Although most Italian pediatricians have always suggested breastfeeding because it is beneficial for the child’s well-being, the parents may want to feed the baby artificially with a bottle. Here, then, in our opinion, the bottle warmer becomes an indispensable product to have: certainly for those who want to travel, but also at home, it has truly unparalleled practicality.
Bottle Warmer: Do You Need It?
Yes, and we reiterate it. It is indeed true that it is possible to heat the bottle even in the old way, that is to say, in a water bath inside a pot of hot water, but the bottle warmer allows to reach the desired temperature avoiding the overheating of the milk, all in a few minutes, without getting dirty and without the need for additional accessories. The same use of the microwave oven accentuates the risks of having too hot milk.
The bottle warmer can also be used not only to heat the milk inside the bottle, but also the first baby food contained in the jars.
Among the most appreciated functions is maintaining a warm temperature. Once the desired temperature has been reached, it will be kept for a preset time before the product begins to cool. For use outside the home, there is typically a 12-volt plug for the car. If you intend to bring your baby in the car, you can easily use the bottle warmer by attaching it to the cigarette lighter. It will only take a little more patience, as it will heat up more slowly in the car.
In our opinion, the gradual heating of the milk is a key feature of the bottle warmer, as it allows the milk to retain its composition, preserving the essential nutrients necessary for the child’s growth.
How the bottle warmer works
Manufacturers like Chicco and Philips claim that their bottle warmers are very easy to use; let’s see if that’s true. More or less, all are made in the same way: at the top of the product, there is a channel where you can insert the bottle, previously filled with the desired amount of milk.
At this point, insert the plug into the power socket, and in some models, you must select, using a special knob, if you want to heat a baby bottle or a jar with baby food since the heating times will be slightly different.
The only flaw, in some models, is that you cannot select the amount of milk and its initial temperature: this to obtain the desired final temperature, even if, often, all these data go unnoticed by the time when there we find to quickly heat the baby bottle for the child who calls for crying!
All manufacturers claim that the peculiarity of their models on the market is that they have the right weight and size, which is neither excessive nor inadequate. Even on a small kitchen table, you can find space for the bottle warmer, as it does not exceed 14 cm in depth and 17 cm in width.
On average, the product takes just over 5 minutes to heat the milk; however, if the amount is less, the heating time decreases accordingly. In the car, the operation is the same, but the heating time will vary slightly; as we have indicated, it will be slightly higher. Once the milk in the bottle reaches a specific temperature, the product will emit a warning beep. From this point on, the temperature will be maintained for approximately an hour.
The most advanced models, designed for the most demanding parents, allow many more features than the basic model. Still, even if they are equipped with many accessory functions, the operation remains the same: you place the bottle inside the crack and insert the plug to heat the milk contained within.
The ” advanced ” functions concern the possibility of setting the initial temperature of the baby food, the size of the container, and 12 different programs to heat the baby food and the baby bottle. Additionally, these models are equipped with a small display to monitor the heating progress and indicate the amount remaining to reach the desired temperature.
Recommended Bottle Warmer Models
In our opinion, Chicco is one of the leading brands, offering two types of models that are positioned at the two extremes. The first is one of the most straightforward and most intuitive, while the other is considered one of the most modern and avant-garde among all bottle warmers on the market.
Chicco ” basic ” model
The simplest model is also the one that has a lower cost between the two and allows you to heat the milk in a few minutes simply inserting the bottle inside the slot, selecting with the appropriate knob on the front of the product, if it is to heat a baby bottle or a jar with baby food.
The plugin of the package allows you to take it on the road and warm the bottle in the car. You cannot select the amount of milk to be heated or its initial temperature, so once the temperature has been reached, check if it is right for the child’s needs. It is the following:
>>> Where to buy a Chicco Bottle Warmer?
Chicco Digit Step Up
The Chicco model, suitable for the most discerning parents, allows you to choose between 12 different heating settings and to monitor the remaining time at the end of the operation, thanks to a display on the front. Although it is equipped with all these additional functions, the size and weight of the product remain unchanged: these are always models that can be placed on a small kitchen counter.
Once you have chosen the dose of milk to be inserted inside the bottle, you can select three different initial milk temperatures by simply pressing a button on the front of the product: from very cold, if it was in the refrigerator, to room temperature. This function prevents overheating of the milk itself, which, as we have already mentioned, is a critical consideration.
Also, before proceeding with the ignition, with another button always on the front bezel, you can select the amount of milk that we have chosen to put inside the bottle, or if it is a jar with baby food: there are three different amounts of milk, little or medium and a choice for the jar. At this point, insert the plug and press the violet light switch; the rest will take care of the bottle warmer. Unfortunately, this model does not have pins for use in the car.
>>> Where to buy a Chicco Digit Step Up Bottle Warmer?
Philips Avent
Another model on the market that we particularly like is Philips’ Avent line, which is specifically designed for children. Additionally, the bottle warmer is medium-sized, allowing it to be placed on a kitchen counter.
This model, unlike the others, presents, in our opinion, a beneficial function: defrosting. A mother may want to breastfeed, but for various reasons, should freeze their milk: in this way, you can defrost your mother’s milk in a few minutes and have it warm at the right point.
The milk will arrive at the right temperature in 3 minutes after selecting the appropriate knob if it is a small, large bottle or a jar with baby food. It should be noted that this specific model is only compatible with Avent bottles that have a completely different shape from the classic ones, since they are low and squat. There is no extra plug to carry it by car, but it can only be used at home.
