How to Heat a Baby's Bottle

Whether they take breast milk or formula, some babies prefer having their bottles warmed up. It takes off the chill and generally helps infants accept the bottle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Bottle Nipples
• Baby Bottle/food Warmers
• Baby Bottles

1. Dispose of any clear plastic bottles and replace them with opaque ones, since some studies have indicated that chemicals may leach from plastic bottles made out of polycarbonate.
2. Defrost breast milk if necessary, either by thawing it in the refrigerator overnight or putting it in a bowl of warm water for half an hour.
3. Warm a bottle of either formula or defrosted breast milk by submerging it in a bowl or pan of warm (not boiling) water, by running the bottle under warm tap water, or by using a commercial bottle warmer, available at baby stores.
4. Test the temperature of the milk or formula in the bottle by shaking a few drops onto your inner wrist. It should feel tepid, not hot.
5. Continue warming the milk or formula until it's the desired temperature.
6. Some babies also like to have the nipple of the bottle warmed; run it under warm tap water or submerge it in a pan of warm water for just a few seconds. Test it on your inner arm to make sure it's just warm, not hot.

Tips & Warnings

• To make life more convenient when you are out and about, you may want to start introducing a bottle closer to room temperature - so your baby does not grow accustomed to always having a nice, toasty bottle.
• Avoid microwaving formula or breast milk; it distributes heat unevenly in the bottle.
• For your baby's safety, never reuse formula or breast milk once you've heated it. Bacteria may have formed in the liquid.
• Check the expiration date before using any formula. Throw away outdated formula, and don't reuse leftover formula, which can harbor harmful bacteria.