It’s time to feed your newborn and you’re wondering if you should warm your baby’s milk – whether it’s breastmilk or formula – and how. In Warming Breastmilk & Formula 101, we answer these questions and more.
First, does my baby need warm milk to drink? The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control both recommend warming breastmilk and formula to at least room temperature. In fact, cold breast milk or formula might actually lower the body temperature of a newborn which can be risky.
Whether you decide to warm up breastmilk or formula to at least room temperature or body temperature, it is important that you do it safely! As parents, you need to be aware of three things when warming a bottle:
- NEVER microwave bottles! You’ve heard it before, and it’s true – microwaving bottles of breastmilk or formula can cause hot spots and burn your baby’s mouth.
- Warming bottles in hot, boiling water can be dangerous. There have been reports of infants and toddlers being burned due to accidental spills.
- Don’t warm breastmilk by boiling or in traditional warmers. These two approaches can overheat breastmilk, which can destroy the nutrients of the “liquid gold” you worked so hard to produce! Instead, you should use a bottle warmer with a special warming setting for breastmilk like the Baby Brezza Safe + Smart Bottle Warmer! This is the ONLY bottle warmer on the market that has two settings – one specifically designed to warm breastmilk and preserve its nutrients by using a warm water bath for steady heat, and a faster heat setting which uses steam to quickly warm formula. Plus it's the only bottle warmer you can operate with bluetooth and get alerts on your phone when your bottle is finished.
