Fast bottle warming, but is it necessary?

I received a second hand Avent Express Bottle and Food Warmer from a friend who had a baby about 18 months prior to me. She had used this warmer frequently for bottle warming and no longer needed it. Since I was using Avent bottles, she thought I could also use the warmer. I had not planned to purchase a warmer because when I did warm a bottle, it was usually by running it under some hot tap water or sitting it in a mug of hot water.

I have used this warmer for both bottles of breast milk and formula. The only time I warm bottles regularly is if they have been refrigerated. Occasionally I have warmed a bottle of tap water prior to mixing it with powder formula if the water seemed particularly cold, as the powder mixes better with warmer water.

How it works:

This electronic bottle warmer consists of a warming unit and a plastic basket insert. The insert helps fit Avent brand bottles in the unit so they remain upright. The unit also comes with a warming bottle with top cap and a feeding spoon. A nipple for the bottle is not included. All Avent bottles fit into the warmer. The unit plugs into a standard American electrical outlet, although it is a three pronged plug. There is an on/off toggle switch on the back of the unit and a red indicator light on the front of the unit to tell you that it is heating. Also on the front of the unit is a dial marked 1-2-3 for setting the temperature level of the unit. The manufacturer recommends starting the unit on level 3 for regular bottles and level 2 for disposable liner bottles. I only use reusable bottles, so my warmer has stayed on level 3.

To warm a bottle, you need to place the bottle in the basket and add water to the unit. For a four ounce bottle, the water level should be just above the level of milk in the bottle. For a larger bottle, the water level should be just below the rim of the basket. If not using an Avent brand bottle, the inside basket can be removed from the unit so that the other brand bottle will fit. Once the water temperature reaches the appropriate temperature for warming, the red indicator light will turn off and back on again, indicating that the water in the unit is remaining at a constant temperature. There is a guide included with the unit telling the user the length of time for a bottle. For me, it usually takes three to four minutes for a four ounce refrigerated bottle to warm up enough to my satisfaction. The guide is clearly written to estimate how long to keep your bottle in the warmer, however, you may vary the length of time depending upon how warm you want your milk or food. It is extremely important to always test the temperature of the milk or food prior to giving it to your child. The old 'shake a few drops on the inside of your wrist' trick really does work.

This warmer can be used to heat up baby food. I have not tried this, but I assume that it would work with similar success as with a bottle of milk. The instructions include length of time for heating up jars of food as well as a tip to use an Avent bottle ring in the bottom of the warmer basket to elevate the jar slightly to ease removal.

Maintenance
The warmer unit is easily cleaned as needed. After unplugging the unit and disposing of the remaining water in the sink, the basket comes out to be dried off. The interior of the warming unit can also be dried off. To reduce mineral build up, instead of tap water, one can use filtered or distilled water. It is recommended by the manufacturer to descale the unit monthly by mixing 2 ounces of white vinegar with 4 ounces of cold water and pouring the solution into the unit with basket. Let the solution sit in the unit until any limescale has dissolved, empty and rinse the unit, then dry.

Does it work?
The Avent Express Bottle and Food Warmer does exactly what it advertises to do. Bottles are warmed to an appropriate temperature relatively quickly, evenly and safely. By safely, I mean in comparison to microwave heating, which should never be done with food or milk for a baby due to the inconsistent heating done by microwaves. A hot spot in the microwaved heated bottle could easily burn a baby's mouth. The warmer is extremely easy to use and clean. It is relatively compact and does not take up too much counter space. I keep mine on my kitchen counter, but it would easily store in a cabinet if needed or on a bedside table for nighttime feeding. A stick-on clear plastic label with warming times is included to adhere to the side of the unit, keeping the instructions close at hand for ease of use.

What this unit does not have is a built in timer. While it isn't difficult to keep track of the time, it would be a nice addition to the warmer if it tracked the time for heating a bottle. Also, it is possible to overheat a bottle in the unit, which I have done. This was because I did not keep track of the time (hence a timer would have helped me out here!) On the flip side, not having a timer on the unit allows the user to control how warm or hot the milk or food becomes. If you are not satisfied with the temperature of the milk after four minutes or so, you can easily put the bottle back into the unit to continue to heat. The unit does not turn off until you turn it off. The water stays at a consistent temperature until turned off. This may come in handy if you have multiple children and need to heat several bottles in a row.

Conclusion
So while this warmer works well, I am not convinced that it is a necessity for feeding babies. While my baby does not yet eat solids, I do not plan to use the warmer to heat up his food when he does reach that age. A friend of mine actually gave me only one bit of advice regarding motherhood. She said to never heat the baby food so that when the time comes that you are not able to heat it, the child will still eat it. Simple advice, but it works so far for my bottle feeding. I am not convinced that my child needs to have warm milk always, as it is not convenient when traveling. Also, he does not seem to have a preference in temperature, as he likes his bottles irregardless of warmth. In the end, using this product really seems to only satisfy me in that I feel better not giving my baby a cold bottle of milk to drink if it is coming from the fridge. My son likes his milk warm, cold, or room temperature.


If you are interested in a bottle warmer that is easy to use and maintain, then this warmer will do the trick. It is relatively inexpensive, averaging about $35.00, and would be a good addition to a baby registry. Regardless of whether you use Avent bottles or not, this unit will work for you.