As a parent of a newborn, there is nothing quite as stressful as trying to care for a hungry baby who cannot (or will not) stop crying.
When a baby is wanting to have food, they have little to no patience for the time it takes for you to properly heat a baby bottle to the correct temperature.
This is why knowing exactly how to warm a baby bottle — and to what temperature — is extremely important. You also need to know how to do this without causing any harm to your baby.
But if you do not quite know where to begin, this article will guide you through the entire process. Here are some tips you must keep in mind:
The Basics
Warming a baby bottle is not necessary and is, instead, a matter of preference. If you are formula feeding, it is recommended that you make up every bottle fresh. To do so, you must use hot water to ensure that all bacteria in the formula powder are killed.
Younger infants might have a preference for warmer milk as it is far more soothing for them, so you might want to consider it at least for the first few months of their life. This is because when babies are breastfed, milk naturally remains at body temperature.
You should aim to heat a baby bottle to around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
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Three Ways To Safely Warm A Baby Bottle
- Under The Faucet
Warm your baby bottle by holding it under warm or hot running water. Make sure to rotate the bottle around to reach all of the sides for around two minutes. If you have frozen breast milk, this is probably the best method of defrosting the milk for your baby.
You could even just run hotter water into the baby bottle itself and then leave it to cool down.
- Using A Bottle Warmer
Bottle warmers are devices that are designed to warm bottles, as the name suggests. A lot of these devices are simple to use and can quickly warm up milk to body temperature. This is a crucial factor when you have a fussy, crying baby in your midst!
Make sure your chosen bottle warmer is suitable for the type of bottle that you are using. You also need to follow all instructions set out by the manufacturer.
- On The Stove
This is another method you can use, but one we would deem as a last resort.
Fill a pot with water to at least the same height as the milk that is in your bottle. Warm the water on the stove and then place the bottle into the warm water until the milk gets near to body temperature. Test the temperature on your wrist to make sure it is not boiling.
Make sure to occasionally swirl the bottle to ensure that the milk is entirely heated through. You must avoid shaking the bottle as this could create air bubbles. You can expect to wait a couple of minutes until your baby’s bottle is heated enough.
What Not To Do
You should never try to warm a baby bottle in the microwave as they will continue to heat, or “cook,” well after they are taken out. This means the temperature will carry on heating up and might even put your baby at severe risk of being burned.
If your baby prefers warm milk, you must follow any of the above methods to successfully achieve this outcome without putting them at risk.
How To Check For The Perfect Temperature
Have you ever been curious about why people squeeze milk out from a baby’s bottle onto their wrists to test the temperature? We are here to tell you why!
It is a common practice because the skin on the inside of the wrist is much thinner and far more sensitive, much like your baby’s. This then works as a highly reliable guide. In general, the temperature should feel neutral — that is, not too warm and not at all hot —so that your baby can drink it quickly and easily.
Conclusion
We hope that you now understand how to safely warm a baby bottle. Provided you follow instructions and check the temperature before every feed, you will have a much happier and far more content baby on your hands!
