A Parent's Guide to the Best Baby Bottle Warmers
While some babies will drink milk or formula that’s cold or room temperature, others like it a little warmer. That’s where a bottle warmer comes in. Bottle warmers quickly heat up a baby’s bottle so that it’s at just the right temperature.
But before you go buying the first bottle warmer you see, you’ll need to consider important factors based on you and your baby’s own needs. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
We’ve created this guide to share everything you need to know about finding the best bottle warmer. We’ve also compiled a list of our top 12 picks for every parent, based on their needs and budget.
Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you choose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.
Our Top 12 Baby Bottle Warmers
Here’s a quick rundown of our top 12 baby bottle warmers:
- Baby Brezza Safe And Smart Bottle Warmer
- Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer
- Munchkin High-Speed Bottle Warmer
- Grownsy 5-in-1 Baby Bottle Warmer
- Tommee Tippee Bottle and Food Warmer
- Dr. Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer & Sterilizer
- Dr. Brown's MilkSPA Breast Milk and Bottle Warmer
- BEABA BabyMilk 3-in-1 Bottle Warmer
- The First Years Gentle Warmth Digital Bottle Warmer
- Kiinde Kozii Baby Bottle Warmer
- The First Years 2-In-1 Simple Serve
- Baby’s Brew Portable Bottle Warmer Pro
Do You Really Need a Baby Bottle Warmer?
Babies can drink cold breast milk or formula without any issues. But many prefer their food at a temperature that mimics what they would receive if they were breastfeeding.
While you could run the bottle under warm water or use a pot of water, this can lead to inconsistent results. Bottle warmers can offer temperature consistency which leads to happy babies!
Benefits of Using a Baby Bottle Warmer
As you consider which baby bottle warmer will best warm your breast milk or baby formula, consider these benefits:
Safer Than Other Options
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, microwaving breast milk is a big no-no because it destroys nutrients. It also heats bottles unevenly which can lead to your baby burning their mouth.
Convenient
Many bottle warmers are compact, and some don’t even need an outlet, making them super convenient to use. They especially come in handy when you’re on the go and want to feed your baby a warm bottle pronto.
Timesaving
If you’re used to using warm water to get your baby’s bottle to just the right temperature, you’ll know this is a time-consuming process. You’re also rolling the dice on whether the bottle is even at the right temperature. A bottle warmer eliminates the guesswork and saves time.
No Extra Pots to Wash
When you use warm water to heat your baby’s bottle, you’re constantly creating more pots to wash. A baby bottle warmer eliminates that task.
Related: Breastfeeding Pumps: A Mom's Review
How to Use a Baby Bottle Warmer
All baby bottle warmers will come with their own specific directions. However, most will follow the same instructions:
- Turn on your bottle warmer.
- Choose the type of bottle and the contents you want to heat.
- Indicate the amount in ounces.
- You may have the option to choose the temperature range, heating speed, or length of time you want to keep your bottle warm.
Once the bottle is warm, your baby can enjoy it!
Are Baby Bottle Warmers Safe?
As long as you follow the instructions, bottle warmers are safe to use. Always keep the warmer away from children so that they won’t be prone to grab it and burn themselves.
Be sure not to overheat your baby’s milk. Some warmers have specific settings that will tell you if things are getting too hot to handle. You can also act as a good thermometer. Test the milk on your wrist. If it’s too hot for your skin, it’s too hot for your baby’s mouth.
You can also use an actual thermometer to see the accurate temperature. Formula and milk should be at a body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Anything warmer, and you’ll want to let it cool down before giving it to your baby.
What to Look for in a Baby Bottle Warmer
Not all baby bottle warmers are created equal. Here are several factors to consider as you shop:
Efficiency
You want a product that will warm your bottles quickly and consistently. No one has time to wait around!
Easy to Use
Convenience is key! Look for a product that is easy to operate and maintain.
Versatile
You want to choose a bottle warmer that can accept different types and bottle shapes. Look for one that you can also heat food pouches and breast milk bags. This will help you get the most for your money.
Portable
One of the main reasons why parents invest in a bottle warmer is because it is portable. You want one that’s lightweight and easy to use on the go.
Auto-Shut-Off Feature
This feature is extremely important because it will let you know when the milk is done warming up by shutting itself off. This helps to keep nutrients intact and avoid a bottle that’s just too hot for your baby.
A Closer Look at the Top 12 Baby Bottle Warmers
Baby Brezza Safe & Smart Bottle Warmer
Price: $80 Amazon
The Baby Brezza Safe & Smart Bottle Warmer has many features to offer to make your life easier. Bluetooth technology allows you to control the warmer from your phone and get alerts when your bottle is ready. This allows for more successful multi-tasking.
The automatic shutoff feature is a plus as well as the handy defrost option. It fits most bottle sizes and types. Besides baby bottles, you can also use this to heat up food jars and pouches. This product grows with your little one, so you’ll get plenty of use out of it. This bottle warmer is a great option for parents looking to use the warmer for more than one purpose and who like to use technology to make things easier.
Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer
Price: $55 Amazon
If saving time is your number one priority, how does heating 5 ounces of water in 3 minutes sound? This Philips Avent bottle warmer aims to do just that. It also makes the process easy with its large button and dial knob. Just turn it to the right setting and you’re ready to go. There’s also an indicator light to show you how the heating process is going.
This bottle warmer also has the automatic shutoff feature and a wide mouth so it can accommodate larger bottles as well as pouches and baby food jars.
