baby and you think that you will not use many bottles, you will soon see how easy and comfortable it is to warm the bottles with a bottle warmer instead of putting them in a water bath or putting them in the microwave.
- There are many advantages of bottle warmers, but here are a few so you can decide if this device will be practical in your day to day:
- Bottle warmers allow you to quickly and easily heat the bottle to the desired temperature and keep it warm for as long as needed. In addition, it is much easier to know the real temperature at which the milk is so as not to go over temperature and that the milk does not overheat.
- Although traditionally the mother is in charge of feeding the baby, nowadays mothers usually start work a few days after having the baby and must use breast pumps and bottle warmers to continue offering the baby breast milk with everyone the nutrients necessary for the little one to grow strong and healthy. In these types of situations, accessories such as breast pumps, sterilizers or bottle warmers are super useful when the parent or a caregiver must take charge of the baby’s feeding or a bottle must be used in one of the daily feedings.
- If you express your breast milk with a breast pump, you should warm it carefully to ensure that the anti-infective capacity of human milk is not altered, that is, that heating it does not produce significant losses of immunoglobulins and nutrients. According to experts, heating breast milk in microwaves to temperatures above 60 ºC reduces the bactericidal capacity of human milk, so a bottle warmer is a practical tool, especially when it is intended to frequently heat breast milk.
- The bottle warmers can be used safely with one hand while holding the baby or doing other tasks around the house. As the baby needs to eat very often and needs, several breast or bottle feedings throughout the day, it is much more comfortable and safer to use a bottle warmer than to have the pot on the fire all day, which on the other hand can cause accidents in the kitchen.
- They are small and easy to transport so that they can be used comfortably outside the home. Many models are portable and, in addition, some even allow the milk to be heated to the ideal temperature by connecting them to the car cigarette lighter.
- Finally, bottle warmers are not only used to heat baby bottles but can also be used to defrost food or heat baby food , so keep in mind that you can use it for about three years until the little one stops taking baby food to drink.
FAQ
- How much does a bottle warmer cost?
The price of bottle warmers varies a lot depending on the brand and the benefits, and you can find from basic bottle warmers for 30 USD to more sophisticated devices from the leading brands that reach 120 USD. However, if you have a fairly tight budget, you do not have to worry because it will not be difficult to find reliable, safe and quality options from lesser-known brands at quite affordable prices.
Keep in mind that the price is in line with the benefits. Obviously, a bottle warmer that also allows milk to be sterilized will always be more expensive than a more basic one that only warms the milk in a water bath. Similarly, bottle warmers that include fruit juices, a water meter, and a glass for juice will also be much more expensive than other more basic models that do not have as many additional accessories.
- How to choose the best bottle warmer?
Although breastfeeding is the best option to feed the baby during the first months of life, it is often necessary to use bottles, especially when it is the father who is taking charge of the baby’s feeding or when the mother must go to work and must feed the baby bottles of breast milk expressed with a breast pump.
Whatever your case, to choose the bottle warmer that best suits your needs, it is essential that you know how these devices work, what they consist of, in what situations they can be useful, and what type of benefits they offer.
Final Words
There is no doubt that bottles are essential for feeding babies, so whether you are going to feed your baby with formula milk or if you prefer to feed it with bottles of breast milk, buy a bottle warmer that helps you warm the milk Even the optimum temperature will make caring for your baby much easier.
However, before deciding on a specific model, you should assess what use you are going to give it, in what kind of situations you are going to use it, and how much you want to spend, because if you are only going to use the bottle warmer to heat bottles, you may be interested in buying. A more basic and economical one.
On the other hand, if your intention is to also use it to warm baby food, you will have to invest a little more money in buying a more complete bottle warmer but you can use it until your child is approximately three years old. In that case, we recommend any of the models that we have selected as they have excellent value for money and offer features typical of more advanced models.
In short, before buying a specific model take into account your needs and assess what type of bottle warmer you need and what budget you have. A portable bottle warmer is not the same as a latest generation digital bottle warmer or one with the double capacity to heat two bottles at the same time. In addition, as you probably already imagine, not all bottle warmers cost the same, so find out well so that your purchase is a success!