How do you warm liquid milk for newborns?

Feeding a baby is always a complex issue, especially for new parents. When the baby reaches 6 months, on the advice of the doctor, we begin to introduce what is called complementary feeding, which consists of enriching the newborn's diet with different foods and in larger quantities.

At this stage, babies begin to drink follow-on milk more regularly as part of a varied diet, which means having to prepare bottles on a recurring basis but paying particular attention to one detail: the temperature.

Breast milk is the most appropriate food for a baby, as it provides all the nutrients he needs during the first months of life.
For both breastfed and formula-fed babies, there are times when it needs to be reheated. If the baby cries, the temptation is always to use the fastest method, the microwave, even though pediatricians advise against its use, whether we are talking about breast milk or formula.

There are other, healthier and safer ways to heat milk:

• put the bottle in warm water
• use a bottle warmer like this one

Soaking the bottle in warm water is the cheapest way to warm breast milk or formula. You simply fill a container with warm water and place the bottle (or milk bag) inside, shaking it occasionally to get an even temperature throughout the liquid.

This process is longer (about 15-20 minutes) and requires being present and attentive, because if the heating takes too long, the bacteria will start to proliferate. It is also a method that is not very precise, because we cannot know the specific temperature at which the milk is and therefore requires several tests to find the right one.

If you want to reach the optimal temperature of the milk, it is best to use a bottle warmer . These devices intelligently defrost and heat the milk to the correct temperature, taking into account the initial temperature, the type of bottle and the amount of milk.

HOW TO HEAT BABY MILK

Breastfeeding your baby is easy, as breast milk is at the perfect temperature, there is no need to warm it up and it is always ready to drink!
But not all mothers can afford to be present when the baby needs to eat and must sometimes resort to expressing with a breast pump.
After the extraction process, it is important to store the milk correctly, in a safe place, at the right temperature and for the recommended time:

• At room temperature (19-26°C): 4 to 6 hours
• In the refrigerator (4ºC): from 72 hours to 8 days
• In the freezer (-17ºC to -20ºC): 3 to 12 months

Before giving the bottle to the baby, it is necessary to reach the ideal temperature so that he can take it without problems. Warming breast milk is completely safe and easy to do.

To facilitate both thawing and reheating, it is best to store milk in small portions, 30-120 ml.

Heating must always be gradual , in this way all the beneficial properties of the milk are maintained unchanged.

The process is very simple and quick: in just 5 minutes it will be hot and ready to drink , furthermore, the milk remains warm for longer and does not require particular supervision from parents.

Pediatricians recommend never heating breast milk in the microwave or boiling it in a container , as all the beneficial nutrients will be destroyed and will not be absorbed by the newborn.

HOW TO HEAT LIQUID BABY MILK OUTSIDE THE HOME

If packing for a trip is stressful enough, packing with a baby is a challenge.
Traveling with a newborn means being equipped with a complete set of accessories to meet all their needs.
One of the most important aspects is your baby’s diet. The easiest and most convenient thing to do is to breastfeed, but if you are using formula or breast milk from a pump, you will need a simple but effective way to warm it, and that is where the search for the best technique to warm bottles while traveling begins, wherever you go.

What are the options?

1. Travel bottle warmer

When you're traveling, a stove or microwave isn't always handy, so a portable bottle warmer ( this one, for example, even comes with a car plug adapter ) might be the best option.

This type of bottle warmer has a smaller size so you can easily carry it in your baby's travel bag.

There are different models, with different features: some are electric and have a socket suitable for use in the car, making them perfect for road trips. You just have to add the indicated water inside and insert the bottle: the contents will heat up in a few minutes until they reach the optimal temperature for your baby; other bottle warmers are similar to thermoses, with a container in which to add hot water and insert the bottle so that the liquid heats up evenly, this is another very fast method for heating milk.

There are also bottle warmers with a thermal bag and internal battery. To use them, simply boil the battery until it becomes soft and then place the bottle inside the thermal bag. When you want to heat the milk, simply press a tab to release the accumulated heat and thus heat a bottle or baby food.

All models are also suitable for heating fruit jars or baby food, in addition, most bottle warmers work with almost all brands of bottles and with different sizes.
These solutions are practical and convenient and if you travel regularly, they are the most convenient option to have milk or food at the optimal temperature for your baby.

2. Use a thermos

Stainless steel thermoses keep liquids hot or cold for several hours, so they are a good idea for keeping milk warm or hot while traveling.

It is very simple to use: just add hot milk to the thermos and close it hermetically and when you need it, add the milk to the bottle and that's it.

There are also specific thermoses for solid foods, such as baby food or homogenized foods, which are smaller in size and include a spoon.
Once used, the thermos must be washed very well, especially the nozzle, since, having many corners and crevices, in contact with the milk and if not cleaned well it can develop bacteria.

HOW HIGH SHOULD BABY MILK BE?

This is perhaps one of the most common doubts among new parents.
Breast milk has a constant temperature of about 32 degrees, so you need to make sure that the bottle does not exceed 35 or 36 degrees , if it is warmer, the baby will most likely refuse it.

HOW TO MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE OF BABY MILK?

Controlling the temperature of the bottle seems like a very complex task, but nothing is further from the truth.
New parents will soon learn to check the temperature of the bottle before giving milk to the baby. There is a little trick that has been used since ancient times and consists of placing a few small drops on the back of the hand to check that the temperature of the liquid is adequate for the baby.

However, today there are many thermometers ( even digital ones and certainly more convenient ) that allow you to quickly check the temperature of the milk in the bottle.