Which bottle warmer is better to choose?

When breastfeeding problems with heating food for the baby is not, because my mother's milk goes to the crumbs already heated to the optimum temperature. But for babies receiving expressed milk or formula, care should be taken to heat them. A modern way to quickly heat baby food is to use a special heater. So that parents can get a better model, they need to learn more about such useful inventions.

• The external design of heaters of different types is different, but in the design of most of these devices there is a heating element and a water bowl, as well as a control relay and an electrical cord.
• In some models, you can only insert bottles from the same manufacturer, but there are also universal heaters with a wide container in which you can heat a container of any size.
• All devices are capable of heating cold milk and food at room temperature, but only some models cope with the heating of frozen milk.
• After heating one bottle, many devices must cool down for a while before the next use.
• All modern heaters have an option to automatically turn off, due to which the contents of the bottle does not overheat.
• In some devices, the temperature level to which the bottle with heating is heated is set in advance and does not change, in others it can be adjusted by setting it yourself.

In order to warm up the food, in the past they used a container with hot water that was kept on the stove. At the same time, it was difficult to guess the right temperature for the baby (the bottle often overheated and had to wait for it to cool).

Compared with this method, the modern heater has the following advantages:

• Baby food heats up quickly.
• For some time after heating, the supply temperature remains at the same level.
• The device is compact and easy to use.

If parents do not want to keep the heated mixture in such a device for a long time, they can only heat the water in it, and when it comes to feeding, add the right amount of the mixture to it and stir to quickly get ready-made food for the baby.

The basis of the operation of the heaters used water bath. Water poured into the bowl heats up and transfers the heat to the bottle placed in it with power. The user sets the desired temperature, so that the temperature of the water in the tank and food in the bottle remains at the same level after heating.

To heat the food for the crumbs is required in cases where the baby receives a mixture or expressed mother's milk. This may be necessary from the first days of a baby’s life.

Depending on the characteristics of heating, the heaters are steam, hot and warm water. Steam devices are filled with water in a small volume, then it is converted into steam, under the influence of which the bottle heats up quickly.

Devices that work with warm water, heat it up to a maximum of + 50 ° C, so overheat the bottle in this device will not work. However, if you poured cold water into the container of such a heater, waiting for the food to be heated in the bottle will be quite long.

In hot water devices, the desired supply temperature is reached very quickly, since the water heats up to the boil, but if the bottle stays in the container longer, it will overheat.

Here are the pros and cons of each type of heaters:

In devices of this type, it is possible not only to heat the milk in a bottle, but also to sterilize the container after feeding. In most similar devices with combined functions, only one bottle can be processed at one time, but there are models for 2-3 bottles.

Most bottle warmers are capable of maintaining its temperature for some time after heating, due to the presence of a thermal switch. This allows the mother not to wait for the heated bottle next to the device, but to go about her business, and then feed the baby with warm food when she needs it.

Almost all heaters are powered by electricity and are characterized by simple operation, but there are also models with digital control, the advantages of which are:

• The ability to set the heating temperature, taking into account the consistency and the initial supply temperature.
• Display temperature on the display.
• Automatic maintenance of the set temperature.
• The presence of signals about the end of heating.

The heater from this manufacturer weighs 740 g and can heat jars, bottles and containers with baby food. At the same time, the device has separate operation modes for heating milk (one mode for bottles with a capacity less than 180 ml and a second mode for bottles with a larger capacity) and a thick mixture, as well as a defrosting mode. The device is equipped with a manual switch and has a backlight.

The range of this manufacturer has classic heaters, devices for the car, digital models, as well as devices with sterilization function. The advantages of this brand LS-B202 device are compatibility with any bottles, fast heating and the ability to smoothly adjust the temperature. The complete set of such device includes a glass and a citrus juicer.

Model LS-C001 can be used in the car. For her work does not need water, in such a compact device you can heat any kind of baby bottles and keep food for the child warm while traveling.

The device of this manufacturer weighs 490 g and has a power of 120 watts. When the water temperature in its reservoir heats up to + 37 ° C, the user hears a 5-fold beep and sees a green indicator light. If the device continues to work without shutting down after a signal, it is heated for 1 hour, and then the heater is automatically turned off. In the configuration of the device there is a holder that helps to use jars and bottles of small sizes.

The advantages of the BC1006 and BC1007 devices of this manufacturer are their functionality and simple design. In such heaters there are two modes - for thick and for liquid power. The device BC1006 is equipped with a glass with a lid, and the model BC1007 additionally has an elevator for bottles.

The range of this brand has compact and portable heaters, as well as devices with sterilization function. Model WK-133 is distinguished by the presence of three temperature regimes, it uniformly heats the power supply, maintains the temperature after heating and is very simple to operate.