Munchkin High Speed-Bottle Warmer
Price: $21 Walmart
This bottle warmer heats up bottles at lightning speed...as little as 90 seconds! Don’t worry, it does not sacrifice any nutrients and is still safe to use. It uses a steam warming system to heat things up quickly and an alarm that lets you know when the bottle is ready. There is also an adaptive ring to help keep smaller bottles and jars in place. You don’t have to worry about having the right amount of water for the bottle because it comes with a measuring cup to help you get it right.
Grownsy 5-in-1 Baby Bottle Warmer
Price $40 Amazon
The five elements that make the Grownsy 5-in-1 Baby Bottle Warmer one of our favorites are fast bottle warming, normal bottle warming, defrosting, food heating, and sterilization features.
Follow the table in the instruction manual to see how long you need to heat up your bottle. Once you put the bottle in the chamber, add the water for heating, put the lid on, and press the FAST button for the right amount of time, you’re good to go! The system will beep three times when the warming cycle is over before it turns off. When you want to heat food or sterilize bottles, just press the appropriate buttons and you’re all set. It doesn’t get much easier!
Tommee Tippee Bottle and Food Warmer
Price: $60 Amazon
If you’re on the go a lot, this bottle warmer was made for you. It’s completely portable, requires no outlets, and fits well in a diaper bag. It comes with a thermos, thermos cap, and a plastic water reservoir that is easy to use.
The Tommee Tippee Bottle and Food Warmer automatically figures out the optimal warming time based on the settings you choose and has an auto shut-off setting for added safety. Generally, it only takes 3-4 minutes to heat a bottle.
You can count on this bottle warmer to warm breast milk, formula, and baby food to body temperature without overheating, so your baby has a comfortable and natural feeding experience.
Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Warmer & Sterilizer
Price: $49 Amazon
Sanitize your baby gear and warm your bottles all in one spot with Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Warmer & Sterilizer. This gadget uses steam heat to get the job done. For the sterilization side, just load items in for cleaning and you’re ready to go.
For bottle warming, there are pre-programmed warming settings for different bottle types and sizes. This helps to get the right temperature every time. There is also a memory button that uses your last setting to make the process more efficient.
Dr. Brown’s MilkSPA Breast Milk and Bottle Warmer
Price $40 Amazon
Another awesome product from Dr. Brown’s is the MilkSPA Breast Milk and Bottle Warmer. You can not only heat just about every type of bottle but also breast milk bags. There are 12 pre-programmed settings, so you’re bound to find the right one for your bottle and amount of milk or formula.
This bottle warmer uses a water bath and works best when used with distilled water. It keeps your water cleaner and prolongs the lifespan of the bottle warmer.
BEABA BabyMilk 3-in-1 Bottle Warmer
Price: $60 Walmart
The BEABA BabyMilk 3-in-1 Bottle Warmer can accommodate many different-sized bottles, making it a fan favorite. It can heat just about any bottle in about 2 minutes. It also has the automatic shutoff feature we love and 5 heat settings.
The airtight lid is a bonus because it keeps your bottle warm when you can’t grab it right away. Did we mention that it doubles as a sterilizer and can heat baby food? Since the warmer is compact, you don’t have to worry about it taking up a lot of counter space.
The First Years Gentle Warmth Digital Bottle Warmer
Price: $34 Amazon
We like this product from First Years because it uses a warm water bath for heating breast milk. This helps to heat milk more evenly and consistently than steam. You can also heat food and formula and defrost breast milk. Use it to sterilize pacifiers and bottle parts to save time.
There’s a digital screen to make it easier to use so you always know the temperature and can remove your items before they get too hot to handle.
Kiinde Kozii Baby Bottle Warmer
Price: $75 Target
The Kiinde Kozii Baby Bottle Warmer thinks out-of-the-box, using a reservoir under the warming pot. Once you turn it on, the water level rises up around the bottle. This prevents grime and scale from building up. While this one is on the pricier side, it gets the job done and helps to avoid nasty cleanups.
The First Years 2-in-1 Simple Serve
Price: $20 Amazon
If you’re looking to avoid spending a lot on your bottle warmer, you’ll want to check this one out. For just $20, The First Years 2-in-1 Simple Serve warms bottles efficiently and still has an automatic shut-off. You just can’t use glass bottles with this model.
There is plenty of room for different-sized bottles, but still compact enough that it won’t crowd your counter. The warming instructions for different-sized bottles and types of milk come in handy so you don’t have to waste time guessing how long you have to heat your bottle.
Baby’s Brew Portable Bottle Warmer Pro
Price: $81 Target
If portability is most important to you, you’ll want to put this bottle warmer at the top of your list. With its cordless design, your baby can have a warm bottle just about anywhere. It’s also TSA-compliant, so bring it on board your flight too! It comes with four rechargeable batteries that are sufficient to warm up to 8 bottles.
The Baby’s Brew Portable Bottle Warmer Pro comes with four different temperature settings that allow your baby’s bottle to stay warm for up to 12 hours. While you can heat many different-sized bottles, you can buy adapters for specific bottles if you’re concerned your bottle won’t fit.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to finding the best baby bottle warmer, remember to look for a product that’s convenient and easy to use. Decide which factors are most important to you and use this as your guide. Remember to keep warmers out of the baby’s reach and to always test the milk or formula before giving it to your baby.
Following these tips will make for the safest and most efficient use of your baby bottle warmer!
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