How Bottle Warmers Can Help Make Happier Babies and Parents
As we are all perfectly aware of, babies have absolutely no respect for your time or gratitude for inconveniencing your life in general. They sleep up to 16 hours a day, they expect you to change and clean them, and then, they have the temerity to wake up in the middle of the night demanding warm, delicious milk with barely any notice to bleary-eyed parents. Of course, it has to be said, babies are just about the greatest thing in the world, and give parents validation of their entire existence. So you could say it’s a fair trade-off.
In any case, back to milk at midnights. Whether you’re a first time parent or an experienced one, the prospect of boiling or microwaving water to heat up powdered or breast milk in the middle of the night is not an enticing prospect – never mind preparing a fresh bottle of milk. This is where a bottle warmer can be a lifesaver.
A baby bottle warmer works as the name implies – it warms up a milk bottle in a convenient, hassle free manner. Simply place the milk bottle in the device’s receptacle, press a button or two, and the milk would be quickly heated up – faster than conventional methods.
Not only will you be able to focus on pacifying your baby, bottle warmers also warm milk bottles evenly, instead of just through a single surface (which can sometimes lead to scalded hands). As an added bonus, milk won’t be overheated, a factor that rarely comes up for discussion. Overheating milk breaks down the nutrient content, particularly for breast milk, so uniform heat distribution is crucial.
Choosing the right bottle warmer
The most important factor to be considered when shopping for a baby bottle warmer is where you are planning on using it. If you plan on placing the warmer in the kitchen, then a full-featured version is the best choice. They’re bigger and heavier, but all the bells and whistles will be included. If the warmer will be moved around the house, or even two houses, a smaller, portable unit would make more sense. However, if you intend on using it on the road, or if you travel frequently with the baby, your choice has to be a battery-powered one.
The second consideration is the size. Most warmers have receptacles designed for baby bottles. However, if you store milk in plastic containers (normal for breast-fed babies), then you should look for a larger device with a free size receptacle.
The final consideration is the method of heating, which generally comes down to either steam or warm soak. Steam provides more even heating, but soaking does the job faster – you’ll have to make weigh the merit of each option.
Take the next step with a baby bottle maker
Picture this. You’re a first time parent, and you can’t figure out yet how much powdered milk to use, or the correct feeding temperature of the milk for your baby. You have two choices now. You either get a family member to help, or, buy a baby bottle maker.
Almost all bottle makers have precise user instructions, which ensure that the milk produced will have the perfect feeding temperature. You no longer have to worry about giving your baby milk that is too hot or use too much powdered milk.
Most bottle makers also usually come with a steriliser to help sterilise baby bottles. More advanced units even have built-in blenders to help prepare solid meals for older babies.
With a bottle warmer and bottle maker in your home, caring for your baby will never be easier.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.