Model WK-140 in addition to the two temperature regimes has the option of sterilization. At the same time, the device can simultaneously heat the power supply and sterilize up to 3 bottles. In the configuration of such a device there are tongs, a nipple tray and a bottle holder.

For use in the car brand offers model WK-131. In it the bottles quickly heat up to + 40 ° С, their heat is kept 3 hours after heating. In such a compact device you can also store cooled food.

This manufacturer offers a device that warms the liquid or baby food to + 34 ° C, including frozen foods. The device weighs 1 kg, has a capacity of 185 W, is equipped with an auto-off function, built-in backlight and an audible warning.

In the bottle heaters from this manufacturer, the container is large enough to hold containers with different volumes. The advantage of the device is the combination of two functions - heating and sterilization. The quality of such a heater is high, as is its cost.

In addition to stationary heaters for bottles that work at home from the network, there are also heaters that can function while traveling by car. One of the most popular is the Topcom unit.

The main advantages of such a heater:

1. Compactness and lightness. Such a handbag weighs 310 g, and its dimensions are 10x10x26 cm.
2. Enough fast heating power for the child. A bottle of 200 ml in such a car device can be heated to + 50 ° C in 20 minutes.
3. Water is not required for heating. Such a device is represented by a bag that has a special fabric inside and a nylon cover on top.
4. The ability to use the car from the cigarette lighter. This heater is powered by a 12V source, but thanks to an inverter it can also be connected to 220V.
5. Preservation of heat after heating. Since there is a thermal insulation layer in the bag, it functions like a thermos and is able to keep food warm for a long period.

Other important issues when buying a heater are:

• What material it is made of. It is important that all the elements that will come into contact with the bottle be made of materials that are safe for children.
• How safe is the device? The device must be provided for automatic shutdown.
• How to manage the operation of the device. The best choice would be devices with convenient buttons with clear icons. When buying a device without a push button, you will have to constantly disconnect its power cord from the network, which will lead to rapid wear. Conveniently, if the heater can be turned on with one hand. Also for comfort of use, it is important to have a basket, which helps to lower and remove the bottle without any additional devices.
• What is the length of the cord. If the cord in the model is long, you can heat the power next to the baby’s crib, regardless of whether there is a power outlet nearby.
• Is it possible to adjust the heating level? In simple models, heating is performed to a fixed temperature, and in the presence of a thermostat, you can select the heating mode, taking into account the amount of power and its thickness.
• Are there any additional features. In many devices, the end of heating can be recognized by a sound or light signal. If the device has a timer, the power can be heated to a specific time, for example, for breakfast. The presence of an electronic display on which the temperature is displayed is important for urgent heating of the power supply. It should not be forgotten that a large list of additional features affects the cost of the device. When buying a “smart” model, evaluate whether you need all the features or better choose a simpler device to use.

1. Place a bottle of water or food in the bowl of the device, then pour cold water into the container.
2. For low bottles, the filling of water is carried out a little higher than the level of nutrition. If the bottle is high, put so much water into the container so that its level is 1.5 cm lower than the edges of the tank.
3. Select the desired switch position and turn on the instrument.
4. Wait for the signal that the desired heating temperature has been reached.
5. Carefully remove the bottle and shake it until it mixes evenly.
6. Before giving food to the child, check its temperature by dropping a little on the skin of the forearm.
7. Rinse out the bowl after use with running water. Clean it regularly from scale, using acetic or citric acid in this cleaning.

See the video tutorial on using the heater for an example of an Avent instrument.

Before turning on the heater for the first time, carefully read the instructions for the device. Install the device away from water, and when the heating is complete, unplug the heater cord from the mains.

For longer life and safer use, also follow these guidelines:

• Install the device only on a flat, solid surface.
• Do not allow the child to play with the heater.
• Before each power on inspect the integrity of the device. If damage is found, contact the store (if the warranty period is still valid) or a repair shop.
• Do not pour water over the edges of the device.
• Pour filtered water into the heater tank. This will reduce the rate of scaling.
• For faster heating, fill the tank with water at room temperature.
• Before cleaning the bowl of the device, make sure that the device is not plugged in and completely cooled.

Moms who used the heater, in most cases were satisfied with such a device. Especially positive comments are made on such devices by women who are forced to express and freeze breast milk. Rescues the heater and the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods, when you need to quickly heat the mashed potatoes stored in the refrigerator. Most mothers respond positively to low-end heater models, noting that they do a good job with their functions.Expensive appliances are bought less often, but everyone who used such heaters is completely satisfied with their work.

Those who feed the crumb mixture, often consider the heater as an unnecessary device, because most often the mixture is prepared fresh for each feeding.

For information on how to choose a baby bottle warmer, see Dr. Komarovsky’s program.